Executive Leadership Program

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Executive Leadership Program Facts

The National Hispana Leadership Institute (NHLI), a 501(c)3 organization based in Washington, DC, was established in 1987 to address the underrepresentation of Latinas in the corporate, nonprofit, and political arenas. NHLI’s mission is to develop Hispanas as ethical leaders through training, professional development, relationship building, and community activism.

Overview

For over 23 years, NHLI has fostered hundreds of Latina leaders through its award winning Executive Leadership Program (ELP). NHLI has been selected as one of the Top Twenty Leadership Programs for Latinos by Latino Leaders Magazine, and recognized by the Independent Sector, the Center for Creative Leadership, and the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute for its unique work preparing Latinas for positions of national influence, public policy impact, and contributing to the advancement of the Hispanic community.

Program

The Executive Leadership Program targets mid-career professional Latinas and advances a model that emphasizes and builds upon personal strengths. What makes NHLI’s program different from other leadership programs is that it addresses skills development and cultural application, providing training and support through both a female and a Hispanic cultural lens. NHLI also promotes a heightened awareness of social responsibility and stronger attention to the needs of the broader Hispanic Community.

The Executive Leadership Program spans nine months and includes three components- training, mentorship, and field projects. The rigorous training curriculum consists of four one-week sessions, each implemented in a different city, that develop participants’ skills in cross-cultural communication, strategic management, public policy and leadership building. The mentorship component commits participants to mentoring at least two other Latinas for at least two years. Additionally, participants will design and complete their own leadership projects that will have a significant impact in the community.

Training Curriculum

Week I: Understanding Yourself and Others focuses on learning about leadership strengths and areas for development, cross cultural communication, conflict resolution, team building and the development of support networks and setting development goals. This session is held in San Juan Bautista, California in late February.

Week II: Effective Change Through Public Policy and Management is carried out at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. This program week highlights public management, negotiation skills, and strategic management through a case study approach. This session is held in April in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Week III: Leadership Development Program is conducted at the Center for Creative Leadership (the top corporate executive leadership institute in the country), and combines lectures, group exercise, assessment questionnaires and individual feedback sessions to provide participants with information about their leadership, behavioral and decision-making styles.

Week 4: Impacting Decision Makers and National Policy participants will have the opportunity to explore the legislative process and national policy issues. Fellows will meet with Congressional Representatives and national leaders through various activities including the Latina Leaders Breakfast and the culmination of their program participation at their graduation.

Mentorship and Service Impact

As part of the mentoring component, each leader is required to mentor at least two Latinas (someone they identify or an NHLI match). The leadership/community service component requires that each participant implement a leadership project in her community that addresses a need. These components ensure that the program has a broader impact than the 22 direct participants. With each fellow mentoring at least two other young Latinas, an additional 44 young Latinas are directly impacted by the program every year, and hundreds benefit from the leadership projects in communities across the country. Two notable examples of NHLI leadership projects include:

• National Latino Children’s Institute (NLCI). NLCI was created through a joint project of Becky Barreras (Class of 1993) and Bibi Lobo (Class of 1996). What started as a concept with Becky became a full blown initiative when Bibi joined the efforts. Together they tapped into the talents and expertise of NHLI board members, supporters, and instructors ranging from White House staff and U.S. Congress to Harvard professors. They called on the NHLI alumnae network to open doors in more than 130 cities across the country where they introduced hundreds of thousands of children, parents, and educators to programs such as book fairs for literacy, neighborhood car seat safety programs, and health fairs promoting well-baby checkups. To date, an estimated 5 million people have been impacted by NLCI, which is currently lead by another NHLI alum, Josephine Garza (class of 1993).
• Las Comadres. Nora Comstock (Class of 2000), felt so strongly about Latinas being able to “connect” with one another that she began what may now be the largest Latina electronic network in the nation — Las Comadres. The network is becoming a powerful movement across the country. It began as a small electronic network of professional Latinas in Austin, Texas, and in 2003 expanded across Texas to Dayton, Ohio and nationwide. Today it includes more than 12,500 Latinas from all walks of life and is moving into the international arena with groups in Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico and Latin America on the horizon.

Program Elements

• Four week long leadership trainings within a nine month period in four cities.
• Mentorship to/from other Latinas.
• Implementation of a leadership/community service project addressing your community’s needs.
• Participation in NHLI webinars.
• Access to the premier nationwide network of distinguished Latina women.

Requirements

• A minimum of ten years of consecutive, substantive professional work experience.
  
• Demonstration of leadership (currently and potentially) as indicated by professional, volunteer, and other activities and documented through letters of recommendation.
• Strength of character, motivation, and commitment to personal and professional goals.
• Full intention to participate in all program activities and a commitment to continue to support NHLI.
  Please note: The program is not appropriate for women who are full-time students, seeking elected office, or going through professional or personal transition. It requires a considerable time commitment and the full attention of all of the participants during the training sessions.
• Submission of completed application before Friday, August 12, 2011.

Cost

The full cost of the program is approximately $25,000 per participant. Thanks to the support of sponsors and donors, NHLI is able to contribute significantly to participants’ tuition expenses, but a cost-sharing commitment is required. The tuition fees are as follows:

NHLI Tuition fees cover the following costs associated with training. Participants will be required to finance all other expenses/incidentals.

Week 1: San Juan Bautista, CA

• Lodging
• Group Meals During the Training Program
• Round Trip Airport Shuttle Transportation (local airport to retreat center and back)
• Direct Training Costs (Materials, Presenters, Etc.)

Week 2: Harvard University

• Lodging
• Group Meals During the Training Program
• Direct Training Costs (Materials, Presenters, Etc.)

Week 3: Center for Creative Leadership

• Tuition/Direct Training Costs

Week 4: Washington, DC

• Lodging
• Group Meals During the Training Program
• Local group transportation to and from activities
• Direct Training Costs (Materials, Presenters, Etc.)

To learn more about the Executive Leadership Program visit the Frequently Asked Questions page or contact Evelyn Garcia Morales, Program Manager at Evelyn@Nhli.org.