UPwords Inc

Developing People. Growing Business.

616-464-4100 | info@upwordsinc.com

  • ABOUT
    • What We Do
    • Our Team
    • Our Clients
    • Client Testimonials
    • Recommended Resources
    • Contact
  • SPEAKING
  • LEADERSHIP COACHING
  • PROGRAMS
    • Customized Workshops
    • Team Development Program
    • The Raw Leadership Experience™
    • Open 360 Feedback Process™
    • Enterprise Executive Chef™
    • Organizational Macro-Mindset™
    • Sales Success Program
  • PHILOSOPHY
    • Raw Leadership™ Concept
    • Macro-Mindset™ Principles
    • Raw Leadership™ Process
    • Macro Leaders™
  • BLOG
  • AUTHOR

Positively impacting many through development

November 5, 2019 by Heidi Frye

 

Emily Kieliszewski, Heidi Frye, Summer Minnick

  • Approximately 45% of state and local government jobs in Michigan are held by women.
  • Approximately 40% of assistant City Manager positions in Michigan are held by women.
  • Yet only 16% of City Manager positions in Michigan are held by women (Nationwide this number is 13%).

This is how The 16/50 Project was born. After recognizing this disparity, the Michigan Municipal League, went into action. The goal was set: move the number from 16% to 50%!

But how?

How indeed. Summer Minnick, Deputy Director & CMO of the Michigan Municipal League, took on the monumental challenge of designing and creating a program to do just that. She quickly assessed that addressing skill-set-gap training and introducing participants to successful role-models were core components to the program. Summer instinctively knew for the program to be successful, a key coaching/self-development component was required to shift thinking, perspectives, and performance! The end result was a very intentional development program designed to close this gap. Now, time to put it into action! Emily Kieliszewski, Member Engagement Specialist at the MML, seized the opportunity to spearhead the program – functioning as ambassador, hand-selecting and inviting dignitaries as panelists and speakers, and overseeing execution. She took ownership of the program and made it a (successful) reality. Kudos to both of you! (Pictured above: Emily Kieliszewski – left, Summer Minnick – right)

Forbes Councils Member and writer, Kristin Constable shared her perspective on upcoming learning and development trends in her April 2018 article, which included: develop the required technical skills for today; develop leadership capacity at all levels of the organization; and facilitate whole-person development. Check, check, and check. The 16/50 program was on track!

I am honored to have partnered with these two go-getter-change-agents in presenting/speaking to the 2018 & 2019 Classes! The Class of 2018 was so successful a follow-up was required. As we wrap up this year’s 5-part series, we (again) see shifts. Shifts confirmed by the back-in-the-real-world stories the participants share.  Shifts confirmed by their responses and aha’s. Shifts confirmed by the promotions they’ve attained. They are chipping away at the number!

This program demonstrates how a full, robust, whole-person approach to development promotes growth at a root level. This is especially exciting because focusing on development at the root, or core, allows growth to exponentially and positively impact many.  Isn’t that what we should expect out of development work?

 

Filed Under: Communication, Development, Leadership Tagged With: 16/50 Project, City managers, coaching, core, development, development program, Emily Kieliszewski, Michigan Municipal League, MML, root, state local government, Summer Minnick

SUBSCRIBE TO UPWORDS!


LATEST BLOG POST

Positively impacting many through development

HOTTEST TRENDS

Authenticity authentic leader autonomy business coaching college students communication communication style culture Daniel Pink disengagement Drive ego engage engagement Gallup goals growth interview job search Lake Michigan lead leader leaders leadership leading life mastery Michigan motivate motivation perfection personality perspective purpose rally cry recruiting recruitment resistance strategic team teams teamwork The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us trust

REQUEST CONSULTATION

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

FROM THE BLOG

  • Positively impacting many through development
  • West Michigan Woman Magazine – I Am Not Invisible
  • Transformation
  • Engagement.
  • What does your leadership say about you?

BLOG CATEGORIES

  • Communication
  • Culture
  • Development
  • Job Search
  • Leadership
  • Life
  • Motivation
  • Networking
  • Personality
  • Recruiting
  • Teamwork
  • Uncategorized
Leadership Macro-Mindset Principles

What We Do

We break it down so you get it. Period. There’s a difference between understanding it and “getting it”. Ever try explaining what it’s like to be married to a friend who isn’t? Or having kids to a friend who doesn’t? Maybe the love for a pet to a non-pet-owner? They understand but they don’t get it, and you can’t … READ MORE

ACCREDITATION/MEMBERSHIP

Integrative Enneagram

Testimonials

Suzette Jaskie

“What a great asset Heidi has been to our team…Heidi in essence became part of our team and was able to assist key leaders in advancing their leadership approach and in turn – able to produce better results for the… Read more “Suzette Jaskie”

Suzette Jaskie
President and CEO of MedAxiom Consulting (Former CEO at West Michigan Heart)
Read more testimonials

Juli B.

“Working with Heidi was one of the most rewarding experiences in my career.  I am a better leader, co-worker and person…She has been one of the most influential people in my life.  I would recommend her expertise to anyone inspired to invest in advancing their career… Read more “Juli B.”

Juli B.
C.F.O.
Read more testimonials

J.C.

“In one sentence:  Heidi made me a better leader, employee, spouse and friend…Heidi is an outstanding coach that helped me achieve more than I thought I could, in a short period of time.”

J.C.
Director of Marketing, Meijer
Read more testimonials

Melvin Gottschalk, Jr.

“Pat Riley said ‘Great effort springs naturally from great attitude.’ Heidi Frye’s executive coaching enlightened me to the truth behind these words…I would not be where I am today without Heidi and highly recommend her leadership coaching to anyone focused on… Read more “Melvin Gottschalk, Jr.”

Melvin Gottschalk, Jr.
Read more testimonials

Stephan W. Waltman

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for the service that you have provided Stiles Machinery for the last 15 years. Your contributions…have been immeasurable…Personally, I feel privileged to have had access to your advice and counsel. We… Read more “Stephan W. Waltman”

Stephan W. Waltman
Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Stiles Machinery, Inc.
Read more testimonials

Linda M. Peasley, Ph.D. & Sally A. Camper

“The Department of Human Genetics would like to thank you for presenting the ‘Dealing with Conflicts’ workshop last weekend at our annual retreat…Our graduate students certainly appreciated the various exercises and, most of all, the role playing…The interactions with faculty,… Read more “Linda M. Peasley, Ph.D. & Sally A. Camper”

Linda M. Peasley, Ph.D. & Sally A. Camper
Department Administrator Prof. and Chair,The University of Michigan Medical School, Department of Human Genetics
Read more testimonials

Julie L. Novak

“I started working with Heidi about 18 months into my tenure as CEO, and …I soon realized it was essential to my growth as a leader. In the early days, she put a variety of concepts and tools in my… Read more “Julie L. Novak”

Julie L. Novak
Chief Executive Officer, Michigan State Medical Society
Read more testimonials

Lori Stokes

“I have reached out to Heidi during the many phases of my management career for leadership coaching.  Her advice and wisdom has helped me identify ways to grow professionally as a individual and leader.  She is  honest, professional, and highly… Read more “Lori Stokes”

Lori Stokes
Materials Manager
Read more testimonials

Spectrum Health Physician

“I have to admit I was a little skeptical when I first learned that we were to have this type of team meeting [Open 360 Feedback Process], but it definitely exceeded my expectations…You did a fabulous job with us and… Read more “Spectrum Health Physician”

Physician
Spectrum Health
Read more testimonials

Matt Schad

“…Nucraft has worked with Heidi to create internal peer groups to improve our internal communications and teamwork skills…Heidi facilitates these groups and the feedback has been uniformly positive from the participants…Heidi and UPwords Inc. have become a trusted Nucraft advisor.”

Matt Schad
CEO, Nucraft Furniture
Read more testimonials

Larry Gibbons

“I have worked with many executive search firms across the USA and Canada. Upwords Inc. has proven to be among the best, coming through where others have failed to meet our needs…Heidi Frye has demonstrated her ability to understand our… Read more “Larry Gibbons”

Larry Gibbons
VP HR, Kinectrics Inc.
Read more testimonials

David Purpura

“I wanted to share this and tell you how much you have helped me in my career in so many ways.  Your knowledge of the industry and mentoring is among the best and I hope that we remain professional contacts!!!!!! … Read more “David Purpura”

David Purpura
Director of U.S. Business Development
Read more testimonials

UPWORDS INC.

cropped-UpWords_Logo_New2.png

4519 Cascade Road
Building 1 - Suite 4
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546
info@upwordsinc.com
616.464.4100
616.464.0105 FAX

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Return to top of page

Copyright © 2022 · UPwords Inc. · Log in