We caught up with one of last year's Emerging Leaders Program participants, Lyndal Obst, Corporate Governance and Risk Officer, Mount Barker District Council, to find out how she enjoyed the program.

What made you sign up for the Emerging Leaders Program?
Initially, I had wanted to challenge myself and step outside of my comfort zone whilst taking on new responsibilities and gaining a broader perspective of other councils. I also wanted to gain exposure to different leadership styles and perspectives to become a more versatile and effective leader. A while ago, I attended a presentation given by a leader whom I admire, and one of my takeaways from what she talked about was to ‘choose who leads you’ – this resonated with me, and I wanted to take that and progress my learnings on becoming a leader embodying my values of integrity, honesty and inclusion.

Your final module focused on the integration of your learnings – what were some of your takeaways from this module?

This module was a time for reflection on what we had learned from the Emerging Leaders Program. We worked through some of the personal and professional challenges we had faced throughout the year and how we integrated some of the concepts and frameworks we’d learnt from the ELP into both our work and personal lives. Reflecting and sharing our journey of leadership development throughout this program also helped us set our own specific goals for the future. It was a true celebration of our time together and a culmination of what we had achieved during the year.

What advice would you give to someone considering doing the Emerging Leaders Program?

Honestly, just do it! ELP was a transformative experience for me that helped to push me outside of my comfort zone, both personally and professionally. It inspired me to pursue a new role and saw me transition between councils during the program. I'm grateful to The Rural City of Murray Bridge for offering me the initial opportunity to join the program, and to the Mount Barker District Council for their ongoing support in helping me to complete the program. The program also provides a valuable opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, and expand and build on a strong professional network, which I have found incredibly rewarding. And finally – be prepared to have fun! The lifelong connections and friendships you will make throughout the program are something that will stay with you forever, and I believe that is truly priceless.