LeadHER Forward
Discover monthly tips and thoughtfully curated content to inspire, support, and empower the NC ACE member network throughout every stage of their professional journey.
Monthly Tips
This year, LeadHER Forward draws inspiration from We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Made America, celebrating the women whose courage, advocacy, and leadership helped shape our nation’s history. As we explore their stories, we’ll reflect on how today’s women in higher education continue that legacy through mentorship, networking, leadership, and creating opportunities for those who follow.
Featured Podcasts
Professional Content for WCU Faculty & Staff
Emerging
Mid-Level
Senior Level
5 Strategies for Transitioning into a Leadership Role
Forbes offers five practical strategies to help professionals shift from task-oriented roles to confident, empathetic leadership by embracing strategic thinking, listening, and finding their unique leadership style.
How to Build [or Encourage] a Gowth Mindset at Your Workplace
How to cultivate a growth mindset at work by embracing challenges, reframing setbacks as learning opportunities, and fostering a culture of curiosity, feedback, and continuous improvement.
How to Find, Define, and Use Your Values
The Harvard Business Review emphasizes identifying and intentionally using your core values helps guide career decisions, improve workplace satisfaction, and align your actions with what truly matters to you.
5 Characteristics of Highly Impactful Leaders
Forbes outlines five key traits of highly impactful leaders—emotional agility, purpose-driven leadership, systems thinking, transparency, and authentic care—that enable managers to inspire teams and drive meaningful organizational change.
The Art of Decision-Making: Navigating the Complexities of Leadership
“The Art of Decision-Making: Navigating the Complexities of Leadership” argues that effective leadership decision-making requires balancing strategic foresight, ethical judgment, and stakeholder engagement to overcome challenges like uncertainty, complexity, and cognitive bias.
The Hidden Secret of Executive Presence
Forbes defines executive presence as a powerful blend of charisma, communication, and connections that makes leaders appear confident, credible, and promotable.
These 7 Competencies Matter Most for Today’s College Presidents
Forbes summarizes that today’s college presidents must embody seven core competencies—such as emotional intelligence, strategic decision-making, and courageous leadership—to effectively navigate the evolving challenges of higher education.
The Slow but Steady Rise of Women in Higher Educaton Leadership
Diverse highlights that while the percentage of women in college presidential roles has grown from 23% to 33%, significant challenges remain and progress depends on mentorship, institutional support, and initiatives like ACE’s “Moving the Needle.”
Women Negotiation Skills: How Women Can Get What They Want in a Negotiation
Harvard’s resource from the Program on Negotiation explains that women often face bias when negotiating and recommends strategies like mentorship, standardized practices, and bias education to help level the playing field and empower women to advocate effectively for themselves.
WCU Resources for Staff and Faculty
Faculty Senate Support
The senate is the chief policy-recommending body of the general faculty providing for faculty participation in the governance and decision-making process of Western Carolina University.
Staff Senate Support
Staff Senate works closely with Human Resources to ensure they have the most up-to-date information for new and current employees. You can find more information to help get started.
Coulter Faculty Commons
The Coulter Faculty Commons (CFC) advances excellence in teaching, learning, and scholarship by partnering with the Western Carolina University community through collaboration, creation, and celebration.