We caught up with one of this year's Emerging Leaders Program participants, Jade Falco, Service Excellence Coordinator at EastWaste to find out how she is enjoying the program so far. 

What made you sign up for the Emerging Leaders Program?

I have been wanting to sign up for the Emerging Leaders Program for several years and was so happy when the opportunity presented to participate. What interested me about the program is that it is an in-person course, providing an opportunity to meet and work with other Local Government professionals. Also, the Prospectus indicated that there is a great balance of personal development type work i.e. exploring personal behaviours mixed with practical development type work i.e. learning about change management and improving workplace culture.

What was your biggest takeaway from the opening retreat?

I had a mix of excitement and nervousness going into the opening retreat and my biggest takeaway was the confidence boost that it gave me. It showed me that I can do hard things and that the more I push myself out of my comfort zone, the more I can achieve and grow. I also really enjoyed the sessions delivered by UniSA, particularly the topics on the second day regarding leadership, beliefs and values.

What are you most looking forward to as the program progresses?

I am really excited about working with my team to deliver an amazing module about Local Government Sustainability. I am also looking forward to expanding my knowledge, growing as an individual, and increasing my self-confidence throughout the program.