Two Career Track Programs Give Duke Employees Space to Learn and Lead

“I’m grateful for the opportunity and definitely looking forward to what’s ahead,” Rhodes said at a recent kickoff for the Foundational Skills Program.

Learn more about the two programs and some Duke colleagues in them.

Frontline Supervisor Program

During the opening session of L&OD’s Frontline Supervisor Program this fall, teams of first-time managers with markers and large sheets of paper were asked to write a list of words and hand-drawn illustrations that symbolize what a good leader can be.

After a few minutes of discussions, one by one, group members displayed their colorful papers, talking about why they chose qualities such as integrity, kindness and balance, and explained the meaning of drawings of people climbing mountains, hands shaking and traffic lights glowing green.

“I think everyone in our group is very optimistic and positive and that’s something you don’t always see in leadership,” Service Access Team Lead and Frontline Supervisor Program participant Taylor Morgan said about the bright, orange sun her group drew. “You have to balance the caring and accountability.”

The session opened the fourth edition of the Frontline Supervisor Program, a 10-month leadership development journey for new managers at Duke University and Duke University Health System. Before the 21 participants begin exploring their management styles and leadership strategies, the introductory exercise gave them a chance to connect with one another and reflect on the kind of leaders they hope to become.

For program leader Shannon Ashford, L&OD Associate Director for Organization and Workforce Development, hearing similarities between the values the groups picked – despite members being drawn from different corners of Duke – underscores the utility of leadership development opportunities like the Frontline Supervisor Program.

“By learning about the values they all share, they see that they’re part of a greater whole that is Duke,” Ashford said. “It shows them that they are not alone and other people are experiencing the same things they are.”

As part of the program, participants will have 360-degree evaluations showing how their leadership style meshes with colleagues, receive individual coaching from L&OD experts and senior mentors and complete case studies on topics proposed by Duke leaders.

For Morgan, the Service Access Team Lead who has worked at Duke for more than three years and has led her team in Duke Cancer Center’s Oncology Department since January, the motivation to join the program stems from managers she’s had in the past. She said she values leaders who inspire commitment to the team’s mission while also prioritizing individual growth.

“I want to learn how to be an impactful leader,” Morgan said. “That’s what I want to carry with me. I want to learn how to make an impact in people’s lives.”

Foundational Skills Program

Gloria Turner’s role as a Nursing Care Assistant and Health Unit Coordinator with Duke Raleigh Hospital’s Surgical Oncology Unit requires her to do a little bit of a lot of different things.

Turner, who’s been at Duke for eight years, does plenty of hands-on patient care, getting vital signs and helping patients move while recovering from surgery. But she also often helps answer phones and emails and schedules tasks to be done around the unit.

When her manager suggested she join the 10-month Foundational Skills Program, which offers comprehensive training in technology and communication skills and pairs participants with a seasoned administrative professional for mentoring, Turner saw it as a valuable opportunity to grow. Turner is one of 12 participants in the program, which kicked off in November.

“I’m always open for anything new, anything that will help me grow,” Turner said. “I just want to enhance those skills that I was already familiar with and figure out how I can use them in different ways.”

Since its launch in 2018, the Foundational Skills Program has offered employees in non-administrative roles in service areas or those in certain job levels, a chance to gain in-depth knowledge of tools such as Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel and topics such as business writing, customer service and time management.

Participants also connect with mentors who have earned the Certified Executive Administrative Professional (CEAP) designation and take part in the CliftonStrengths assessment activity that will help them identify their innate skills.

“We want to help people make the connections at Duke and build the confidence and skills they’ll use to try that next thing, whatever it is,” said program organizer and Senior Learning & Organization Development Consultant Marjorie Siegert. “We want them to feel like they’re building a career here and that they have some extra tools. So whether they want to ask for more responsibilities, become a team lead or explore something new, they’ll have what they need to go for it.”

During the first session of the Foundational Skills Program, Turner was paired with mentor Martha Olson, an Administrative Specialist with Duke Neurosciences and Behavioral Health. Turner said Olson gave her helpful insights into the kinds of skills – such as project management – that administrative professionals will lean on moving forward.

“It’s nice that I’m able to do this,” Turner said. “It’s nice to be able to develop new skills within my workplace in order to give back to other areas within Duke.”

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