Leading and Learning: Banco da Familia's Executive Director talks about Leadership Training

In September 2008, Rita Cardoso, Executive Director of Banco da Familia (BdF), a WWB network member in Lages, Brazil, launched BdF’s in-house leadership training program. The program is designed to prepare BdF’s leaders to respond more effectively to everyday challenges and help them to embody effective qualities of leadership. The program also offers opportunities for peer learning between managers by helping them build networks, strengthen relationships and engage in more productive dialogue. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance internal performance and achieve BdF’s commercial objectives and vision.

The idea for the program came after Ms. Cardoso attended the WWB Women in Leadership Workshop. The Women in Leadership Workshop helps participants understand their personal leadership styles and design a personal action plan to develop additional leadership competencies. The workshop also stresses the importance of peer networks of support for enhancing learning and strengthening both individual and collective leadership within institutions and across the industry. After returning from the program in New York, Ms. Cardoso worked together with an external consultant to conduct a leadership needs assessment in BdF. The assessment revealed the need for performance improvement of mid-level leaders as a core institutional requirement.

Managers participate by completing readings and attending monthly sessions focused on management and human capacity development. The program is designed to shift leadership behaviors among managers, build a robust leadership bench and succession planning process as well as stimulate and demonstrate the value of women’s participation. After the program had been running for one year, Ms. Cardoso conducted an evaluation to measure outcomes. Participants reported that, after having participated in the training program they consider themselves to be more conscious and ready to act as leaders. In addition, the study revealed increased dialogue and enhanced relationships between managers. Ms. Cardoso has also seen measurable changes in her staff as a result of the program. She notes that there is less resistance to learning and change. Managers are also more likely to get involved in cross-functional issues and have greater consciousness around the importance of training the new generation of leaders.

Recently Ms. Cardoso attended WWB’s Advanced Leadership and Coaching Programs. She returned to BdF energized to reshape and amplify the leadership training program and has added a course for future leaders. In addition to her work with BdF's leaders, Ms. Cardoso works with the Chamber for Women Entrepreneurs of Lages to stimulate women’s leadership. Ms. Cardoso’s advice to other leaders considering implementing similar training programs is: the keys to success are having clear objectives and demonstrating persistance in achieving them. Bringing in outside expertise, in the form of an external consultant, and engaging in continuous learning on leadership development by attending programs and seminars, such as those offered by the Center for Microfinance Leadership, are also essential to the continued relevance and growth of the program.