Women in Leadership with AI Driven Engagement Program |
Develop Strategies & Interpersonal Skills for Greater Success
Women have always been at the forefront of policy change and breaking barriers. Today’s female executives work hard to balance personal and professional lives while exceeding expectations. Resilience and determination continues to empower women toward their goals to become chiefs of industry. You'll learn to navigate the nuances of thought leadership, barrier destruction and organizational influence. This program serves as a platform for women to engage and uplift each other by inspiring positive change.
Jump Ahead:
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The USF School of Management Women in Leadership with AI Driven Engagement Program is designed by industry experts for professionals seeking expert advice, strategies and practical tools. From your initial Personal Leadership assessment, to team building, negotiation strategies, communications, organizational culture and more, be ready to roll-up your sleeves and apply new skills in this hands-on, interactive course.
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Benefits to Companies
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Benefits to Individuals
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Inclusivity Statement
This course is open to all learners. While the curriculum focuses on leadership experiences and challenges frequently associated with women in organizational settings, enrollment, participation, and assessment are not limited by sex, gender identity, or gender expression. All individuals seeking to support women’s advancement and inclusive leadership are welcome here.
6 Modules Online ($4,995)Rolling Admission - Start Anytime
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4 Day In-person ($4,995)Currently on Hold - Dates TBD
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Learn how to navigate the nuances of leading through thought leadership, barrier destruction, and influence. Each module helps you assess your skills, develop your thoughts, and work out your strategies. Participants gain access to Signature Executive Tools designed for immediate organizational impact, including the Plain-Language Clarity Standard, the Stakeholder Alignment Map, and the Escalation Ladder Framework.
From the ongoing battle for equal rights to the breaking of barriers in the workplace, women face complex issues in a dynamic environment that has been dominated by men for centuries. Even in the face of adversity, women continually meet or exceed company expectations while continuing to juggle the day-to-day. The modern-day woman is often required to transition from mogul to mother in a matter of minutes. Enjoy a course created and taught by women leaders, for women leaders!
From the ongoing battle for equal rights to the breaking of barriers in the workplace, women face complex issues in a dynamic environment that has been dominated by men for centuries. Even in the face of adversity, women continually meet or exceed company expectations while continuing to juggle the day-to-day. The modern-day woman is often required to transition from mogul to mother in a matter of minutes. Enjoy a course created and taught by women leaders, for women leaders!
Module 1 - Leading with Authority in Data-Driven Environments
During this module, participants examine how decisions form in complex environments, where clarity erodes under pressure, and how structured evaluation lenses strengthen leadership judgment before approval momentum builds.
Module 2 - Power, Politics, and Resource Allocation
During this module, participants learn how to align marketing decisions to business outcomes, executive priorities, and measurable definitions of success while confronting incentive conflicts, power dynamics, and the risk of metric driven misbehavior in automated systems.
Module 3 - Judgment, Risk, and Human Accountability
During this module, participants deepen their understanding of consequence, risk exposure, and escalation responsibility, strengthening their ability to intervene appropriately when outcomes carry reputational, legal, or human impact.
Module 4 - Trust, Visibility, and Executive Communication
During this module, participants strengthen their ability to communicate under visibility, lead conversations that preserve credibility, and articulate responsible oversight in environments where change is scrutinized.
Module 5 - Strategic Negotiation and Value Alignment
During this module, participants examine how organizations assign value, how initiatives compete for support, and how leaders position contributions so that responsible work receives sustained investment.
Module 6 - Governance, Culture, and Long-Horizon Leadership
During this module, participants elevate their perspective to institutional stewardship, exploring governance responsibility, workforce evolution, and cultural resilience as foundations for sustainable progress.
Capstone Project: The Leadership Blueprint
Synthesize your expertise into a strategic, board-ready artifact. This 'Leadership Position' demonstrates your ability to lead intelligent transformation with clarity, credibility, and institutional stewardship.
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Stephene KleinStephene Klein is a trailblazer whose academic and professional journeys stand as a testament to her relentless pursuit of excellence. She holds three master's degrees - an MBA, MPH, and MPHA - from Everglades University, Boca Raton, FL, where she graduated summa cum laude, marking her place at the pinnacle of her class with an unrivaled 4.0 GPA. This academic titan not only delivered the Graduate Commencement keynote address, inspiring a crowd of over 1,000 attendees, but she is also a notable faculty member guiding the next generation of leaders. Her profound insights and wealth of knowledge have shaped countless C-suite executives, fostering excellence and innovation on a global scale.
Outside of academia, Stephene has consistently made a global impact. She is a Gold Medalist, Storytelling Writing Award Winner (2024), and the recipient of the Global Vision Award for Brand Strategy (2023). She was also the featured cover story of South Florida Magazine (2021), and has etched her place in the global business echelons. Her dynamic role at Zschool, saw her spearhead over 500+ Advisory Board meetings, annually, shaping the strategic direction for over 10,000 CxOs and senior executives worldwide. With over 20 years of award-winning business development and engagement marketing experience, coupled with more than 15 years of senior leadership roles, Stephene consistently drives sustainable revenue growth for leading global companies. Her extensive experience across multiple domains, including sales, marketing, and partnerships, and her well-established global network, position her as a catalyst for success in complex business environments. |
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Kathrine Higley (ORNL/NREL/Northrop Grumman) Group Manager, (NREL)Kathrine Higley is a seasoned executive and operations leader with over 20 years of experience architecting enterprise-grade compliance, procurement, and supply chain strategies in high-stakes, highly regulated environments. With a distinguished career spanning premier institutions such as the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Northrop Grumman, and the U.S. Navy, Kathrine specializes in building the operational and structural foundations necessary for complex, global organizations to scale securely. Her leadership consistently drives cross-functional alignment, transforming stringent regulatory requirements into streamlined, cost-saving operational efficiencies.
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Chequita McCullough McCullough Consulting Group (Founder) | Published author (#1 Amazon New Release). Forbes-featured leaderChequita McCullough is a Forbes-featured executive and Master Certified Coach with over 25 years of experience driving organizational transformation across highly competitive, male-dominated industries. As the Founder of McCullough Consulting Group, her career is rooted in high-stakes leadership roles within major commercial real estate and enterprise operations, where she successfully managed multi-million-dollar portfolios and cultivated high-performing, cross-functional teams. Chequita specializes in aligning structural business strategies with human-centric processes, effectively removing barriers to growth and architecting environments where both profitability and people thrive.
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Britney Beck Hi-Wire HR Consulting (Founder) | 20+ years executive HR. Featured speaker at The Business Show US.Britney Beck is a highly accomplished executive human resources strategist and the Founder of Hi-Wire HR Consulting, bringing over two decades of experience in organizational design, risk management, and human-centric leadership. With a career anchored in driving systemic operational excellence highlighted by her extensive 17-year tenure directing HR and Central Services in the public utilities sector Britney specializes in architecting legally sound, high-performance environments. A featured speaker at The Business Show US and a published co-author endorsed by Tony Robbins, she is recognized for her unique ability to simplify complex compliance and people management challenges into scalable strategies that foster both corporate integrity and employee empowerment.
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Annette Albertson RN, BSN, MBA | Navvis Healthcare (Senior Director/VP Client Operations) | Registered Nurse + MBA. Senior Director/VP at Navvis HealthcareAnnette Albertson is an innovative healthcare executive and registered nurse who uniquely bridges the gap between frontline clinical excellence and enterprise-level operational strategy. With a distinguished career spanning leadership roles at Navvis Healthcare, SSM Health, and currently as an Executive Partner at Nuva Ventures, Annette specializes in architecting scalable population health management and value-based care initiatives. Leveraging her deep clinical expertise (RN, BSN), business acumen (MBA), and the strategic discipline forged as a U.S. Army Intelligence Analyst, she designs data-driven, Lean Six Sigma-backed processes that transform complex clinical operations. Recognized as a Top Nurse in 2020, Annette has consistently led cross-functional teams to enhance quality metrics, achieve prestigious NCQA recognition, and unlock millions in shared savings across diverse healthcare ecosystems.
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Melinda Amrein MSOL, PHR, SHRM-CP | Life Connection of Ohio (HR Director) | 30+ yearsMelinda Amrein is a highly accomplished strategic human resources leader and executive instructor with over 30 years of experience partnering with C-suite executives to architect high-performing, resilient organizations. With a career spanning complex sectors featuring impactful tenures at TriHealth, Luxottica, Equipment Depot, and currently as HR Director at Life Connection of Ohio Melinda specializes in aligning people strategies with core business objectives. Holding a Master’s in Organizational Leadership and dual PHR/SHRM-CP certifications, she has a proven track record of driving profound operational efficiency, successfully modernizing HR systems, significantly reducing turnover, and realizing substantial enterprise cost savings through strategic benefits design and governance.
Tiffany Craft |
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Tiffany Craft is a global business leader specializing in international expansion, strategy, marketing, and advertising. She has successfully driven growth for brands like Calvin Klein across Latin America, Asia, and Europe, leveraging cultural insights to boost international revenue.
With expertise in strategic partnerships, retail, media, and entertainment, Tiffany has developed innovative marketing initiatives that enhance brand engagement and visibility. Her ability to merge traditional and digital strategies has led to award-winning campaigns and impactful business growth. Tiffany excels in fostering partnerships, leveraging digital innovation, and integrating AI to enhance efficiency. A sought-after speaker and mentor, she champions a culture of belonging and strategic transformation in global business. |
Instructor Team Contributors
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Rebecca BinnyRebecca is passionate about bringing work opportunities to marginalized communities and elevating women in business. With over 20 years of experience delivering award-winning, cutting-edge campaigns, she has spearheaded and pioneered leading industries in Web 3.0, metaverse, and video-on-demand industries. Rebecca has led numerous startups from the ground up, one of which landed on PRWeek’s coveted Agency Business Report within its first year in operation. She continues to be a motivating influence in Web3-integrated communication strategies, incorporating blockchain technology into PR & marketing plans for startups and nonprofits. Rebecca received the Business Elite's 40 Under 40 Award in 2022 and a PRNEWS Top Women in PR: Industry Innovator Award Honoree for 2022. Rebecca is an entrepreneur, speaker, moderator, and writer and has been featured in PRWeek, MoneyMade, Yahoo! Finance, and numerous other publications. Rebecca has a Master's in Communication Management from the University of Southern California and served as Advisor for Women in Leadership with AI Driven Engagement & Design Thinking at the University of California Riverside, Extension. She is also a PhD Candidate at the Swiss Business School of Research. She also has a real estate license and a TESOL teacher training certificate. Originally from Singapore, she is currently based in South Bay, Los Angeles where she can be found experimenting in philanthropic endeavors and connecting women around the globe.
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Thalia BrownThalia is a 2025, Global Citizen Group Fellow supporting the US Women's Caucus at the United Nations. She has also been approved to become an NGO UN Delegate for the Commission on the Status of Women. Ms. Brown recently developed a policy report for UN Women for the Universal Periodic Review. She has been invited to attend the General Assembly events (UNGA80) and the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). She is the Founder and CEO of The Authentic Discussion, a modern Think Tank designed to coach and train women of color. (This includes a newsletter, gender Insights, and a podcast, #Think gender). She is also contributing as a Cornerstone Mentor for the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, leading formal training programs for the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center.
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Mentor Team Contributor
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Thalia BrownThalia is a 2025, Global Citizen Group Fellow supporting the US Women's Caucus at the United Nations. She has also been approved to become an NGO UN Delegate for the Commission on the Status of Women. Ms. Brown recently developed a policy report for UN Women for the Universal Periodic Review. She has been invited to attend the General Assembly events (UNGA80) and the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). She is the Founder and CEO of The Authentic Discussion, a modern Think Tank designed to coach and train women of color. (This includes a newsletter, gender Insights, and a podcast, #Think gender). She is also contributing as a Cornerstone Mentor for the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, leading formal training programs for the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center.
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Kristine NashExperienced marketer adept at strategic planning and execution with focus on building and accelerating pipeline. Excellent communication skills with the ability to effectively build relationships with cross functional teams and cultivate key partnerships.
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Testimonial
I want to express my gratitude for the Women in Leadership with AI Driven Engagement program and share how it has truly changed my life. Before joining, I spent eight years in the same role, feeling stuck and unsure of how to move forward. After completing the course, my mindset shifted. I gained confidence, developed leadership skills, and finally earned the promotion I had been working toward.
This program has also made me a better mentor. As an advisor, I now share what I’ve learned with my mentees, helping them navigate challenges and believe in their potential. The leadership skills I gained have allowed me to uplift others, creating a ripple effect of growth and encouragement.
I know this program will continue to make a lasting impact on the university and its students. It empowers future leaders by giving them the skills, confidence, and support they need to succeed. Its impact spreads as more individuals, like me, go on to mentor others and create positive change.
I am so grateful for this experience and the opportunities it has given me. Thank you to everyone who makes this program possible. I can’t wait to see how many more lives it will transform in the years ahead.
- Nadia Messiah, Heffernan Insurance Brokers, March 2025