Elevate 2023

An innovative leadership and development programme for women from minority ethnic groups (January – June 2023)

Applications are now open. Deadline: Sunday 23 October 2022

The University is funding these places through Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and People Development funds with no cost to the applicant or their department

Following the success of our previous cohort, we are pleased to announce that the Elevate leadership programme will again be offered for the 2022-23 academic year. Elevate creates a unique opportunity for Professional Services and Academic staff who identify as women from minority ethnic groups, to meet, share, support and learn together. The programme brings together colleagues from across five universities in the Southwest of England and South Wales: (Bristol, Bath, Cardiff, Exeter, and UWE Bristol).

Elevate is co-designed and co-facilitated by a team consisting of: Yvonne Field, a serial social entrepreneur and recent lecturer at Goldsmiths; Dr Peggy Warren, Researcher with an interest in gender studies and Leadership and Management Development Consultant; and Jamie Schearer-Udeh Anti-racism Consultant, Political Scientist & Community Organiser (Action Learning Facilitator).

This creative programme acknowledges and celebrates the history, culture and diverse lived experience of participants and will encourage participants to reflect, explore and grow through connecting and building solidarity together.

It will offer an engaging and bespoke combination of interactive online webinars and resources, Action Learning Sets, and cross-institutional Mentoring with a (hoped for) concluding face to face session.

Elevate is both a personal and professional development programme and will be focused on Academic staff (grades D-G) and Professional Service staff (grades C-G).

Elevate will be a safe space where leadership concepts and ideas will be introduced whilst exploring strategies that support the navigation of systemic practices which have tended to historically fix the professional identities of women from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Elevate recognises that prospective participants are ready to embrace and take on leadership responsibilities, but face differentiated lived experiences in employment, education and in wider society from their white counterparts. Elevate will be transformational and will centre the lived experiences and development needs of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic women. You will be the key focus!

*We recognise the diversity of individual identities and lived experiences, and we recognize that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic is an imperfect term that does not fully capture the racial, cultural, and ethnic identities of women that experience structural and systematic inequality. Whenever possible, we will name programme participants as they themselves prefer to be named.

Elevate will

• Provide a blended learning leadership and professional development programme over 6 months

• Introduce participants to different leadership styles and approaches which support the development of leadership and influencing skills

• Support participants to identify strengths and talents as well as development needs

• Provide on-going support through action learning and cross-institutional mentoring

• Empower women by using creative methodologies such as story-telling and journaling for reflection and sharing

“This programme has been overwhelmingly transformative, giving me a space to reflect deeply on what I have achieved in my professional and personal life, as well as how I would like to go forward with developing these areas.” ELEVATE 2022 PARTICIPANT

“The program opened the door for me to begin a journey of self-reflection and working on aspects that were stopping me from making bold moves in my career. I'm now less scared of change and have a new realization of my skills and experience and that I can flourish wherever I choose to go.” ELEVATE 2022 PARTICIPANT

“This is a fantastic programme which will benefit you not only professionally but personally. It is not like the traditional leadership programmes. If you go in with an open mind, it has the potential to positively change your life.” ELEVATE 2022 PARTICIPANT