Developing Emerging Leaders in Healthcare
CARA partnered with our long-term client to develop an Emerging Leader Program to identify and develop future leaders within the hospital systems.
Challenge
- The Chicago healthcare industry faced a significant gap in emerging leadership talent, particularly among underrepresented groups.
- The JPMorgan Chase Foundation awarded a grant to a consortium of three hospital systems to strengthen Chicago’s labor market through programs that promote awareness, readiness, and leadership advancement.
Result
- Developed program assets, including a program logo, curriculum logo, LinkedIn profile templates, and a graduation certificate.
- Mentored the client project manager, who was new to the learning environment.
- Delivered the Emerging Leader Program to multiple cohorts with consistently strong participant feedback.
- Participants reported significant gains in skills, knowledge, and confidence.
- Nearly all participants have identified career next steps, interviewed for new roles, and at least 18 have been promoted.
Solution
CARA partnered with our long-term client to create a learning strategy to identify and develop emerging leaders.
- Conducted a needs analysis to define learning styles, personas, and key leadership competencies.
- Designed a 12-week virtual, instructor-led program using insights from the analysis.
- Equipped participants with practical tools and techniques to build leadership skills.
- Reinforced learning through reflection, group discussions, and accountability partners.
- Included supervisor touchpoints, mentoring, interview practice, and a capstone project to apply new skills.
CARA partnered with our long-term client to develop an Emerging Leader Program to identify and develop future leaders within the hospital systems.
Challenge
- The Chicago healthcare industry faces a significant gap in emerging leadership talent, particularly among underrepresented groups.
- The JPMorgan Chase Foundation awarded a grant to a consortium of three hospital systems to strengthen Chicago’s labor market through programs that promote awareness, readiness, and leadership advancement.
Result
CARA partnered with our long-term client to create a learning strategy to identify and develop emerging leaders.
- Conducted a needs analysis to define learning styles, personas, and key leadership competencies.
- Designed a 12-week virtual, instructor-led program using insights from the analysis.
- Equipped participants with practical tools and techniques to build leadership skills.
- Reinforced learning through reflection, group discussions, and accountability partners.
- Included supervisor touchpoints, mentoring, interview practice, and a capstone project to apply new skills.
Solution
- Developed program assets, including a program logo, curriculum logo, LinkedIn profile templates, and a graduation certificate.
- Mentored the client project manager, who was new to the learning environment.
- Delivered the Emerging Leader Program to multiple cohorts with consistently strong participant feedback.
- Participants reported significant gains in skills, knowledge, and confidence.
- Nearly all participants have identified career next steps, interviewed for new roles, and at least 18 have been promoted.
The Story
When our long-time client asked CARA to help with a JPMorgan Chase Foundation grant application, we were ready to support. The grant—part of the Chicago Healthcare Workforce Challenge—aimed to strengthen the city’s healthcare labor market by advancing leadership readiness, especially among employees from underrepresented communities.
After the grant was awarded to a consortium of three hospital systems, our client re-engaged CARA to design and implement a workforce development initiative that would prepare frontline staff for leadership roles.
Together, we created the Emerging Leader Program—a 12-week virtual, instructor-led experience focused on practical learning, mentorship, and applied leadership skills.
To begin, CARA conducted a comprehensive needs analysis to understand learning preferences and define the leadership competencies most critical for success. Using those insights, we built a targeted curriculum that blended core leadership concepts, supervisor touchpoints, mentoring opportunities, and a capstone project designed to reinforce accountability and confidence.
Throughout the process, we addressed real-world challenges—helping employees see leadership as an attainable goal, removing barriers to access, and ensuring the program could be applied beyond the healthcare setting.
In the end, the Emerging Leader Program established a sustainable pathway for professional growth. It equipped diverse, high-potential employees with the skills and confidence to advance their careers—strengthening both their organizations and Chicago’s healthcare workforce.
