According to Alumni...

The A* program is better for an IC or line level manager. It’s also a time to have very specific conversations about what’s going on in someone’s life. It’s a great tool for relationship building and creating empathy about the shared experiences of a Black Software Engineer. The Accelerator program is more designed for the needs of each cohort and I’ve walked away with more tactics to add to my work and perspective on my future career growth.

This program was much more intensive and much more individual person-focused.  I think A* is more community/squad focused - which I love, and it works well - but this is for the person who wants to unpack what is keeping them from where they want to be and to identify what beliefs need to be left behind. I believe that there are similarities, but this was more take-action focused, if that makes sense, whereas A* can be the same but can happen over a longer period of time.

This program is really different from A* in a few key ways. It’s a lot more structured and moves at a faster pace, with a more rigorous peer selection and a higher level of commitment expected from everyone. Plus, the executive accelerator offers way more personalized guidance, with access to coaching and insights from various experts. In A*, the focus is mostly on learning from your squad’s experiences, but here you get a lot more direct support to grow.

The Executive Accelerator has a greater focus and relevance to those in leadership and senior roles. A* is more varied with the career stages and roles people have. With the Accelerator program there seems to be more in common with a greater sense of direction. In my A* squads I've felt I've usually been able to assist others more than they can help with my own challenges. There is programming and reactive nature with feedback to better align with the groups goals. I knew as my cohort showed up we were ready to work no matter how much else we had going on.  

While A* provides a peer group, the accelerator is like an executive bootcamp that provides not only a peer group, but rich content and experts in all of the areas you want to grow, along with a network of folks invested in seeing you be successful.

This accelerator is narrowly tailored and focused on helping execs become better so they can reach their goals. A* is more focused on just general career support and building relationships across all career levels.

This program is best for people who are looking to grow as leaders. You need to be intentional about immersing yourself in the process. The best results come when you are very open and introspective on how to use the tools & network to grow. You should be willing to do some homework; typically these are small assignment or tasks that help with setting goals, understanding your values or improving your brand. You will be exposed to a lot of resources and content; be aware of which resonates best with you and how to get the most value from those. 

The person who would benefit most from this is someone who has experienced many different roles and has standing management philosophy. The program assumes participants knows the basics. The person should be willing to be self-reflective, and honest enough to share challenges. This will allow the universe of coaches and speakers and cohort members to reflect different perspectives to show you another way.

Someone who can make the most of this program would be a person who is dedicated to growth and improvement - always getting better. They are willing to invest the time necessary to do the inner work - invest the time in the assessments, the sessions, and the retreat. I do think they need to have at least 8 years of experience and to have worked for at least 2-3 companies because they can pull from different environments.

The ideal person for this program is already on a leadership path and eager to keep growing. They should be coachable and open to feedback. It is best for leaders who are eager to learn from others, share their journey, and are committed to actively shaping their path forward.

1) Participants will get out of the program what they put in. I think it starts with being willing to invest 3-5 hours per week or month, completing the homework assignments (whether from coaches or from the onsites). 2) They'll need to be willing to be open with the group, and share experiences both positive and negative, because that sharing is a big part of giving others fresh perspectives. 3) In the spirit of "to go fast, you go alone. to go far, you go together," they should be invested in supporting the peer group (e.g. offering advice and perspective, as well as sharing their network) to help others achieve their goals. That's been such a great part of the program, and for the accelerator to have a multiplier effect, that support can't end when the last session ends. 4) Career experience is super important. I think folks at director+ are likely the best candidates because they'll have more experiences to draw from and will be fine tuning as opposed to learning for the first time. I don't think it matters whether the person is an IC or people leader. The program is really about positioning folks to lead.

Someone who can make the most of this program will more than likely already be accustomed to and can display how they balance many task or priorities. They will also more than likely be someone that continuously is seeking to grow and have many experiences to pull from where they can share these efforts and there challenges.