WC Leads Applications Open!
Written by: Alex Painter, Wayne County Foundation
Young professionals in the workplace today face challenges unlike many of those experienced by previous generations. Achieving professional growth and accomplishment while maintaining a sense of well-being and being cognizant of work-life balance while also navigating workplace dynamics and cultivating healthy, cross-generational relationships can be…challenging!
But, countless studies have also shown that young professionals want to learn!
Here in Wayne County, the WC Leads program through the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce’s HYPE program offers the most robust experience for young professionals looking to take that next step. Not only will the WC Leads program help you learn and grow further in your professional role, but also give you tools and insight to be a more dynamic leader and community member. The Leadership Academy-style program is intentionally small (12 or so members) and hinges on active discussion and participation from each member.
As a member of the first cohort of WC Leads in 2021, I had the opportunity to lean into an experience that was fulfilling both professionally and personally. While it was great to have an opportunity to network with people in many different sectors across the county, the conversations and exercises that were facilitated through the program were authentic, refreshing, and even emboldening to each of us. I quickly detected that the program was gearing us to be leaders, and more vested in Wayne County. This amazing aspect of the program was really born out of one the stated goals of ‘participants are expected to become continually, substantively, and actively engaged within community organizations in leadership roles’
At the end of the day, don’t we all want to feel a bit more connected to the place we live and work? For me personally, this one my biggest goals going into the program – a goal that was emphatically achieved.
Since the program is under the Chamber of Commerce’s vast umbrella, participants can expect the organization’s expansive network will be tapped into. Nearly every session was accentuated with community leaders, local content experts, or both, as presenters. The sessions were diverse, covered a wide range of topics, encouraged a strong growth mindset, and were fun!
Additionally, each participant of the program was intentionally paired with a mentor, who were often very visible community leaders, that shared a similar career path, professional interest, or other shared identifiable traits. To be able to have multiple intentional conversations with someone with so much experience and shareable knowledge as mine did was so empowering as a young professional trying to ‘make good’ in our community.
I can’t stress it enough; if it is feasible for you and your work schedule, look into WC Leads!
To learn more about WC Leads click here.