The Virginia Executive Institute (VEI) hosted by the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute within the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs celebrated the graduation of its Spring 2025 cohort on June 13 at the historic Virginia Capitol. This exceptional group of leaders from across the Commonwealth's government agencies spent two weeks over the spring honing their leadership skills and tackling some of Virginia’s most pressing challenges.

A Transformative Leadership Journey

The program kicked off with an immersive week in Virginia Beach, where participants delved into core leadership principles. Utilizing tools like the 360 Assessment, MBTI, and EQ-i, they developed a stronger sense of self-awareness and emotional intelligence. Throughout the week, they explored a range of critical topics—including leading change initiatives, servant leadership, and the intersection of health and public policy. We were also fortunate to welcome a number of distinguished guest speakers, including Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo from the University of Maryland, Senior Justice William Mims, and Dr. Bob Holsworth, who delivered a timely and insightful presentation on Virginia politics.

Week Two, held in June in Charlottesville, built on the foundational skills developed during Week One and took participants deeper into advanced leadership concepts. Attendees explored the influence of organizational culture, strategies for navigating difficult conversations, effective crisis communication, and the role of storytelling as a leadership tool.

Highlights included a compelling session with Harold Clarke, former Director of the Department of Corrections, who shared his expertise on cultivating positive organizational cultures. Paula Otto, President of Otto Training and Consulting, provided practical tools and strategies for communicating during crises. The week also featured dynamic discussions with Janet Lawson, Director of the Department of Human Resource Management, on navigating complex personnel issues; a negotiation tactics session led by Katharine Bond; and a forward-looking conversation on how artificial intelligence is shaping agency transformation and leadership practices. AI discussions were led by VCU professors Christopher Whyte and Jason Merrick. The kicker of week two, though, was a punchy session on Ethics with Dr. Michael Gillette.

This dynamic and rigorous curriculum equipped participants with the tools and perspectives necessary to navigate the complexities of leadership in Virginia’s public sector, culminating in the impactful Leadership Challenge presentations.

Leadership Challenge Presentations

A key feature of the VEI is the opportunity to discuss and address real issues being encountered by state government. As part of the VEI experience, each participant works in a small group on a critical problem facing the commonwealth. This project provides an opportunity to practice using tools and techniques featured at VEI while proposing a solution to a critical leadership challenge.  

This cohort's final projects addressed critical topics:

1. Virginia Forward – Reimagining Digital Access to Government Services: As the Commonwealth evolves, there’s a growing need to demonstrate the value of government services and deliver a seamless digital experience for citizens.

• • Kim Barton: DVS, Luke Black: VADOC, Melissa Gordon: VDH, Holly Mortlock: SCC, Stacy Pendleton: DHRM, Harvey Powers: DCJS 

2. Designing a More Human-Centered Virginia: The Commonwealth is investing in modern technology and infrastructure, yet agencies face significant challenges with effectively implementing new systems due to a misalignment between new system capabilities and needs.

• • Cindi Fellows: DMV, Matt Gomez: DSS, Lauren Govoni: SCC, Heather Legere: DVS, Deanna Oware: DRPT, Mike Palmer: TAX 

3. Pathways to Purpose: Promoting Jobs in Virginia State Government: To attract and retain young talent, Virginia state government should improve early career visibility through a tailored job search tool, school outreach, and career events—making public sector opportunities more accessible and appealing to emerging professionals.

• • Nancy Chen: TAX, Brendan Delbos: DWR, Elizabeth Lee: DSS, Emily Stock: DRPT

4. Leveraging Veteran Talent to Fill Critical Roles in Virginia State Government: Virginia can help fill critical state agency roles by leveraging military veterans’ skills; this project will assess current efforts, review other states’ strategies, and identify ways to strengthen veteran-focused hiring programs.

• • Naveen Abraham: VITA, Lauren Axselle: JLARC, Terry Crockett: VA529, Eric Johnson: DVS,   Phyllis Poole: DSS

To see the full presentations, visit here: https://gehli.vcu.edu/trainings-and-institutes/virginia-executive-institute-vei/

These presentations demonstrated the cohort’s ability to apply their learning to actionable strategies for the Commonwealth. Please explore their presentations and contact any of our esteemed VEI graduates with questions or to discuss how we can implement these ideas going forward.

Recognizing the Graduates

VEI’s Spring 2025 graduates represent diverse expertise and dedication to public service. Congratulations to:

About the Virginia Executive Institute

VEI, part of the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute at VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, has a legacy of developing senior leaders in Virginia state government for decades. The program equips participants to lead with vision, adaptability, and innovation, fostering a robust network of public service professionals dedicated to advancing the Commonwealth.

The Spring 2025 graduates are now part of VEI’s distinguished alumni network of over 1,500 leaders. As they return to their agencies, their work will continue to create meaningful impacts in Virginia.

Congratulations, graduates, and thank you for your commitment to leadership and service!

For more information about VEI, visit:  https://gehli.vcu.edu/trainings-and-institutes/virginia-executive-institute-vei/