Snowbird Leadership Institute: Leadership Development in the Profession

Abstract

What is the impact of participation in leadership development programs in terms of career progression and involvement in leadership activities? To address this issue, individuals who had participated in the Snowbird Leadership Institute from its inception in 1990 to 1998 were surveyed regarding their career progression since their participation, their involvement in leadership activities, and their perceptions of the experience’s impact on their careers. Although it is difficult to identify a direct relationship between participation in the Snowbird Leadership Institute and career progression and greater participation in leadership activities, the respondents did report an increased level of leadership activity. In addition, their perceptions of the institute’s value with regard to their careers were largely positive and indicated that many of their career paths would have been different had they not had the Snowbird experience.