Thirteen Hanscom Federal Credit Union employees have graduated from the credit union’s new L.E.A.D. (Leadership Education and Development) program, designed to help those without management experience develop the skills and attributes needed for leadership positions within the organization.
“We developed the program because we noticed some of our most promising employees were being passed over for promotions because they lacked management experience on their résumés,” said Mike Rzeszutek, Assistant V.P. of Sales and Training for Hanscom FCU. “Like many employers, we’re eager to prevent ‘brain drain,’ which happens when talented workers leave because they can’t advance within. L.E.A.D. is designed so that these employees gain not only the critical skills managers need, but the support of upper-level management to grow within the credit union.”
Participants in this initial class were nominated by their managers or senior management. The program included classroom time, a mentoring program, departmental visits, and a leadership book club. Three of the thirteen class members have been promoted to managerial positions, but as Rzeszutek points out, “Everyone in this class is already a leader, whether they’re a manager or not.”
Two more L.E.A.D. classes are scheduled for 2019, along with a follow-up class for graduates.
Photo: Graduates of Hanscom FCU’s L.E.A.D. (Leadership Education and Development) program with their mentors.