2019 Sponsorship Workshop - Developing Future Women Leaders in the UT System
Background
Research has substantiated that the complex challenges facing general academic and academic health institutions today are best addressed through diversity and inclusion being among the core leadership values and practices. Despite the gains made in the percentages of women among higher education graduates and faculty members, women remain underrepresented in U.S. academia's highest-level executive positions, known as the "C-suite." The University of Texas System is no exception, having generally lower numbers of women in top leadership positions in both the health and general academic components.
The corporate world has instituted 'sponsorship programs' designed to accelerate the careers of emerging leaders, including women. These are among the models used to develop the UT System's Women's Sponsorship Workshops begun in 2015 to develop future women leaders in the UT System.
The fourth annual Women's Sponsorship Workshop again targets female faculty members and female administrative and professional staff who are advancing in their careers and recognized to have the potential and drive to become future leaders. Each protégée will be matched with a senior leader from their home institution, i.e., a sponsor, in order to attend the Workshop as a 'dyad team.' Protégées will leave the Sponsorship Workshop with new knowledge, skills and career planning ideas to accelerate their path to executive leadership. Sponsors will be able to bolster their own knowledge and skills to continue sponsoring protégées as they rise into top leadership positions at their institutions.
