Building a future cultural landscape that is supportive of women in corporate leadership positions requires professionals who understand the role and importance of diversity, equity and inclusion and how to leverage towards this goal. Mignon Early, VP, Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Fresenius Medical Care and instructor for SMU Continuing and Professional Education’s (CAPE) online Women in Leadership: Influence and Impact (WIL) certificate program, is someone who thrives on making a difference in her students’ lives and celebrates their diversity as a strength for their career outlook.
“[My] enjoyment and experience at SMU has crystalized a pathway for me in terms of what’s next, leveraging my experience and supporting the next generation of leaders,” she says. “Engaging with future women leaders, understanding their challenges, and uncovering new approaches to coaching and mentoring helps me grow, too.”
Early believes an effective leader possesses a blend of skills and qualities that enables them to navigate the complexities of leadership while inspiring and empowering those around them. Some of her highlights include:
- The ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions, as well as recognize and influence the emotions of others.
- The ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to change, and keep moving forward despite challenges.
- Actively mentoring and sponsoring others, particularly those in underrepresented groups, which helps develop future leaders and promote diversity.
- The ability to make timely and well-considered decisions, balancing data, intuition, and input from others.
- A commitment to continuous learning and professional development
SMU CAPE’s Women in Leadership: Influence and Impact program is designed to develop the future leaders of tomorrow and give them the foundation to strive towards creating an impact in a socially dynamic corporate landscape. The program highlights key components of leadership and how to leverage those towards success while honoring diversity and inclusion.
Understanding the Human Connection
With more than 25 years of experience in nephrology, Early has held numerous leadership roles, including Regional Vice President, Group Vice President, General Manager, and Vice President of Clinical Quality. She holds a master’s degree in nursing from Drexel University and has been a Registered Nurse for more than 30 years.
Her perspective of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) was formed during her time in nursing, being taught to always put people and their needs first and to be inclusive of all identities and perspectives. Early’s personal DEI philosophy is that the work is not a campaign or initiative, but a lived experience that must be part of a forever journey personally and professionally.
“My professional experience brings real-world examples and practical skills into the learning environment, making abstract concepts tangible and relatable. It is those experiences and real-world examples that lend credibility and prepare students for workforce realities.”
Through her work, Early discovered a pathway to help foster the futures of diverse leaders of tomorrow by becoming an instructor, continuing her theme of collecting and celebrating the different personalities and experiences of her students and colleagues.
“I am privy to each cohort and see their unique experiences and perspectives,” says Early. “This diversity enriches the learning environment and leads to dynamic discussions and innovative solutions to challenges.”
Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders
The six-week Women in Leadership certificate program is designed to prepare women to transition into leadership roles or strengthen their effectiveness as active leaders. Early facilitates the fifth module in the program, Influence Through Coaching, Mentorship and Sponsorship, where students delve into the distinctions of effectively engaging in these relationships across diverse groups. Students explore concepts such as reverse mentoring, cross-cultural mentoring, and mentoring circles, and understand the unique benefits of each while also learning how to address specific concerns as future women leaders.
Throughout each module, students will learn leadership skills to influence and inspire their team and gain the knowledge to develop themselves and others in service of career objectives. These include:
- Module 1 – Leadership Starts from Within: Gain a better understanding of your personality, identity and leadership styles.
- Module 2 – Developing Strategic Insights – from Staff to C-Suite: Learn how to leverage strategic thinking and become a key contributor in the organization.
- Module 3 – Communicating for Influence: Deliver the right message for the right person at the right time to inspire action.
- Module 4 – Cultivating Psychological Safety, Trust, and Team Engagement: Explore the business case for psychological safety and trust, how to practice them in the workplace, and how to build a happy and healthy team dynamic.
- Module 5 – Influence Through Coaching, Mentorship and Sponsorship: Learn how to extend your influence as an ally, mentor or sponsor.
Speaking about what to expect in her module, Early says: “The module emphasizes the importance of identifying personal objectives for becoming a mentor and explains how mentoring positively impacts both the mentee and the organization. By the end, participants will create a personalized mentoring framework that outlines their mentoring goals and develop a comprehensive mentoring plan to advance their growth as influential leaders.”