In 2015, the WTS San Francisco Bay Area Chapter launched its mid-level Women’s Leadership Program (WLP).  Since then, over 250 women have completed leadership training that has provided them with the tools necessary to step into their power, own their strengths, and develop their leadership presence and signature style. In 2017, our Chapter launched a sister program which targets senior level and executive professionals. 

The purpose of the program is to enable executive level women to reach the next step.  It will address personalized development in key areas of their careers, leadership within their respective organizations, as well as leadership across the political environment. It will provide a rare opportunity for senior-level women to network and build relationships with other women leaders in the San Francisco Bay Area and is a continuation of WTS’ movement to build an alliance of strong, confident women who can transform leadership within the transportation industry.

Expected Outcomes

• Create an Authentic Leadership Style to manage with great influence (both within your organization as well as within the industry).
• Understand and utilize the four pillars of emotional intelligence.
• Learn effective communication models and learn the GROW coaching model to coach themselves and others.
• Learn an approach for engaging in difficult conversations and will practice this with a real-world situation.
• Cultivate executive presence through presentation learning and practice.
• Develop greater self-awareness to become a more effective and authentic leader.
• Assess and develop your personal style and behavior to engage with a wider range of constituents for more effective leadership.
• Apply program learnings to your specific work situation and commit to a set of concrete implementation goals.
• Create a robust learning community for WTS executive women.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What will the course cover?

An overview of the program sessions is as follows:

SESSION 1: LEADING SELF

• Authentic Leadership: Develop and communicate your personal Authentic Leadership Style utilizing the 5 dimensions that shape Authentic Leadership (Purpose, Values, Heart, Relationships, Self-Discipline).
• Emotional Intelligence: Learn practical skills to help improve your emotional intelligence based on neuroscience research.
• Resilience and Renewal: Understand how to fuel your energy for peak performance and minimize your stress with wellbeing practices.
• Understand and Navigate Bias.
• Strategic Career Plan: Create and commit to your personal strategic career plan.

SESSION 2: LEADING OTHERS

• Build and Manage High Performing Teams: Develop and manage high performing teams.
• Effective Communication and Coaching: Develop a personal communication style and apply it to coaching and developing others.
• Conflict and Difficult Conversations: Navigate areas of conflict and effectively engage in difficult conversations.

SESSION 3: LEADING ORGANIZATIONS AND INFLUENCING INDUSTRY

• Strategic Alliances: Building strong alliances within and across organizations.
• Influence & Advocacy: Creating influence and followership for initiatives.
• Executive Presence: Master influence through dynamic Presentations.

What is the learning environment of the program?

The Seminar will be a three-day intensive workshop. The Seminar will deliver learning by combining educational, experiential, and role playing in three core modules:

• Concept Presentation - Facilitator will present core concept models and will teach best practices and skills.
• Interactive Exercises - Participants will engage in interactive exercises in both small and large groups. In the debriefs, participants will explore both what they are learning and how they will apply it in their individual work environments.
• Role Play/Real Play - Participants will engage in role-playing difficult conversations from their work environment. This will give the

Who is eligible for this program?

Senior managers and Executives in the transportation industry with a minimum of 10 years of work and managerial experience; Senior managers, Directors, or Executives who have, or have been recently promoted to, positions with significant managerial responsibilities (manage large scope and groups); or Executives who are individual contributors with great influence (have organizational impact and decision-making).

This program is also a logical next step for alumni of the Women’s Leadership Program for Emerging Mid-level leaders upon reaching a senior or executive role as described above.

Do I have to be a member to apply? What about to participate?

Membership is not required to apply.  However, membership is required for enrollment and will be verified if you’re admitted to the program. If you’d like to become a WTS member, please visit: https://www.wtsinternational.org/home/membership. 

How can this program help me?

The innovative Executive Women’s Leadership Program provides a unique opportunity for senior-level women in transportation to understand how to create an effective leadership style to manage with great influence (both within your organization as well as within the industry).

• Develop greater self-awareness to become a more effective and authentic leader.
• Assess and develop your personal style and behavior to engage with a wider range of constituents for more effective leadership.
• Learn practical skills to help improve your emotional intelligence.
• Apply program learnings to your specific work situation and commit to a set of concrete implementation goals.

Why did WTS create the senior and executive leadership program?

Following the success of the mid-level Women’s Leadership Program launched in 2015, the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter saw the need to create a flagship executive leadership program for our senior-level members that would set itself apart from other types of leadership programs. We retained a well-respected, experienced facilitator from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business to design and conduct this seminar for the Chapter. Denise Rabius collaborated with WTS to create a seminar, which will enable executive level women to reach the next step. The seminar will address personalized development in key areas of each participant’s career, leadership within organizations, as well as leadership across the political environment.

How is this different from the Mid-Level Emerging Leaders Women’s Leadership Program?

This program builds upon the WLP for Emerging Mid-level leaders where some of these foundational topics are introduced and explored. Participants of the WLP for Senior and Executive leaders are assumed to have basic leadership skills and experience. From this foundation, participants will create an Authentic Leadership Style, and learn new skill sets for leading teams, and leading and influencing organizations and industry.

Do I have to attend all three sessions?

Yes, attendance is required for all three days to ensure the success of the seminar. In your statement of interest, please include a statement that you are committed to attending all day for all three days.

Who else will be in the program cohort with me?

The program is open to current WTS members. If you are not a member, you can join during or after the application process. WTS membership is required prior to the first day of the seminar.

Please also consider inviting your senior and Executive-level colleagues and friends to apply!

Will meals be provided?

Yes, lunch will be provided at all three in-person sessions.

What is the cost?

The cost of the program varies by program and is due one week before the first class. Program cost is posted when cohort applications are open.

Is financial aid available?

Financial aid will not be available through WTS, but most employers provide tuition reimbursement. Please work with your employer to see if fees to participate in this leadership seminar are eligible for reimbursement or subsidy. If needed, the WLP committee can provide invoices or receipts for the program tuition.

How do I apply?

Current programs are posted on the main WLP page.  To apply, complete the application form with a statement of interest and upload your resume. Your statement of interest should demonstrate your potential for leadership growth and development as well as how your involvement in WTS has been meaningful to you personally and/or professionally.