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Lead Yourself, Influence Others,
and Impact the Organization
Lead Yourself, Influence Others,
and Impact the Organization
"Impact By Design" is a cohort-based leadership development program that equips Michigan Engineering faculty and staff with strategic skills and vision to make a positive impact in the College.
Leadership and Personal Development
Leadership and Personal Development
The Impact By Design program supports leadership and personal development through a blend of proven leadership principles, innovative strategies, and a cohort-based learning model. The faculty and staff who participate in this program become part of a network of growth-oriented leaders who continuously learn from one another, both during and after completing the program. Participating in this program will equip you to lead with intention and increase your positive impact in Michigan Engineering and beyond.
Key Outcomes & Benefits
Key Outcomes & Benefits
Our curriculum is designed to increase your positive impact:
Lead Yourself
Lead Yourself
Deepen your self-awareness to lead yourself with confidence.
Influence Others
Influence Others
Strengthen skills like self-regulation, boundary setting, and leveraging conflict to effectively influence others.
Impact the Organization
Impact the Organization
Apply proven leadership principles and strategies to positively impact Michigan Engineering and other organizations.
Leverage Strengths
Leverage Strengths
Identify and leverage your unique strengths in ways that align your actions and values.
We accomplish this by exploring topics such as:
Intentional leadership
Character strengths
Energy management
Emotional intelligence
Empathy
Trust in teams
Leveraging conflict
Communication
Feedback
Healthy boundaries
Who Is This Program For?
Who Is This Program For?
This program is tailored for Michigan Engineering faculty and staff ready to invest in their development. We welcome:
Faculty and staff at any career stage aiming to enhance their positive impact in Michigan Engineering
Emerging leaders seeking foundational skills to inspire future teams
Established leaders looking to refine their leadership style and drive innovation
Meet Your Facilitators
Dr. Heidi Sherick
Dr. Heidi Sherick
Director of Leadership Development
Heidi is a higher education veteran with over 30 years of experience across academic, student, and alumni affairs. Currently the Director of Leadership Development in the College of Engineering, she designs professional growth programs and provides one-on-one executive coaching for faculty and staff.
An ICF-trained executive coach with over a decade of experience, Heidi holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, specializing in developmental relationships. Grounded in positive leadership training and her philosophy of "lifting while you climb," she thrives as a connector dedicated to helping others reach their full potential.
Dr. Justine Post
Dr. Justine Post
Leadership and Professional Development Specialist Lead
Justine Post is the Leadership and Professional Development Specialist Lead on the Michigan Engineering Organizational Development team. She designs and facilitates growth opportunities for faculty and staff while providing tailored coaching for individuals, groups, and teams. A Michigan alumna, she brings diverse experience from both corporate consulting and academia.
She is highly passionate executive coach, helping individuals leverage their strengths, align their values, and prioritize well-being. Ultimately, her coaching aims to empower people to make intentional, strategic choices that enable them to thrive.
Congratulations to Our 2025-26 Graduates:
Andrej Lenert, ChE
Kyle Oberle, CAEN
Chi Okwudire, MechE
Tobias Pace, CEE
Mika Panagou, AERO
Jeff Raymond, ChE
Saquib Razak, CSE
Tabby Rohn, CEE
Fernando Saca, SPRL
Angela Violi, MechE
Y Z, NERS
Matt Faunce, OSA
Dan Cwiek, RPM
Karin Jensen, BME
Joy Jones, MechE
Yugo Ashida, NERS
Magda Calvillo, CSE
Mena Davidson, EECS-ECE
Samantha Price, Robotics
Vasileios Tzoumas, AERO
Clay Walker, Tech Comm
Denia Djokić, NERS
Kira Edwards, EECE-ECE
Giusy Falcone, AERO
Matthias Florian, EECE
Grace Hsia Haberl, CFE/LAE
Murray LaPointe, MechE
Dandan Zhang, MSE
Lulu Zhao, CLaSP
Ready to Unlock Your Potential with Impact By Design?
Ready to Unlock Your Potential with Impact By Design?
Take the next step in your career journey. Apply using the link below to be eligible to participate in our 26/27 program.
Resources to Support Your Leadership Development Journey
Take a free VIA Character Strengths assessment to define your personal strengths.
Set leadership development goals with the Michigan Model of Leadership.
Develop Daring Leadership skills that leverage curiosity, vulnerability, empathy, connection, and courage.
Adopt a Growth Mindset that unlocks your ability to improve over time.
Use the Design Thinking method to design a meaningful and joyful life.
Watch Bill Burnett's "5 Steps to Designing the Life You Want."
(25 min.)
Make small changes that can lead to big results with Atomic Habits.
Watch James Clear's "Atomic Habits: How to Get 1% Better Every Day." (8 min.)
Increase your control over your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with Calm Clarity.
Learn about two systems that drive our thoughts and actions in Thinking Fast and Slow.
Identify and manage the factors influencing your emotions with Emotional Equations.
Bridge the gap between your intentions and actions with How the Way We Talk Can Change the Way We Work.
Transform harmful arguments into healthy, productive conflict with High Conflict.
Watch Amanda Ripley "On Avoiding High Conflict."
(7 min.)
Improve your communication by showing personal care and directly challenging others with Radical Candor.
Watch Teri Cole's, "Boundary Setting Success: How You Say It Matters" to set boundaries with confidence. (20 min.)
Watch "Locating Yourself: A Key to Conscious Leadership" for ways to shift into a creative and collaborative mindset. (4 min.)
Watch Liane Davey's "How to Ask for Feedback: Know Your Strike Zone." (5 min.)
Watch LeeAnn Renniger's "The Secret to Giving Great Feedback" for a scientifically proven approach. (5 min.)
Watch Jamil Zaki's "We're Experiencing an Empathy Shortage, But We Can Fix It Together." (13 min.)
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