Leadership Academy

Columbia Women’s and Children’s Health Faculty Leadership Academy

The Columbia Women’s and Children’s Health Faculty Leadership Academy is an annual program which is offered to ten participants from the Department of Pediatrics, the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, and the pediatric division of the Department of Psychiatry. The program consists of eight days of formal instruction, peer mentoring sessions, and a yearlong leadership project. The program focuses on helping participants achieve the following goals:

  • To develop a leadership style that draws on personal strengths to work effectively in leadership and mentoring roles
  • To develop skills in negotiating and managing conflict
  • To increase the understanding of academic health centers’ structural complexities, operational challenges, and financing
  • To understand basics about financing within an academic health center
  • To experience use of a peer group to provide peer mentoring to address challenges

Course Description

Formal Instruction

The program consists of eight days of course work. These days include a mix of lectures, interactive activities, and small group activities. Topics have included:

  • Setting personal leadership skill goals
  • Time and email management and delegation
  • Elevator speeches—promoting one’s project
  • Negotiation and conflict management
  • Human resources, including hiring and firing
  • Managing change in organizations
  • Building clinical programs
  • Recruiting, rewarding, and retaining top talent
  • Institutional issues—views from University and hospital leaders
  • The Organization Workshop
  • Finances, funds flow, revenue cycles, research funding, business plans, and building hospital budgets

Birkman Abilities Inventory

Each participant takes the Birkman Abilities Inventory, receives feedback to set personal goals, and participates in a discussion of how individual differences impact group and dyadic functioning.

Peer Mentoring Group

Small groups meet in an informal setting to share challenges and accomplishments with peers.

Leadership Project and Mentor

Each participant has a leadership project for which they have a leadership mentor. They present their yearlong project at graduation.

Leadership Academy Graduates

Leadership Academy graduates have taken on new leadership positions (both here and at other institutions) and expanded the impact of their existing leadership roles. Leadership development does not end with graduation but continues through participation in additional training. Leadership Academy 2.0 seminars for graduates have been given on: 

  • Preventing and Addressing Workplace Performance Issues
  • Saying Yes, Saying No, Letting Go 
  • Responding to COVID-19 Challenges Using your Birkman Components 
  • Authentic Leadership: Leading in the Time of a Crisis

For the Columbia Women's and Children's Health Faculty Leadership Academy Summary Report 2010-2017, please email cg2659@columbia.edu.