Table 4.
Example Comments from Participants Who Completed the Early Career Women’s Leadership Program and Their Connections to Key Outcomes
| Safe space. (Environment) |
| “This environment was very supportive. I think it was great that it was comprised of early career women, so in small groups we were all in somewhat similar stages of our career and did not feel embarrassed sharing some of our concerns and reservations about our careers”. |
| Developing greater self-awareness. (Reflection) |
| “This program was great! First, it helped me find the words for how I was feeling about my career. By identifying my feelings and thoughts, I was able to be more receptive and apply lessons learned”. |
| Linking core values with leadership goals. Creating a leadership action plan. (Tactical planning) Building resilience. (Skills) |
| “The program was so timely. I had not realized how much I was struggling and how isolated I felt. The program really helped me find my love for what I do again by making me think about the things that I value and make a plan to align my vision with actions”. |
| Increased clarity about what leadership involves and requires. (Reflection) Similar experiences shared through diverse perspectives. (Environment) |
| “Hearing some of the presenters’ stories was inspirational. It was helpful for me to hear that these women (leaders) had similar obstacles that I am navigating now. Hearing the way they handled certain situations was helpful”. |
| Tactical planning. Mentorship from the perspective of mentee. Communication. Self-promotion. (Skills) |
| “This program made me more aware of how to navigate early career development and the promotions process. I am now more intentional in how I will spend the next several months to few years. I feel equipped with several strategies – having a broader pool of mentors, not being afraid to ask, not being shy to promote myself gracefully – to help do this”. |
| Evolving leadership identity. Viewing oneself as a leader. Developing greater self-awareness. (Reflection) Confidence. Prioritizing. (Skills) |
| “(After completing the program), I am a more open-minded, patient leader. I judge less harshly, am more open to different perspectives, and am better able to advocate for myself. I also more clearly recognize the value that I bring to the table and how I can maximize that by working smarter and managing my time”. |
| Understanding the connection between core values and leadership. Viewing oneself as a leader. Increased clarity about what leadership involves and requires. (Reflection) Confidence. Mentorship from the perspective of mentee. (Skills) |
| “This program helped me build confidence in who I am as a researcher, mentor, and leader in this moment, and (it) helped me identify my core values as well as skills that I need to improve on. I previously thought there were only naturally born leaders. However, I now understand that leadership is a skill that is learned over time, both from experience with excellent mentors as well as trial and error in my own leadership opportunities”. |
| Leveraging networks, relationships, and coaching. (Tactical planning). Peer coaching. (Confidence) |
| “The coaching was AMAZING and provided so much insight and accountability for me. Interacting with my peers was invaluable as it helped me realize how I was or was not getting what I deserved while expanding my network to find like-minded people that I would not have met otherwise”. |