Leadership Program for Agricultural Research and Development (LEPARD) for One Planet Fellowship Cohort 2
Greetings from Pamela Yieke, Albert Tsindi, Nalla Mbaye, and Siaka Coulibaly We are the trainers who will facilitate the Leadership Program for Agricultural Research and Development (LEPARD) for One Planet Fellowship Cohort 2 from April 24-30, 2022, in Nairobi, Kenya. We welcome you and eagerly anticipate your arrival.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Leadership Program for Agricultural Research and Development (LEPARD). As part of our commitment to building a pipeline of scientists working on climate change, AWARD has developed a course aimed at building the capacity of both women and men in leadership positions in Agricultural Research and Development (ARD) in Africa.
The first session will begin on Monday, April 25 at 8.30am. Please plan to arrive in Nairobi by Sunday, April 24. When you arrive, you will receive a welcome packet that has a task that needs to be completed before 8:30 am on Monday, April 25. The opening session is a substantive, essential component of establishing a learning community, and will set the stage for our work together during the week. Therefore, please ensure that you arrange your schedule so that you are rested and ready to engage on Monday early morning. The course ends on Friday, April 29 at 1.30 pm. Plan to attend and be fully engaged during all sessions.
This is an exciting, interactive, and intensive experience. Come prepared to enter into it with an open mind, and a willingness to share your experiences and learn from others.
Objectives of the Leadership Development Program
The objective of this course is to inspire participants to lead change in the area of climate change.
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Become aware of their leadership and managerial effectiveness and develop learning goals using 360-degree survey data
- Introduce participants to leadership in the current world and appreciate the leadership and management functions
- Enhance leadership effectiveness using essential communication skills
- Identify their personal leadership style, as well as understand other leadership styles and when to use them strategically
- Have increased self-awareness through identifying personality preferences, particularly as it pertains to Emotional Intelligence
- Strengthen the ability to lead and collaborate effectively with diverse groups
- Improve the ability to have challenging conversations that are productive and effective
- Enhance the ability to engage in effective negotiation conversations and strategic influencing
- Articulate how they will serve as change agents in their research or institutions.
A key element of the course is the 360-degree Feedback Survey. The inventory allows you to conduct a self-assessment of your strengths and areas for development, and to learn from others how they perceive your effectiveness in specific areas of leadership, management, and interpersonal skills. The data compiled from the inventory is strictly for your benefit and use, and will not be shared with others unless you choose to do so.
Deadline: Please complete and submit the 360-degree Feedback Survey Respondent Form by Monday, March 28, 2022.
You will also receive a 360-degree Feedback Survey to complete about yourself.
Deadline: Please complete and return your self-assessment by Monday, April 04, 2022.
Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is an introspective personality assessment questionnaire that helps participants identify their key strengths and weaknesses in order to improve work and personal relationships, increase productivity, clarify conflict, identify and develop leadership and enhance interpersonal communication. You will receive a link with instructions on how to fill in the online MBTI test.
Deadline: Monday, April 15, 2022
To help participants and facilitators get acquainted, please complete the Biographical Information form. We’ll post everyone’s responses on a section of the AWARD website that is accessible only by fellow Laureate Candidates.
Deadline: Monday, April 15, 2022
Please read these three articles, which will be emailed to you, before the course:
- Working with Diversity
- What Makes a Leader? – Daniel Goleman, Harvard Business Review
- What Leaders Really Do – John P. Kotter, Harvard Business Review
Deadline: We expect you to come to the course prepared to discuss these articles, so please let us know if you have any trouble accessing them.
Please complete the Leadership Challenge Worksheet to identify what you want to gain from the course. Identify a specific leadership challenge that you are facing in your work, or in a team, partnership, or project that you are willing to discuss with others.
We also strongly suggest that you talk with your immediate supervisor about her/his perceptions of your strengths and areas for improvement to help inform this activity.
Deadline: Print the Leadership Challenge Worksheet and bring it with you to the course.
At the closing of the course, we have a gift exchange among the participants and trainers so that everyone goes home with a memento of our time together. Please bring a small gift (costing no more than US$10) that is special to your country or current place of residence.
Please complete the following activities before attending the Course.
- Nominate respondents for the 360-degree Feedback Survey
- Complete your own 360-degree Feedback Survey (received through your email)
- Submit Biographical Information
- Read the course articles
- Complete the Leadership Challenge Worksheet
- Prepare for the gift exchange
Tsindi Albert is a crop scientist who specializes in plant breeding. He has more than 10 years of working experience in agricultural production, training, capacity development, and research. He worked as a Research Assistant for the National Soybean Breeding Programme and was a Lecturer at Mutare Polytechnic in the Department of Horticulture where he taught genetics and plant breeding, horticulture, floriculture, and plant protection. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Plant Breeding with the West African Center for Crop Improvement (WACCI), University of Ghana. He holds an MSc in Crop Science (Genetics and Plant Breeding) from Makerere University, Uganda, an MSc in Strategic Management from the Chinhoyi University of Technology, and a BSc in Agriculture (Crop Science) from the University of Zimbabwe. He is also an accredited MBTI practitioner and has co-authored and published two peer-reviewed articles. His focus is to be a leading breeder able to nurture, train and mentor the next generation of African plant breeders and brings to the A-TEAM a passion and vast experience in leadership training, team building, mentoring, and curriculum development.
Ms. Pamela Yoga-Yieke is a training consultant with over 20 years of experience working with a wide range of clients including corporations, government departments, and non-governmental organizations. She is a lead consultant at Training Yard (TY) Consultants and an associate consultant with two top firms in Africa and the United States. Her key areas of specialization include leadership and management training, enhancing negotiation and presentation skills, training in effective customer service, performance management, and facilitation skills. She is also a coach and mentor who believes that the younger generation must be adequately equipped for the challenging business world. Ms. Yoga-Yieke has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is a certified MBTI practitioner and coach. With her strong belief that awakening people’s potential through heightened self-awareness and development is the key to both personal and organizational success, she brings to the A-TEAM leadership, management, coaching, and mentoring expertise.