Developing Future Leaders: Foley's 2024 Leadership Program Concludes

Foley recently hosted the final installment of its 2024 Leadership Development Program in Chicago for a cohort of emerging firm leaders from across the firm’s Corporate, Intellectual Property, and Litigation Departments.

During each of the program’s four live modules, the 24 participating senior counsel focused on particular aspects or competencies of leadership, drawing insight and inspiration from the various experiences of firm leaders who presented during the sessions. The group developed and practiced their leadership skills in an experiential and active manner throughout the months-long program during the modules, as well as in between each one through individual and group coaching sessions provided by our in-house executive coaching services. As one participant noted, “multiple touch points over several months … enabled [me] to implement different strategies over time and incorporate [them] into [my practice].”

Following the first module, titled “Leading Self,” held in May, subsequent modules focused on the following themes: Leading People, Leading Process, and Leading Change.

Through the “Leading People” module, participants learned about the various domains and competencies of emotional intelligence and identified which specific ones they individually wanted to focus on enhancing during the program.  Through the “Leading Process” module, participants learned about the critical and interdependent relationship between the skillsets of managing and leading and how they would apply them to different situations.  They also engaged in role play scenarios that highlighted a framework for accountability, including how to set clear expectations, facilitate psychological safety, and approach difficult conversations.

During the “Leading Change” module, external speaker and leadership consultant Carrie Fletcher led a discussion on intergenerational leadership within law firms and a design thinking workshop where participants applied principles learned to specific intergenerational challenges. The participants then presented to firm leadership on their recommended actionable solutions to these challenges. This year’s program participants not only honed their leadership skills, but they also strengthened relationships with their peers from different departments and offices and deepened their connection to the firm. Recognizing that leadership development is a continuous process of learning and growth, Foley sets itself apart by offering this comprehensive in-house training.  Participant feedback noted that the program was “practical, useful, and fun … and the camaraderie it promotes … is priceless,” and that it was “very well-designed and hit on a number of topics [that] have changed my perspective and approach to dealing with the variety of issues legal professionals face.”