The Leadership Letter: August Edition

The Leadership Letter is a monthly newsletter dedicated to announcing current events related to MEC's Leadership Mississippi Program. It is a special publication that highlights alumni and their outstanding work and achievements in the business economy across the state of Mississippi.

In This August Edition of the Leadership Letter:

· Receive an Update on the Current Leadership Mississippi Class of 2021 and opportunities for Sponsorship

· Discover ways to contribute to Leadership Mississippi as VIP/Alumni Investors

· Mark Your Calendars for Exclusive VIP/Investor Events

· Become a Member of one of many VIP/Alumni Investor-Only Committees

· Hear from Program Director, Cathy Northington, about the importance of stepping outside of your comfort zone

· Learn more about the parallels between Girl Scouts of America and Leadership Mississippi from Robin Robinson (C'88), Girl Scouts Board Chair, MEC and Leadership Mississippi Past Chair

· Join Our NEW! TextClub to Stay Connected

#SleevesUp with Leadership Mississippi!

Let’s get back to life! The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and a step toward getting back to living the life we love. Learn more about the vaccine and get answers to your FAQ's by clicking here.

#LeadMSBeInThatNumber #LeadMSSleevesUp

Leadership Mississippi: Current Class

Clarksdale Session

Under proper COVID-19 safety precautions and after surveying the group on their level of comfort with moving forward with an in-person session, the Leadership Mississippi Class of 2021 visited Clarksdale, MS for their second in-person session. The two-day session, on August 19th and 20th gave the class the opportunity to learn more about the culture of the great city of Clarksdale, MS, known as the "Birthplace of the Blues".

Frank Howell, Executive Director of Delta Council, spoke to the group about the work of Delta Council. Delta Council is an area economic development organization representing the 18 Delta and part-Delta counties of Northwest Mississippi that promotes agriculture and business policy in the region.

Buddy O'Keith, Clarksdale-Coahoma County Tourism Director, discussed with Leadership MS the different ways he uses economic development and tourism best practice to familiarize tourists with the Clarksdale area for an enriching first-time experience. O’Keefe believes tourism is about building and nurturing relationships with tourists in a way that keeps them intrigued and wanting to come back to Clarksdale.

Sponsorships

Leadership Mississippi: Alumni Engagement

Become A VIP/Alumni Investor Today!

Lead·er·ship Miss·iss·ip·pi In·ves·tor (n.)

-an alumnus/alumna who successfully pays their $100 annual contribution

Lead·er·ship Miss·iss·ip·pi VIP In·ves·tor (n.)

-an alumnus/alumna who, in addition to their $100 annual contribution, sponsors at least one of the Leadership Mississippi session and/or events for the current class and/or alumni engagement

Click Here to Pay Your Annual Contribution

More Ways to Pay:

Mail check to: M.B. Swayze Foundation, P.O. Box 23276, Jackson, MS 39325

(please make checks payable to: Leadership Mississippi)

By Phone: Call Danielle Williams, MEC's Manager of Finance and Administration, Monday through Friday from 9:00 - 4:00 p.m.

VIP/Alumni Investor Exclusive Events

As a VIP/Alumni Investor, you have the unique opportunity to attend all of our alumni engagement events. MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

VIP/Alumni Investor Committees

As a VIP/Alumni Investor, you have the unique opportunity to assist and advise the Leadership Mississippi staff through one or more of the following alumni investor-only committees:

Communications Committee

Develops a communications calendar for the alumni base to inform alumni issues of importance related to the program
Provides alumni the opportunity to share their perspectives and engage with the vast network of leaders across the state
Revamps the Leadership Mississippi alumni website into an active portal for services & opportunities. Create methods to tell our story in engaging ways

Alumni Engagement Committee (Volunteerism)

Deploys innovative and effective new ways to activate, engage, and recognize volunteers
Develops effective traditions to recognize and celebrate volunteers Develops one-stop-shop for matching volunteers and opportunities Volunteers to host regional events
Assists staff in the development of any alumni engagement surveys to gather contact info, demographics, desired benefits, communication preferences, volunteer interests or sponsorship interests

Alumni Fundraising/Sponsorship Committee

Manages the fundraising/sponsorship efforts to grow the Leadership Mississippi Program including driving annual contribution/alumni investors which increase program revenue
Develops effective ways to acknowledge sponsors and alumni investors

Recruitment Committee

Identifies, recruits and recommends candidates for Leadership Mississippi
Coordinates an annual nomination process for prospective members including interest meetings ft. alumni testimonials and application overview

Advisory Committee

Provides executive services and leadership to Leadership Mississippi and MEC’s Operating Boards
Manages and supervises the business and affairs of Leadership Mississippi, its chair and staff
Strengthens and build relationships with program participants and the alumni base
Develops a clear pipeline for developing alumni committee members and recruiting them to serve respective committees

Marketing and Online Engagement Committee

Builds and promotes the Leadership Mississippi image/brand
Assists with marketing efforts, i.e. operation of Leadership Mississippi social media accounts and maintaining the Leadership Mississippi app

Alumni Events Committee

Creates and submits for approval activities for Leadership Mississippi Alumni Engagement, including events to encourage the involvement of alumni in Leadership Mississippi and its programs
Assists with the implementation of programs and recommend ideas for increasing attendance at alumni events
Assists with the development of activities for alumni engagement

Communications and Technology Committee

Assists with developing and implementing technology applications, social network activities, on-line services and electronic communications that support Leadership Mississippi
Oversees smooth functionality of all technological components include virtual engagement, website troubleshooting, etc.

If you are interested in serving on any of the above VIP/Alumni Investor committees, email Cathy Northington at cnorthington@msmec.com.

We look forward to your continued contribution to Leadership Mississippi!

Leadership Begins At the End of Your Comfort Zone

I'd been considering going back to school for a long time, but having a demanding job and being a single mom, I kept putting it off. In 2019, I knew it was finally time to jump back into my education and I decided to pursue an EMBA at Millsaps College's Else School of Business. The Millsaps Executive MBA program was academically rigorous. It pushed and challenged me in ways like never before.

My class consisted of ten amazing individuals, affectionally known as the "Covid-Cohort", from different professions and occupations. Class lectures were engaging and fueled a desire in me to want more, learn more and do more. “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” If that’s the case, I was in the right room with this group. They never hesitated to step in and help when needed and the Millsaps faculty and staff did everything they could to be as accessible to everyone.

Through the process, I became more self-aware of my strengths, weaknesses, and the abundance of opportunity before me. All of the experiences and lessons in the end offered me a new and different perspective in business and life.

I reflect back on the studies and curriculum at Millsaps EMBA and think through how I could tie this experience into my work at MEC building programming for MEC’s Leadership Mississippi current program and alumni. Much like Millsaps, one of the goals for Leadership Mississippi is to equip and build astute executives and professionals who can readily navigate uncertainty, risk, and change.

The Millsaps EMBA program has given me the opportunity to advance my knowledge but has also empowered me to lead with conviction in my current and future roles.

For more information about the Millsaps EMBA Program and what it offers Leadership Mississippi alumni, contact Christine J. Rials, Director of Graduate Admissions (Else School of Management), Millsaps College at 601-974-1256. Be sure to let her know you are a Leadership Mississippi alum!

The next Executive MBA Information Session will be held on Thursday, September 9, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. at Cultivation Food Hall. RSVP by clicking here.

Cathy Northington

Chief Operating Officer

Mississippi Economic Council

Building Future Leaders of Tomorrow

Girl Scouts of America, through its program, the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, has developed and trained young leaders for decades. This program involves activities that are centered around young girls, incorporating learning by doing and fostering learning opportunities that create collaboration, partnership and unity.

The program is based on three critical parts:

Discover—Understanding self and values, using knowledge/skills to explore the world

Connect—Care, inspire, and partner with others locally and globally.

Take Action—Act to make the world a better place.

Mississippi Economic Council, through its program, Leadership Mississippi has trained developed leaders and change agents for decades. This program is centered around activities that center around business leaders passionate about improving our state’s quality of life through high-level collaboration, partnership and unity.

The parallel is clear. Both organizations, Leadership Mississippi and Girl Scouts of America, operate to create leaders who will enhance their communities, small and large, in ways that positively change the future. It takes creativity, courage and connection to do this successfully.

Many of our Leadership Mississippi alumnae may have also been former Girl Scouts. If that is you, we want to hear how both entities, Girl Scouts of America and Leadership Mississippi, is impacting your growth as a person and the pursuit of your professional career.

Leadership Mississippi believes it's up to businesses to tell the story of Mississippi.

With both Cathy Northington and myself serving on the Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi Board, we help our young girls, and future leaders, discover, connect and take action.

Tell us:

How have you impacted the state through service? If you were once in Girl Scouts of America, share with us your story by clicking here.

Robin Robinson

MS House of Representatives, District 88

Girl Scouts of Greater MS, Chair

Past MEC Chair

Past Leadership Mississippi Chair

LM Alumna, C'88

If you have any news you would like to share or see featured in next month's newsletter, let us know!

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Our Mission

To build a strong diverse network of leaders from every corner of the state balanced with a broad variety of leadership abilities and career accomplishments creating a core of individuals committed to Mississippi's future.