FULL SHOW | February 02, 2021 from GlobalHQ on Vimeo.
The Next Level programme is researched, designed and delivered by the Agri-Women’s Development Trust (AWDT) and runs across two North Island and two South Island intakes in 2021.
“Offering Next Level more widely is a response to the change in mindset of many primary sector women. They are recognising their value as leaders and choosing to step up as agents of positive change, without the need for permission or position,” AWDT general manager Lisa Sims said.
The six-month programme takes a strength-based approach, empowering women to understand their leadership style, define their personal “why” and design their roadmap to making a positive impact for the people and places they care about.
For 2020 Next Level graduate Kate Stewart, the programme was about taking ownership of her agri-career. The DairyNZ consulting officer for Manawatu learned to recognise her critical strength – building high-performing teams – and develop it with the support of facilitators, coaches and a group of like-minded women also aspiring to lead.
For Stewart, Next Level was about “putting in the work to really understand myself and how I could make a positive impact. I developed the self-confidence to stop worrying about what others were telling me, and walk my own path.”
Similarly, 2020 graduate Posy Moody finished the programme “believing 100% that I had leadership skills and the confidence to use them. For example, the way I communicate has changed – I now actively drop the word ‘just’ in my emails, because I don’t need to justify things – I’ve got this.”
The NZ Herefords manager is now committed to a future in governance and is developing new strategic planning capabilities within the organisation.
Sims points out the value of connecting farming and corporate women from multiple sectors together through a transformative experience like Next Level.
“While the groups are diverse, they find their tribe through a common desire to grow as leaders in their businesses and communities. They learn through each other’s experiences and motivate one another,” she said.
Starting in mid-March, Next Level programmes will run in Palmerston North, Hamilton, Dunedin and Christchurch. The format includes a mix of face-to-face group modules, individual online learning, online group connection and executive coaching.
To learn more about the Next Level programme, visit www.awdt.org.nz
