Western Energy Institute’s

2016 Business Acumen for Emerging Leaders Program

Candidate Application

Program Introduction

Business Acumen for Emerging Leaders is an application-based leadership and industry training program specifically designed for extraordinary, high potential managers and supervisors in the energy industry. The program offers broad exposure to the utility business, its interrelationships, and leadership training. Four program sessions are hosted by member utilities where executives, subject matter experts and formal instructors provide leadership development and their perspectives on energy issues. The fifth program sessionis at WEI’s Annual Meeting where students deliver a group presentation on an industry issue to an executive audience. WEI offers two classes of 24 students each.

Program Details

Price: $3,899 per student. Payment can be made in December 2015 or January 2016 depending on company preference.

Location: Each session has a unique location and will be held at a WEI member company utility.

Travel: One trip in late February, early April, late June, mid-August, mid-September

General Schedule: Each session, includingtravel, is typically three days.WEI Program Manager: Kevin Sullivan, 971-255-4973, .

Application: See below. Due November 6th, 2015.

Member Company Considerations

Many WEI member companies develop internal processes for selecting candidates for this course. The course is an investment for students and sponsoring companies with a tremendous return for the right candidates. The following are some of the factors you may wish to consider as a part of your selection process:

Levels in your organization

  • High Potential or fast-tracked supervisors (occasionally, a high-level individual performer)
  • New managers (new to industry, organization, or role) with proven leadership ability
  • Experienced managers who may have been in one functional area and will benefit the company with broader industry exposure

Candidate Characteristics

  • A proven commitment to the organization
  • Enough time and support from their supervisor to attend all sessions (approximately 20 days) and complete all projects/assignments in-between sessions (requires work outside of class)
  • Avid learner; capable of independent study
  • Leadership development is a part of their development plan
  • Is willing to share this experience in your company
  • Not involved in a current leadership program or other situation that will distract or conflict with the session materials and independent study
  • Generally, a manager or supervisor with direct reports

Commitments

This course will require a significant and sustained effort, including:

  • Attendance at all five sessions, including travel
  • Course pre-work and homework assignments
  • Interviewing others within your organization and researching information about your own company
  • Working together with a team to develop and deliver a final project

Your active engagement in this program will be shared with your supervisor.

Objectives for Each Session

Session 1: Leadership Development

  1. Identify strengths of self and others
  2. Start establishing bonds with project team and other participants
  3. Identify key leadership attributes of high performing teams
  4. Select group topic

Session 2: Industry Perspectives

  1. Learn basics of gas and electric operations and regulation
  2. Understand emerging trends and issues in the industry
  3. Gain insight from industry executives of what is needed to lead an integrated, diversified utility
  4. Provide you with a ticket to talk with your company’s senior leadership

Session 3: Customer and Communications

  1. Learn how your and other companies segment their customers
  2. Articulate how your work touches customers
  3. Understanding different communication functions
  4. Build a communication plan to address an industry issue
  5. Speaker and presentation training

Session 4: Strategic Planning

  1. How do you lead a diverse workforce as an inclusive leader
  2. How do you lead change
  3. Learn how to champion your company’s strategic plan in your role

Session 5: Executive Presentations

  1. Deliver an executive level presentation to the executive audience
  2. Meet and share ideas with senior leaders in the energy industry

Selection Process

Applications for this course are sent to WEI Board Members and key contacts for the program. These people, or a designee, will select and submit candidates based on the above criteria. Candidates should complete the attached application and provide a current resume. The candidates’ direct supervisors will also need to answer questions on this application.

Please complete the following application. Enter responses directly in to the corresponding boxes. Please also include a copy of your professional resume.

CANDIDATE INFORMATION
Name
Job Title / Years in Current Position
Company
Work Phone / Email
Cell Phone / Mailing Address
Emergency Contact Name / Emergency Contact Number
DIRECT SUPERVISOR’S INFORMATION
Name
Job Title
Work Phone / Email
CANDIDATE DEMOGRAPHICS
In order to ensure the diversity of the class, please provide the following information about yourself and your company:
Gender: / ( ) Male
( ) Female / Ethnicity: / ( ) American Indian ( ) Asian/Pacific Islander ( ) African American
( ) Hispanic/Latino ( ) Caucasian ( ) Other ( ) Prefer Not to Answer
Industry: / ( ) Electric ( ) Gas ( ) Other ______/ Years in Industry:
Business Ownership: / ( ) Investor Owned ( ) Public ( ) Other ______
Industry Segment: / ( ) Transmission ( ) Distribution ( ) Generation ( ) Other ______
Functional Area:
(e.g., Customer Service, HR, Operations, etc.)
Management Level: / ( ) Sr. Mgmt ( ) Middle Management ( ) Front-Line Supervisor ( ) Individual Contributor
CANDIDATE QUESTIONS
Can you commit to attending all five sessions, completing pre-work and assignments, and completing class assignments that can include conducting interviews and research in your own company? ( ) Yes ( ) No
Please describe your span of control as a manager. Include the number of your direct reports and any additional employees reporting up to you through others.
How does this course fit into your long-term development plan?
Are you actively or recently enrolled in another leadership development program? If so, please describe the value gained from your participation.
Besides activities on your development plan, what else are you doing to increase your leadership skills? (Community service, mentoring, other programs, etc.)
What are your long term career goals?
CANDIDATE’S SIGNATURE
Please note that you are expected to attend all five sessions. If you have prior commitments that make it impossible to attend one or more sessions, please apply in the future when you can make the full commitment.
Candidate’s Signature ______Date ______
QUESTIONS FOR YOUR DIRECT SUPERVISOR
Important information for candidate’s Supervisor: This program is intended to enhance your emerging leader’s business acumen, and will take a lot of time. Those time requirements include:
  • Five sessions that will generally require three consecutive days outside the office each
  • Pre-work and homework assignments (it is expected that student homework will not disrupt normal business operations and responsibilities
  • Connecting with key professionals in your company
  • Sharing information learned with you and others in your company

  1. It is important that students are free of distractions while attending the five leadership sessions. Do you support their attendance at all five of these sessions? ( ) Yes ( ) No

  1. What do you expect your emerging leader to gain from this experience?

  1. Would you like to be contacted directly with feedback on your employee’s engagement in the program? ( ) Yes ( ) No

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING YOUR EMERGING LEADER’S DEVELOPMENT!
DIRECT SUPERVISOR’S SIGNATURE
Direct Supervisor’s Signature ______Date ______

Return completed application to Kevin Sullivan at