The bell tower of Furman University.
Furman University has launched the Center for Innovative Leadership (CIL). This is a talent development initiative aimed at supporting mature and growing businesses in Greenville and the Upstate region.
Garrett Stern, Executive Director of CIL, said CIL will leverage Furman’s expertise and the community outreach already done through four laboratories on campus, and combine it with key global partners. says it offers best-in-class leadership and business innovation programs. Stern joined Furman in August 2022 from the University of Richmond and has spent more than seven years building professional programs and building relationships with the community.
“CIL is designed so that you can meet an expert at any point in your journey,” says Stern. “Through our certification programs, short courses, or one-on-one coaching, we aim to deliver innovative learning that changes career trajectories.By providing impactful education and developing leaders in our communities, Furman We want to serve the broader upstate community by doing what we do best.”
To that end, Stern has developed strategic relationships with Global Leadership Services in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the UX Design Institute in Dublin, Ireland, and Peak Performance in Richmond, Virginia.
Global Leadership Services is an upstate-based leadership development firm and preferred channel partner of the Creative Leadership Center, based in Greensboro, NC, offering a globally recognized leadership curriculum.
Clemson Turregano, CEO of GLS, said: Together, we deliver world-class leadership development, tailoring programs to employer needs, and enabling participants to quickly test and use new leadership skills in the workplace. ”
Furman, the UX Design Institute’s first U.S. partner university, offers courses to foster business innovation and develop technical talent.
“UX (user experience) and UI (user interface) design is one of the fastest growing areas in technology,” says Stern. “Our partnership with the UX Design Institute allows us to address a key talent need that aligns with the expertise found in our Master of Strategic Design program. We offer professional certification in both UX and UI. .”
Colman Walsh, CEO of the UX Design Institute, said: “We are delighted to partner with the Garrett and Furman teams to create meaningful, challenging and long-term career opportunities in UX and UI.”
CIL has partnered with Peak Performance to provide DEI leadership coaching, reinforcing Furman’s long-running Women’s Leadership Initiative, launched in 1998.
“Peak is proud to partner with the Women’s Leadership Initiative at the Furman’s Center for Innovative Leadership,” said Yuri Tuppince, Peak Founder and Chief Learning Officer.
Furman’s Upstate influence spans the Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Riley Institute, the Sea Institute for Sustainable Communities and the Institute for the Advancement of Community Health. The Center for Innovative Leadership is another example of how Furman is committed to its mission of being the University of Greenville.
CIL is now accepting applications for the Women’s Leadership Initiative, which will begin on April 27th.th.
For more information on all programs offered by the Center for Innovative Leadership, please visit our website or contact Stern at 864-294-3160 and garrett.stern@furman.edu.
