By Business & Finance 
Pictured (L-R): Miriam O’Connell, Kerry O’Keeffe and Betty O’Callaghan of SOAR, a new leadership development programme launched to support women who aspire to being powerful leaders
A new leadership development programme called SOAR has been launched to support women in being powerful leaders while managing the complexities and challenges that come from being a female in a senior role.
Research internationally indicates that lack of role models, low self-confidence, lack of appropriate mentoring, lower levels of risk taking and limited access to appropriate networking opportunities continue to be the main challenges facing female leaders in 2017.
In response to these challenges, three experienced leadership coaches have designed an intensive leadership development programme.
Miriam O’Connell said: “A shared passion for leadership inspired myself, Betty O’Callaghan and Kerry O’Keeffe to establish Mojo For Leaders. Our philosophy is that perfection does not make great leaders. Real, flawed human beings do – when they have the drive to lead, the courage to step up and keep learning, the compassion to truly connect with people and the wisdom to care for themselves and tap into their intuition. Armed with academic research and on-the-ground conversations with leaders in Ireland, we have created leadership development and coaching programmes that help people fully own their space at the leadership table. The SOAR Programme is one example aimed specifically at addressing the challenges women face in finding and sustaining their leadership mojo”.
Christine O’Keeffe of Dell EMC is participating in the inaugural programme and said: “The SOAR Women’s Leadership Program is a refreshing approach to leadership development. Having participated in various leadership programmes, this one has been a unique experience in terms of the approach and style of the facilitators, Betty, Kerry and Miriam. The programme is tailored to me as an individual, as well as the broader team. The interactive sessions, open discussions and opportunities to reflect are key.”
The programme is delivered in five one-day modules, each with a different theme and held at Barnabrow Country House in east Cork and interspersed with one-to-one coaching sessions.
This is complemented with quarterly informal meet-ups to keep in touch with fellow participants and with the latest in leadership thinking.
Prior to starting the spring programme, an informal Mojo Meet-Up will take place on Thursday, January 26th in Cork. Expert guest speakers will be invited to speak at each Mojo Meet-Up and the theme for January’s event is ‘Taking Care of Ourselves as Leaders’.
For more details on this event and to register to attend or for information on other programmes designed and delivered in-house, email Miriam O’Connell at info@mojoforleaders.com.
