Identify, Equip & Inspire Your Next Leaders

Do you have an employee who shows the potential to lead — whether with quiet confidence or bold initiative? Lakeshore College’s Inspiring Leadership Program is designed to cultivate those emerging leaders within your organization — regardless of their current role or title — and to strengthen your workplace from the inside out.

Now in its fourth year, the program equips participants with essential leadership skills, helping them feel valued while also growing your business’s internal talent pipeline. As Lakeshore’s Associate Dean of Economic Development Lucas Dulmes explains, the program is built around the servant leadership model. “It's about focusing on putting others above yourself, empowering individuals to also become leaders and leading with purpose,” he said.  

A Response to Real Business Needs
Lakeshore’s program was born from a direct need voiced by local businesses: the demand for a robust, values-based leadership development experience. The result is:

•    40-hours of training
•    Covering 10 foundational leadership topics
•    Subject matter ranging from fostering a respectful workplace to mastering assertive communication, building trust, and driving accountability

Industries across healthcare, legal, nonprofit, manufacturing and financial services have already benefited from the Inspiring Leadership Program. The diverse backgrounds of participants fuel rich transparent conversations, peer learning and a spirit of collaboration that breaks down organizational silos.

“At Bank First, we believe in supporting employees at every stage of their professional journey. The Inspiring Leadership Program has been a beneficial option for team members who are new to leadership or transitioning into a supervisory role, and it’s also served as a helpful refresher for others looking to sharpen their skills,” said Bank First’s Corporate Training and Development Officer Crystal Heinzen. The financial institution values the development of strong leaders and has leveraged the program as part of its training to support that goal.

Empowerment Through Self-Awareness
One of the program’s most impactful sessions that sparks participation centers on the DiSC assessment. This interactive module provides participants with personalized insights into their communication styles and how to effectively engage with others. Dulmes shares, “People walk away with a deeper understanding of their colleagues’ needs and their own leadership approach. It’s eye-opening.”

The DiSC assessment is a behavioral and personality evaluation tool that helps individuals understand their behavioral tendencies and preferences. It categorizes people into four main personality styles: Dominance (D), Influence (I), Steadiness (S), and Conscientiousness (C). 

A Culture Shift That Starts from Within
Graduates of the program are making positive changes in their organizations. Companies that invest in this kind of development see improved retention, increased engagement and stronger cross-departmental collaboration, according to Dulmes. “Employers are starting to understand that incentivizing people to stay means more than just money,” he noted. “When you empower the individual, the whole business benefits.”

Celebrating Growth & Leadership
The program concludes with a meaningful graduation ceremony where participants share personal reflections on their leadership journey and the skills they’ve gained. Employers are invited to attend and witness the transformation firsthand.

Whether your team members are on the front lines or in the back office, leadership potential exists at every level. Lakeshore College’s Inspiring Leadership Program is your opportunity to recognize, nurture and elevate that talent—for your employees, and for your organization’s future.

For more information regarding the program, contact Workforce Solutions Training Director Tammy Beringer at tammy.beringer@lakeshore.edu.