Developing Leadership Program Scholarships to Attend DISCUS Academy
Women of the Vine & Spirits (WOTVS) Foundation 501(c)3 is pleased to offer (2) Developing Leadership Program Scholarships to attend DISCUS Academy. The Leadership Program is an eight-month commitment consisting of virtual and in-person elements.
The Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation is able to provide these scholarships due to the generous support of Breakthru Beverage Group.
These scholarships closed on January 31 2023.
2024 Applications will open fall of 2023
The Developing Leadership Program is designed for any professional with an interest in growing their leadership skills. This program will transform early-stage managers into true leaders, by learning your leadership style, developing interpersonal skills, and understanding how to build and manage a high-performance team. Entrepreneurs, new managers and employees with limited management experience are encouraged to apply.
These scholarships are open to members and non-members of WOTVS as well as members and non-members of DISCUS. The DISCUS Academy Leadership Programs are open only to U.S. residents, therefore our scholarships are also open only to U.S residents. DISCUS Academy has set the criteria for selection of recipients and selection of the recipients will be made by DISCUS Academy. Applicants will be chosen based on their demonstrated leadership potential, initiative and commitment to the industry. Participants should be prepared to engage in self-reflection and introspective work required by this course and be prepared to put their leadership commitment into action following the program. The Leadership Certificate will use a selection process that maximizes diversity of the participant cohort.
DISCUS Academy is committed to upholding the principles of diversity and equality in all areas of its work, seeking to ensure that all participants and other stakeholders are always treated fairly and equally. In accordance with this policy, women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.
2023 Program Deliverables
Cornell Leadership Program Certificate
DISCUS Academy Leadership Certificate
Dare to Lead Certificate of Completion
Personality Type Indicator Report
Leadership Retreat (In-person, hotel and meals included in program fee)
Connected and engaged cohort
Better understanding of the self
Tools to develop skilled leadership
2023 Program Components
*Program dates will be confirmed prior to the start of the program and participants will be notified
Introductory Meeting (2 hrs)
March 10, 2023
Students will meet the other members of their cohort and the course facilitator to establish norms, expectations, and outcomes for the program.
Type Indicator Workshop (3 hrs)
March 24, 2023
The Predictive Index type indicator test provides students with a complete view of their personality within a work environment and provides areas of management strength and areas of improvement.
CEO Insights and Culture (2 hrs)
April 7, 2023
Students have a round table conversation with current industry CEOs about the specific demands of their jobs. Students are given an intimate opportunity to ask questions about leadership and how to handle specific situations.
Stress and Health as a Leader (2 hrs)
April 21, 2023
While the impact of stress on individual functioning is known, it’s also valuable to recognize how stress impacts leadership. When stress overwhelms, our mind and body simplify in response. Students learn to manage stress and care for themselves and their teams.
Dare to Lead Leadership Training (9 hrs)
May 5, 2023, May 19, 2023, June 2, 2023
Dare to Lead breaks down the four courage-building skills that make up brave leadership: how to lead your team in engaging with vulnerability; acting with integrity; having more productive and honest conversations; and moving on quickly from failure.
DISCUS Annual Conference (optional)
June 13-15, 2023
A reception will be held for current and former DISCUS Academy Leadership Program participants at the annual conference.
Cornell University Programming
June – September; 5 courses
Each course is 2 weeks long and students spend 5-7 hours of work on each course.
Active Listening & Processing Feedback: A leader's listening ability has a tremendous impact on their effectiveness. Professor Judi Brownell's HURIER model of listening provides a comprehensive method of listening improvement. In this course, you will assess your listening skills, set personal goals, and plan a development strategy. The application of listening principles to Servant Leadership and the development of emotional intelligence are emphasized.
Preparing for the Future: You will learn how to develop a plan to evaluate your organization's ability to accomplish its vision and strategy. You will apply Lewin's three-stage model of change to enable your organization's continuous adaptation and devise a plan that demonstrates how you will sustain progress. Finally, you will apply the read, exercise, sleep, and think (REST) model to take care of yourself and remain effective as a leader.
Setting Internal & External Conditions for Success: You will develop a checklist to help you determine the most important elements required to execute your vision and strategy. You will establish a sphere of influence that can provide external support and determine the most important elements required to accomplish your vision and strategy. Finally, you will prepare for unexpected challenges.
Students will take an additional 2 elective courses chosen from the Cornell Leadership Program course offerings.
Cohort Call (1 hr)
June 30, 2023
Cohort Call (1 hr)
July 21, 2023
Cohort Call (1 hr)
August 18, 2023
Cohort Call (1 hr)
September 22, 2023
Cohort Call (1 hr)
October 13, 2023
Leadership Retreat (mandatory)
October 22-25, 2023
Students will join with the other leadership program cohorts for in-person development, networking, team building, and community service. A mandatory part of the program, the retreat culminates in a graduation awards dinner to acknowledge the hard work of all participants.