NGC Experience: Kyndall DySard

How did you first hear about NextGen Center and the Foundation for Effective Leadership program?

I first heard about NextGen Center when I started at Reunion Marketing in June of 2018. They told me then that I was going to start in the junior leadership development program. 

Before this cohort began, I was about a year and a half into my time with Reunion so still very green. I started the program with the hopes of fine-tuning my leadership skills, because I've been told that I'm on the management track. But I actually acquired a direct report in March, just as the program was getting underway, so I was able to start being a manager and also go through this program at the same time.

The timing was perfect. Challenge number one was that we're in a global pandemic, so I had to train him remotely. I only met him during the interview process and then he picked up his laptop and I sent him home, saying, “See you online in 30 minutes!”

Challenge number two was just figuring out the style of leadership and management that I want to follow. I view leadership and management as two separate entities.

Leadership can be done by anyone, but management is a title. So I want to make sure that my direct report knew that I was his manager but saw me as a leader as well. 

Many of the skills that we worked on with the Foundation for Effective Leadership program I was able to practice with my direct report right away. I've been able to practice observational skills, and I've been able to practice giving and receiving feedback. The latter was perfect because we do quarterly reviews, which was my first time doing so. 

What does it mean to you that your employer provided this opportunity?

I would love to see more people go through this program. I love that Reunion Marketing puts employees through this program and recommend for people to do it because it shows that they want people to stick around and they want them to grow professionally. They said this to me in my first interview: they want me to grow with the company but they also want me to grow as a professional.

I feel like I grew more as an individual through this program.

We do talk about core values, strengths, and how we receive feedback, which is all about professional development. But I would say it's also personal development. I feel like you have to know who you are as a person, before you can grow as a leader.

My 1-on-1 coaching with Peggy, who is like a gift from God, was very beneficial. Because even though Reunion Marketing is paying for the program, I used that time with Peggy to focus on myself. Peggy was able to focus on everything. She gave me homework and it was an enhanced level of the program.

I did have an aha moment during the program as well. Right now I'm in a client-facing role and I really like my job. But this is not something that I want to do for the next fifty years of my career. Peggy and I talked about what my strengths are and what my passions are, and how that translates into the next step. We were able to have these very coachable conversations, and I did figure out what I want to do next, to identify where my passions lie and what kind of career I want.

What’s your overall view of Brian Alvo and the program’s value?

Brian has done such a phenomenal job with this program. We had our first session in-person and then COVID hit. So we did the remainder of our program fully remote and on Zoom and nothing skipped a beat. 

Brian made sure the program was workable and effective virtually -- he was able to pivot and do it effectively, asking for feedback and making those changes in his program immediately. I think a lot of people work in organizations where they feel like their feedback is unheard or invalid. Brian has never made me personally feel like my feedback or my opinion of his program was unvalued, and he puts blood, sweat, and tears into it.

When I started the program I was a totally different person from who I am now.

So it was only a six month period, but I feel wiser. I definitely feel more confident in my leadership abilities, but also in my management skills, too.