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| Coe was chosen by her peers to deliver the participant impact statement at the graduation ceremony. |
This September, UVAFinance's Adeline Coe graduated as a UVA Cornerstone Program member. She is part of the 8th cohort of the program, which was begun in 2014 as a way of identifying and developing UVA's future senior leaders.
Participation in the Cornerstone Program requires each member to dedicate eight hours of work per month over the course of twelve months. This can involve structured coursework, attending presentations and classes, and group project work. Project work focuses on researching and suggesting solutions for problems submitted by UVA schools and units.
Coe and her group focused on helping Facilities Management (FM) gather and analyze data on the languages spoken by their workforce of nearly 1200 employees. The group collaborated with FM and the Office of Civil Rights to design and deliver an equitable and inclusive survey backed by a strong communication plan. The survey had a 27% response rate. The group developed a dashboard from that data to share with FM, along with process recommendations and lessons learned.
Coe says the program's focus on humanistic leadership helped her to more fully understand "the importance of fostering connection, understanding, and unity in our workplaces."
Through the introspection and assessment offered as part of the program, Coe says she understands much more about her own decision-making processes and leadership style, as well as how these influence her interaction with others.
"I now have a strengthened ability to approach relationships and projects, prioritizing compassion and openness over my sometimes-relentless drive for results. . . . This has been an enriching experience that has empowered me to not only lead well, but also to uplift, inspire, and help usher in a brighter era of collaborative and compassionate leadership."
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