Belle and George Strell Executive Leadership Fellows Program

To apply click below for:
Fellows Application

Extraordinary Leaders Do More than Manage

Human service organizations are experiencing a turbulent political and fiscal environment. These organizations face a steadily increased demand for services. Strong leaders are required to navigate the complexity and uncertainty of this landscape. They must have relationship-based management skills, a vision for improved services and social justice, and practical business acumen.

Social work leaders bring great value to human service organizations. The Silberman’s Belle and George Strell Executive Leadership Fellows Program is designed to create a pipeline of MSW (or related) leaders to fill C-suite positions.

Program Framework

The dynamic 15-week program (January-May on Fridays from 12-4pm) consists of:

  1. Networking opportunities with Friday seminar leaders, individual coaches, and other Strell Fellows
  2. Twelve weekly seminars with NYC nonprofit leaders (typically CEOs) – online synchronous (i.e., live but held remotely)
  3. Three multi-course gourmet NYC lunches out on the town in order to promote connectedness for the 12 weekly online seminars
  4. At least eight individual coaching sessions from carefully selected top-tier managers (flexibly arranged and held remotely)

Seminars

  • Weekly sessions are offered online every Friday afternoon from the explicit perspective of an organization’s CEO.
  • Topics include governance and board relations, staff hiring and retention, financial planning and budgeting, agency vision and values, building organizational culture, and job search preparation.
  • CEO content is discussed and critiqued using breakout rooms for small-group discussion among Fellows.
  • Material is grounded using case studies focused on organizational culture and leadership taken from the Fellows’ current organizational challenges.

Coaching

  • Individual coaching with nonprofit executives (typically CEOs or other senior leaders) is tailored to the Fellows’ personal assessments of their skills and needs.
  • Coaches are carefully matched with Fellows based on those skills and needs.
  • The 8-10 coaching sessions are flexibly arranged, held remotely, and lead often to lasting relationships.

Network Building

  • Fellows develop relationships with highly interconnected NYC executives in both the Friday seminars and in individual coaching sessions.
  • Relationships develop between Fellows (mid- to senior-level managers who also have many connections).

Eating!

  • Remoteness Is removed from remote learning by sharing 3 multi-course gourmet meals in NYC.
  • The 3 lunches are also held on Fridays (12-4pm) in the 15-week program (including the 12 online sessions with CEOs).

Admission Criteria and Credentials

The Strell Executive Leadership Fellows Program was created for mid- to senior-level managers of human service organizations. We are especially interested in applications from women and persons of color who wish to prepare for top leadership in the human services. All applications must include a reference from your organization and a personal statement.

The program involves a significant commitment of time and attention. Once accepted as a Fellow, participants are expected to attend all 15 Friday afternoon sessions (including 3 lunches and 12 sessions with CEOs) and all 8-10 individual coaching sessions.

Program Tuition

Program tuition is $3,500, which may be paid by organizations, individuals, or a combination of both.

Core components of this program are funded through the generosity of the Belle and George Strell Endowment.

For questions please contact Jonathan Prince (Director) at jprin@hunter.cuny.edu

Curriculum Overview →