“There was a high level of energy in the group, partly because of IDRC President Roy Dohner’s new leadership structure,” commented committee Co-chair Lori Brown (Binswanger International). “Member involvement is a form of leadership development,” observed Ed Kelley (USAA), who serves with Brown as committee co-chair. “The focus of the forum was the process of leadership. We’re finding that IDRC is increasingly a member-driven group that defines strategy and direction, and that works as a team with professional and support staff to get things done.”
The Feb. 15-17 Leadership Development Forum in Scottsdale, Ariz., marked the beginning of an important new organizational initiative and membership benefit for the International Development Research Council (IDRC). Fifty-three leaders from the Executive Committee, Board of Directors, policy boards, committees and chapters took part in the program.
“Leadership development is becoming integral to the strategic growth of IDRC as the association sets out to develop a leadership track to benefit the group, its members and their sponsoring organizations,” said IDRC President Roy Dohner (Nortel), a program participant.
Because of the program’s design as an interactive workshop, the event was structured to be limited to less than 60 participants from IDRC’s various leadership groups. The Forum, which stressed the development of both association and corporate leadership, was planned by the IDRC Leadership Committee.
ABOVE LEFT: Global Development Board Vice-chair Jeff Elie of Kaplan Education Centers summarizes IDRC’s international growth. BELOW RIGHT: Leadership Committee Co-chair Lori Brown (right) and committee member Stuart Laff (left) flank USAA’s Jeffrey Austin, a featured speaker. BELOW LEFT: IDRC Treasurer Parkash Ahuja summarizes IDRC’s strong financial profile.
New Leadership Structure Hailed
That new structure involves the creation of five new policy boards through which working committees report to the Board of Directors. On average, one in nine members is now involved as a volunteer for IDRC, according to IDRC’s Member Information System.
Linking the local-level leadership of IDRC chapters to the national and global roles of the Executive Committee and Board is also a critical aspect of the new leadership track. Before serving in IDRC’s highest office, IDRC presidents often serve as chapter chairs, who comprised more than one-third of the Scottsdale leadership audience.
A ‘Member-Driven’ Team
One of IDRC’s strengths is that it is a balanced organization, said IDRC Treasurer Parkash Ahuja (Charles Schwab Corp.). “As a team (members and staff), we’re one group with different roles,” Ahuja explained. “When we succeed, we succeed together.”
Future leadership development programs will be planned for additional IDRC members who serve as volunteers.
