Program Management Guide: The ElevateHer Leadership Program

1. Program Introduction & Benefits

The ElevateHer Leadership Program is a 12-month, cohort-based development journey designed exclusively for women leaders. Its core essence is to move beyond individual advancement by embedding the "lift as you rise" philosophy—the intentional practice of elevating other women while progressing in one's own career. The program synthesizes world-class frameworks (Identity Work, Head-Heart-Hands, Soft Female Leadership) to address the unique gender dynamics women face, transforming leadership identity and fostering a culture of mutual support and systemic advocacy.

Strategic Benefits for Participants:

• Authentic Leadership Identity: Develop a resilient, self-aware leadership style that navigates and redefines gender-based expectations and barriers.
• Relational Leadership Mastery: Enhance emotional intelligence, empathy, and coalition-building skills to empower teams and sponsor peers effectively.
• Strategic Impact & Advocacy: Gain practical tools for negotiation, change leadership, and policy advocacy to drive measurable gender equity outcomes within organizations.
• Expanded Support Network: Build a powerful, trusted community of fellow women leaders for ongoing support, sponsorship, and collaboration.
• Career Acceleration with Purpose: Achieve personal career milestones while creating a documented legacy of elevating others, increasing visibility and organizational value.

2. Program Expansion Strategy

Analysis: The primary program goal is to "Adopt the 'lift as you rise' approach." While the core curriculum includes peer networks and sponsorship training, the intentional, structured pairing of less experienced with more senior leaders is a proven accelerator for embedding this philosophy. A supplemental Structured Mentorship Layer is recommended to enhance relational skill application and provide a safe, accountable space for practicing sponsorship and advocacy.

Value Addition: A formal mentorship component directly addresses the identified challenge of "Lack of Sponsorship and Resources." It operationalizes "lift as you rise" by creating direct lines of advocacy, provides real-time feedback on relational leadership skills, and strengthens the program's community fabric. It turns theoretical concepts of peer elevation into lived, accountable relationships.

Implementation Note: Integrate a Mentorship Track alongside core modules. In Month 1, use personality and career-stage assessments to facilitate mentor-mentee matching. Provide structured conversation guides aligned with program pillars (e.g., "Discussing Identity Work in Your Organization"). Host quarterly dedicated check-in workshops for mentor-mentee pairs to share challenges and successes in practicing elevation.

3. Implementation Roadmap

Launch Phase (Pre-Program to Month 1)

• $render`✓` Stakeholder Alignment: Secure executive sponsorship and communicate program value to people managers.
• $render`✓` Participant Selection: Finalize criteria (leadership level, potential, diversity of functions) and nomination/application process.
• $render`✓` Cohort Onboarding: Host a kick-off session to establish psychological safety, program expectations, and the "lift as you rise" covenant.
• $render`✓` Baseline Assessment: Administer 360-degree feedback and pre-program surveys on confidence, belonging, and network.
• $render`✓` Mentorship Activation: Conduct matching and launch orientation for the supplemental mentorship track.

Tracking & Operations (Months 1-12)

• Program Management: Assign a dedicated Program Manager to coordinate logistics, vendor management (coaches, facilitators), and cohort communications.
• Cohort Rhythm: Maintain a monthly cadence of: 1 core workshop/module, 1 peer learning circle meeting, and ongoing mentorship check-ins.
• Progress Tracking: Use the selected LMS and social network tools to track attendance, content completion, and mentorship meeting logs.
• Pulse Checks: Conduct brief monthly surveys to gauge engagement, well-being, and immediate application of skills.

Success Measurement

• KPIs:
  • Individual: 20% increase in 360-feedback scores on "Advocacy for Others" and "Leadership Presence"; 100% of participants log ≥50 hours of mentoring/sponsorship activities.
  • Network: 25% average growth in internal network connections (measured via org chart or social tool); 80% of participants report actively sponsoring at least one peer.
  • Organizational: At least two DE&I policy or initiative proposals developed and presented by the cohort to leadership; 10% improvement in post-program survey scores on "Perceived Culture of Inclusion."
• Feedback Mechanisms:
  • Mid-point Review (Month 6): Focus groups to assess skill application and program relevance.
  • Final Evaluation (Month 12): Post-program survey combining quantitative KPI tracking and qualitative narrative collection on career and impact stories.
  • Longitudinal Tracking (6-12 months post-program): Follow-up on promotion rates, retention of participants, and their mentees' progress.

4. Approved Tools List

• LMS (Learning Management System): Primary Justification: Essential for delivering structured curriculum content (video lectures, readings, assignments) for the four core modules, tracking completion, and housing the resource library. It provides scalability and consistent delivery.
• Internal Social Network: Primary Justification: Critical for fostering the "lift as you rise" community. Enables peer learning circles, discussion forums, knowledge sharing, and organic network growth beyond scheduled sessions. It facilitates the relational (Heart) pillar.
• Mentorship Software: Primary Justification: Directly supports the recommended supplemental Mentorship Layer. Enables sophisticated matching based on goals and profiles, provides structured meeting agendas, and simplifies logging and tracking of mentorship interactions for measurement.
• Personality Test: Secondary Justification: To be used during the launch phase to augment self-awareness work in the Identity and Self-Awareness pillar. Provides a common language for discussing leadership styles and communication preferences within the cohort and mentor-mentee pairs.

(Note: Coaching Software, ERG Program Software, and Onboarding Platform are not selected as the core program model is cohort-based learning with a supplemental mentorship layer, not 1:1 coaching, and it is not an ERG or onboarding program.)

5. Resource & Content Library

General Program Content

• Module 1: Identity and Self-Awareness
  • Video: "Deconstructing Leadership Narratives: A Gendered Lens"
  • Guide: "Interpreting Your 360-Feedback Through the Identity Work Framework"
  • Workbook: "Crafting Your Authentic Leadership Statement & Initial 'Lift' Commitment"
• Module 2: Relational and Emotional Leadership
  • Article Series: "The Neuroscience of Empathy and Collective Leadership"
  • Toolkit: "Building Your Strategic Sponsorship Map"
  • Case Study: "Successful Women's Coalitions in [Industry]"
• Module 3: Strategic Skills and Action
  • Simulation: "The Collaborative Negotiation Lab"
  • Template: "Leading Change: A Pilot Project Plan for Women Leaders"
  • Video Lecture: "Integrating Head, Heart, and Hands in Decision-Making"
• Module 4: Systemic Change and Advocacy
  • Workshop Guide: "Policy Advocacy and Building Business Cases for Equity"
  • Playbook: "Creating Cultural Safety in Your Team"
  • Template: "Measuring the ROI of Your 'Lift as You Rise' Initiatives"

Supplemental Mentoring Content Table

To support mentors and mentees in the supplemental track, focusing on the soft skills required to "lift as you rise."

Skill Area	Resource for Mentors	Resource for Mentees
Active Listening & Trust Building	Guide: "Creating Psychological Safety in Mentoring Conversations"	Article: "How to Prepare for and Get the Most from Mentoring Sessions"
Giving & Receiving Feedback	Framework: "The SBI Model for Delivering Actionable, Supportive Feedback"	Worksheet: "Soliciting Feedback on Your Leadership Presence"
Sponsorship vs. Mentorship	Checklist: "Actions of a Sponsor: Advocacy, Exposure, Protection"	Exercise: "Identifying Your Sponsorship Needs and Goals"
Career Navigation Coaching	Toolkit: "Asking Powerful Questions to Unlock Mentee Potential"	Guide: "Mapping Your Career Lattice: Exploring Vertical and Lateral Moves"
Networking & Introduction Etiquette	Template: "How to Make a Warm Introduction Email"	Worksheet: "Building Your Target Network List"