How Najauna White Rediscovered and Owned Her Untapped Leadership Qualities

How did you first hear about NextGen Center?

I heard about NextGen Center from Pashara Black, who had completed the Foundation for Effective Leadership program the year before. She thought I would be interested in the program. So I started my research and ended up meeting another NGC alumnus, Hugh Hunt.

I explored the website. I read up on the LinkedIn page for NextGen Center and reviewed Brian Alvo’s profile. I like that he posted about leadership development and that the NextGen LinkedIn Community was invite-only.

I liked the fact that it was real hands-on experience -- not like you're going to get some PowerPoints, take a test, and at the end to figure out what kind of leader you are. I understood that this was going to be real practical training to develop levels of leadership.

What was your professional situation, and what were your goals going into the program?

I am a national sales manager and oversee about 10 different market segments. And there was one person that reported to me, as well as an intern. So I signed up for the program, and then both of those people stopped reporting to me. I was concerned that would mean I couldn’t do the program, but Brian said it wasn’t a game-changer to have actual reports.  

I knew going into the program that I had been hiding the type of leader that I was. If there were opportunities to speak at conferences or panels or there were initiatives I wanted to create or programs I wanted to develop, I often didn’t. I needed NextGen Center to teach me how to navigate that and make that happen. 

One of the first concepts that stuck with me during training was when we were taught the "vision" framework. Brian said was that in an absence of organizational vision, people create their own. And so it makes it hard to communicate and have a conversation around where we want to go. In the program, you learn how to have those tough conversations.

Now, the way I handle situations, the way I include myself on projects, and even create office initiatives are all very different. I have a strong stance and I'm willing to express it. Before, I wouldn't speak up out of fear of hearing “no,” but now I voice my opinion as a leader of this organization, no matter what my title. 

1:1 coaching is part of the Foundation program. What was that experience like for you?

The 1:1 coaching takes getting used to. Brian is not going to give you the answer. He is going to push you to find it yourself. And sometimes we want somebody to tell us what to do. 

I remember telling my husband that I didn’t know if I was ready to be a leader because every time Brian asked me to think on a higher level, I didn’t know what he was asking. He was asking me to take these ideas and concepts I had, and really put them into a vision of myself. And I realized that the skillsets or strengths that make me a leader weren't always being filled. I wanted to feel like there was a growth opportunity. 

The whole coaching process holds you accountable. And it makes you really think about what are you asking because you only have a limited amount of time in each session. You need to figure out what you're trying to get out of it. And I appreciated that, at the end of every session, Brian would ask, “Was this helpful? Is there something else you want to discuss?”

And I think that's imperative because often you have conversations with either leaders or people that you're meeting, and you just kind of end the conversation. You don't know what was resolved. So, I appreciated that approach.

How do you differentiate a manager from a leader? And what does that mean in terms of the program?

I feel like a manager is someone who gets things done and who delegates and uses their ‘title’ as a means to lead. But a leader demonstrates action and is there to give guidance. A leader is there to inspire. A leader is there to help people understand -- and create more leaders. 

If you're looking for a program that is going to give you real, hands-on, practical experience. If you're looking for tactical steps, but also insight to develop your own type of leadership without a blanket approach, this is it. If you're looking for something that is going to challenge you as an individual to grow as a person, to grow into senior leadership, then the Foundation program is something that you need.