Emerging Leaders in Microbusiness (squared)
Multiplying and strengthening tomorrow’s leaders
FIELD has partnered with Capital One to launch a leadership initiative for emerging leaders in the microbusiness development field. Called ELM² — Emerging Leaders in Microbusiness, squared, to represent the program’s multiplier effect in developing new leaders — its target participants are high-potential staff in mature microenterprise organizations and young executive directors of new organizations. The initiative focuses on building participants’ strategic and organizational skills, preparing them to lead within their own organizations and the broader field, and creating a peer network for learning and shared work.
The ELM² Fellows
FIELD’s inaugural class for ELM² includes eleven individuals who demonstrate potential for executive leadership and sparking real change in the field:
- Jamie Beasley, Mountain BizWorks, Asheville, NC
- Amanda Blondeau, Northern Initiatives, Marquette, MI
- Kevin Kong, Renaissance Economic Development Corporation, New York, NY
- Celina Pena, Accion Texas and Delta, San Antonio, TX
- Dave Policano, Grameen America, New York, NY
- Kristin Schell, Justine PETERSEN, St.Louis, MO
- Shaolee Sen, Accion US Network, New York, NY
- Metta Smith, Accion New Mexico – Arizona – Colorado, Albuquerque, NM
- Jennifer Sporzynski, Coastal Enterprises, Inc., Portland, ME
- Christina Stockamore, Latino Economic Development Center, Washington, D.C.
- Roberto Valdez-Beltran, Accion New Mexico ∙ Arizona ∙ Colorado, Tuscon, AZ
Learn more about our first class of ELM² fellows
The ELM² Program
ELM² builds on the Aspen Institute’s long-standing experience in leadership development and FIELD’s extensive knowledge of the U.S. microenterprise field to offer an intense, six-month learning opportunity for emerging leaders. The program combines two in-person meetings, virtual learning events, a 360-degree leadership assessment, and an independent leadership project. The learning process focuses on four overarching themes:
Leadership: How can one increase one’s attributes and skills for leading dynamic, high-impact microenterprise organizations?
Strategy: What are the strategies and tactics used by leading organizations, and what lessons do they suggest for the future?
Culture: How do leaders develop effective organizational cultures that inspire high performance?
Sustainability: How do leaders work to ensure the long-term sustainability of their organizations?
Inaugural meeting
The first ELM² class convened in New Orleans from January 21-24, 2013. Faculty included William Bynum, CEO of Hope Enterprises; Janie Barrera, President and CEO of ACCION Texas, and Phyllis Cassidy, Executive Director of the Good Work Network. These founding leaders shared their experiences in founding and scaling their organizations, and in leading their institutions in response to the crises and need created by Hurricane Katrina. Fellows visited the local offices of all three organizations, to learn more about their strategies and plans for the future.
Learn more about the faculty from our inaugural meeting
The second meeting of the class will take place in Washington, D.C. in June, and feature training from Capital One executives on leadership development, a site visit to the Latino Economic Development Center, and engagement with CEOs from the microenterprise field.
