Cori McKee, a Senior Mechanical Engineer with MIT’s Department of Facilities, is someone who actively seeks to take control of her future—whether it’s self-advocating for advancement or researching development opportunities. Leadership is something she’s passionate about and although she currently does not lead a team, she firmly believes that “leadership is something that you can do from any position you’re in. You can begin your leadership journey at any point.”
Unfortunately, women often face a unique set of challenges and obstacles as they strive towards senior leadership roles. Cori was experiencing her own set of roadblocks, wondering what tools were out there that could help her overcome challenges, when she stumbled upon MIT Sloan Executive Education in her professional backyard. At first, she was intrigued by the Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership, but then she quickly honed in in the Women’s Leadership Program. “Reading the synopsis, I immediately thought ‘This sounds amazing!’”
Led by renowned women faculty, the Women's Leadership Program is a four-day learning journey on the MIT campus to help participants deepen their leadership capabilities and provide them with critical mind-sets and skill sets essential for advancement. It clarifies what might be holding someone back from gaining or maximizing power, how to claim that power authentically, and how to lead more effectively. Informed by the latest research on leadership, negotiation, and power, the course helps women leaders develop a plan for action and gives them the essential tools they need to implement it.
Finding her why
There were two main drivers for applying to the course. First, like many of her peers, Cori didn’t feel her voice was being heard. “It’s harder for me to feel like I’m taken credibly or that I have the experience. If my male colleagues have a differing opinion, that’s the route people go without much discussion. So, what can I do to come across as more authoritative?”
Like any good leader, Cori’s other goal was to utilize the knowledge and tools she’d gain to help her mentor younger generations in ways that weren’t available to her when she first started out. “I really wanted to be able to have more information and more tools to pass on to my community. Here are the tricks and the skills so that we can all come up together. And we can work with each other and network with each other.”
An empowering environment
For many participants of the Women’s Leadership Program, one of the immediate impactful moments is simply being in a room with forty other passionate and driven women leaders from a variety of countries, industries, roles, and backgrounds. For many, it’s the first time they’re not a minority among their professional peers—not the sole woman leader. “I think it was the only time I’ve ever been in a professional setting that was all women. And there was so much laughter, camaraderie, empathy, support, and even a few tears. I know these terms get bandied about, but it really was a safe space where we could just show up. We could share our obstacles, be candid, and just go forward.”
“It was liberating, life-changing, validating… It was practical tips from the real world, but it was also tailored to me specifically. It left me with a toolkit that I can use in different situations and tap into different parts of myself.”
Like Cori, her classmates also felt a duty to take back what they learned to other women in their life. Everyone may have had different journeys and somewhat different goals, but they shared an overall vision and vulnerability. The faculty made sure to introduce exercises the first day so participants would feel comfortable being their authentic selves. “One woman said she gets told that she’s intimidating and that resonated with me. How many times have I heard that about women who speak with authority? So, everyone sharing really opened things up.”
An unexpected gift of the course was new friendships, an amazing diverse network, and a lifelong supportive community.
Putting the pieces together
Cori doesn’t want to give away the secrets of the course, but shares there were many amazing “ah-ha” moments. Over the course of the four days, she advises to just trust the process. Exercises that are done in the first half may not seem consequential, but by the end of the program it all gels together into a solid personalized action plan. The course is comprehensive, encompassing physical presence, technical skills, strategy, and analysis of your current organization.
One session that was particularly impactful explored the internal forces that hold women back and how to change that mindset and open oneself up to opportunity—and to realize that opportunity was now and not down the line after you’ve felt you’ve ticked off enough imaginary boxes. “It was liberating, life-changing, validating… It was practical tips from the real world, but it was also tailored to me specifically. It left me with a toolkit that I can use in different situations and tap into different parts of myself.”
Women's Leadership Program 2024 cohort
While she’s still absorbing everything from those four intense days, Cori has already been putting lessons to work. She’s being proactive in strategically expanding her network and she’s tackling projects at work with a different forward-thinking mindset. The course has also solidified her passion for leadership and mentorship opportunities. “I can make a difference whether it’s just for my small team or down the road if I get to a director position. I already have the power to make changes, and I’m going to start doing that now.” She plans to continue taking courses to earn her Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership.
Advice for the next cohort
First, Cori advises to take the day off following the program. Your brain will be so full and you’ll be so energized, you need the time to decompress and reflect on everything. Second, go in with some sort of plan. “Have an agenda for growth and success. Have an idea of a roadmap.” This roadmap is built out more throughout the course, but if you know where you might want to go, it’s easier to determine the realistic steps to follow to achieve your goal wherever you are on your leadership path—from management to C-level. And even if the end goal changes over time, you’re still further along the trajectory than if you hadn’t initially plotted it out. Lastly, just go for it!
“I think fear stops growth, and I think one of the best takeaways from the Women’s Leadership Program was looking at that fear full on. My biggest takeaway after this experience is that I’m ready now. I don’t have to wait until I have a certain certification, or finish a course. I’m not just leadership potential, but leadership ready. I’m telling every single woman that I know, if you’re ready to take your career to the next level, don’t hold yourself back—take this course, take this course, take this course!”
Learn more about the Women’s Leadership Program.
Contributed by Elaine Santoyo Goldman