After successfully hosting a series of Leadership Seminars for executive-level staff, the 91ĆĆ˝â°ć’s Human Resources department expanded its initiative by holding its first seminar tailored specifically for managers and supervisors — and it exceeded expectations.
A total of 88 managers and supervisors attended the seminar, which HR Executive Director Connie Kemp described as a resounding success, noting that attendance surpassed initial projections.
Prior to this event, HR had hosted three executive seminars, each featuring a guest speaker and a unique leadership topic. Post-event surveys collected feedback and suggestions, which ultimately inspired the creation of seminars for mid-level leaders.
“This initiative began as a response to feedback we received after the executive leadership seminars, which had a very positive impact,” said Kemp. “Supervisors and managers reached out, expressing interest in participating as well. As a result, we decided to incorporate these sessions into our Leadership Series.”
The demand-driven expansion of the seminar series is a welcome development for HR.
“It’s incredibly gratifying to see leadership development becoming an integral part of our campus culture,” said Kemp. “We have senior vice presidents fully on board, supporting the initiative and recognizing its value in providing leadership development opportunities for their teams. This is the perfect platform to make that happen, especially as we have talented faculty right here at to facilitate the sessions.”
One of those faculty members is Randy Webb, Professor of Practice in the Marketing Department. With 25 years at and a distinguished corporate background — including roles as Vice President of Sales at M&M/Mars and President and CEO of Mars’ food division — Webb was the featured speaker at both the first executive and manager-level seminars.
His topic, “From Control to Influence: The Shift from Managing to Leading,” emphasized the importance of evolving leadership styles. Webb shared real-world anecdotes from his corporate career to illustrate key points, believing that storytelling helps make lessons memorable.
“Otherwise, how are they [staff] going to learn?” said Webb. “I’m a big believer in learning and providing opportunities for people to get better. And if HR doesn’t do it, who’s going to do it?”
Attendees found the seminar both relevant and impactful. John McNeely, Safety Manager with Environmental Health and Safety, said he attended to strengthen his leadership skills and appreciated the university-specific focus of the seminar, which differs from private-sector offerings.
Kyle Stehling, Director of Online Marketing and User Experience, praised the seminar’s engaging format and the speaker’s delivery. One key takeaway for him: empowering team members to work in their own way.
“It doesn’t have to necessarily be the way I would have done it,” Stehling said. “But we have a common end goal, and it’s making sure they feel empowered to reach that goal.”
With momentum building, Kemp and the HR team are already planning the next executive seminar.
“Gaston [Associate Vice Chancellor and Associate Vice President for Human Resources] has been a steadfast supporter of this initiative from the start,” said Kemp. “We both had a clear vision for its success, and leadership’s unwavering commitment and belief in the program have been invaluable. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see it embraced so quickly by leaders across campus.”