ULead: Engagement returns this fall for UCalgary leaders

Strong leadership builds strong teams, and once again, People and Culture is welcoming people leaders across the University of Calgary to participate in their ULead: Engagement cohort program in the fall of 2025.

Launched in the fall 2024 as part of the ULearn suite of professional development programs, ULead: Engagement offers non-academic people-leaders tools to foster inclusive, engaging, and productive work environments where teams feel valued, supported, and empowered to do their best work. 

Additionally, the cohort program helps leaders build a network of peers from across campus and provides support to help them apply what they learned in their day-to-day work.

Transformative experience 

“ULead: Engagement was a transformative experience,” says Dana Fenech, director, communications and marketing at the Schulich School of Engineering, who participated in a fall 2024 cohort. “The instructors were passionate, talented, and truly engaging, creating a space where meaningful dialogue with fellow leaders could flourish. I walked away with practical tools and fresh perspectives that deepened my leadership, helped me navigate complex staff dynamics, and strengthened my ability to foster collaboration and growth. 

"It brought out the best in me and those I lead.”

When leaders take part in ULead: Engagement, the benefits extend beyond their own development and into the teams they lead. The program looks at what helps teams feel included, engaged, and able to do their best work. 

It focuses on building trust, encouraging growth, sharing responsibility, and creating a work environment where everyone feels safe to speak up, try new things, and ask for help.

Practical tools

Jenna Dobry-Dub, lead regulatory officer for clinical research at the Calgary Centre for Clinical Research in the Cumming School of Medicine, took part in the experience alongside her colleague Alvina Mountenay, manager of clinical trial system services, although they participated in different fall 2024 cohorts.

“ULead: Engagement gave us practical tools, especially one that helped us understand our values,” says Dobry-Dub. “We brought these tools back to our team and encouraged everyone to reflect on and share their personal values. 

"This not only brought us closer together as a team but also helped us create a set of shared values that unite us and deepens our commitment to our team’s shared mission.”

Richly diverse learning environment

Over seven months, leaders from across UCalgary—representing a range of backgrounds, roles, and experience levels—come together to learn and grow. This diversity creates a rich learning environment where participants can reflect on their leadership style, develop new skills, and build meaningful connections. 

The cohort program includes one full-day session and six half-day sessions, with pre-session work and peer coaching to deepen the experience. Each leader is paired with two peers at a similar level to form a small coaching group, where they can share challenges, explore ideas, and support each other between sessions.

With the first cohorts complete, registration is now open for the next round of ULead: Engagement starting in fall 2025. Leaders with direct reports who are interested in joining are encouraged to visit the ULead: Engagement program webpage to apply.