JLC Members Appointed to Greater Cincinnati Leadership Programs

Appointed: JLC MEMBERS APPOINTED TO GREATER CINCINNATI LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS

BY KATIE ZIEGLER, VP OF COMMUNICATIONS

Four exceptional members of the Junior League of Cincinnati are making waves in leadership development! Rebecca Bryson, Mollie Flynn, Katie Dulle, and Allison Keller have been accepted into prestigious professional development programs within the Greater Cincinnati area, showcasing their commitment to advancing women's leadership and community impact. From the Cincinnati Regional Chamber's C-Change program to the YWCA Rising Stars Equity Leadership Program, these talented individuals are poised to bring back invaluable insights, skills, and connections to drive meaningful change to the League and the community at large This achievement is a testament to the power of our organization when our trained civic leaders are equipped to elevate their opportunities through programs that further their leadership journey, leaving a lasting impression. These experiences not only enhance their contributions within the Junior League of Cincinnati, but will also prepare them for the vital work they undertake within the organizations we support and beyond.

Rebecca Bryson, JLC Vice President of Community Impact and Vice President, Senior Commercial Credit Advisor at PNC Bank and Mollie Flynn, a dedicated member of our Spring Fundraiser Committee and Director of Communications at the City of Cincinnati, were accepted into the Cincinnati Regional Chamber’s C-Change program The program stands as a beacon for leadership development, catering specifically to mid-career professionals within the Cincinnati region. Its comprehensive curriculum integrates leadership development with community engagement, fostering holistic growth while honing participants' skills for both present and future leadership roles Notably, participants are also tasked with leading impactful community projects, fostering deeper connections within the region while positively influencing it Andrea Mersmann, Director of the Leadership Center at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber, noted, “these leaders are molding our region’s future and through C-Change, we get to see them cultivate and refine their impact today, we’re thrilled to be launching our 19th class,” in a recent press release announcing this year’s participants.

Rebecca shared that, "the Cincinnati Chamber's C-Change program is one of the top leadership programs in the City It is an honor to be selected alongside some of the most impressive young professionals in the City, and I truly believe my leadership experience in the JLC helped me get there I hope to learn more about managing teams so that I may give the Community Impact Council leaders the tools they need to be their best selves." Mollie shared the same excitement for the program, stating that "The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber is well-known for its outstanding leadership programs that benefit both new and experienced professionals I had considered applying to one of the programs for some time, but had never received the support from my employer until joining the City of Cincinnati. City Manager Sheryl Long is a big proponent of professional development and encouraged me to take part in C-Change As someone who changed careers after 11 years as a journalist, I was looking for an opportunity to expand my network outside of news and learn how to be a better leader while having a positive impact on my community I hope to graduate from the program this fall having developed strong relationships with my classmates, a successful project with our partner the Karen Wellington Foundation and to grow into a better leader to serve my employees and the citizens of Cincinnati " Both Rebcca and Mollie are poised to retain invaluable insights from their participation in C-Change, further amplifying their impact within our organization and the broader Greater Cincinnati community.

Katie Dulle and Allison Keller were accepted into the YWCA Rising Stars Equity Leadership Program, which stands as a catalyst for empowering high-performing women to assume leadership roles with a focus on equity This transformative experience not only enhances leadership skills but also prepares participants for non-profit board service, all while connecting them to a network of accomplished women leaders Sessions, led by local and national experts, cover a wide array of topics crucial for personal and professional growth, with a dedicated emphasis on eliminating discrimination and promoting racial and gender equity Graduates emerge with a coveted "Board and Equity Leader" certification, gaining access to exclusive networking and educational opportunities while being poised to serve on local boards through the YWCA's Board Registry.

Katie Dulle, a current JLC New Member Advisor and the incoming President-Elect, and Program Management professional at Oracle had great insights to share about the program and how she can bring this experience back to the League “Recognizing that our visions and goals are often shaped by what we see around us, I've come to realize that remote work, while hugely beneficial to me and my family, can limit access to vital mentorship, personal development and interaction with other female leaders,” expressed Katie, “My aspiration for the YWCA Rising Star Equity Leadership Program is to emerge not only with a deeper understanding of Cincinnati's equity landscape but also a network of locally engaged women, practical community engagement and board leadership skills, and the self-awareness to drive impactful change in both my professional and non-profit endeavors ” The Rising Stars program is already underway and Katie shared a little about that experience as well, “Each session of the YWCA program I find myself thinking, ‘We should share this in the League! We should do this training for our members!’ I am actively thinking about how to bring insights and knowledge about equity leadership from this program to our membership through training, workshops, guest speakers, and new partnerships It's worth noting that I learned about the program from one of our current JLC Board members and YWCA Career Woman of Achievement, Danya Karram The YWCA champions the motto ‘lift as you climb’ and Danya certainly did that for me I'm looking forward to doing that for others!” The League is fortunate to have Katie stepping into the role of President-Elect, where these valuable teachings will make a real impact Allison Keller is a recent Transfer to JLC from the Junior League of Charleston, WV, and Senior Environmental Planner at TC Energy When asked about why she joined the program, Allison said, “I transferred to the Junior League of Cincinnati in November 2022 from Charleston, WV with my family I fully believe in blooming where you are planted. During my time in grad school, I got more and more interested in environmental justice and empowering women in STEM I applied for the YWCA Rising Stars program to meet fellow like minded ladies and get non-profit board training I believe in harnessing women’s collective power for lasting impact ” We are excited to welcome Allison into the JLC and learn from her experience in this program.

The JLC is proud of and honored by the acceptance of our esteemed members into these competitive leadership programs that offer invaluable opportunities for our members and the wider community to pursue personal and professional growth The Cincinnati Regional Chamber's Leadership Center serves as a comprehensive resource hub, providing a range of programs tailored to individuals at every stage of their career, strengthening their connection to the Cincinnati region Likewise, the YWCA Rising Stars program will begin accepting applications in the Summer of 2024, offering a transformative experience for aspiring leaders For more information on these specific programs, visit cincinnatichamber com/leadership-center and ywcacincinnati org/rising-star-leadership-program.