Nicole Benjamin | Chair of board of governors, Leadership Rhode Island
1. You graduated from Leadership Rhode Island’s core program in 2013. How will that experience influence your work as board chair? As an attorney and litigator, my days are consumed with constructing arguments and dissecting opposing positions. I greatly value thought-provoking debate and diverse perspectives. Leadership Rhode Island’s core program creates a haven for leaders from all backgrounds and across all sectors to come together and share diverse views. As board chair, I welcome and encourage similar debate to ensure that each of our decisions is well-informed … and is consistent with LRI’s mission.
2. What are some of your plans to grow and enhance Leadership Rhode Island’s programs and participation? For 40 years, Leadership Rhode Island has studied, measured and analyzed the impact that its more than 2,500 alumni have had on the state and their communities. While Rhode Island will remain LRI’s focus, in a global economy LRI is well-positioned to expand its reach beyond Rhode Island’s borders and bring the lessons it has learned over 40 years to a broader community.
3. What changes, if any, has the organization made to its core program for 2020 participants? In 1981, Leadership Rhode Island’s first core program class had 50 participants. Today, that number has grown to 77. Ever-increasing demand, coupled with the generosity of corporate and community sponsors, has allowed LRI to expand its core program and bring leaders from across all business, nonprofit and governmental sectors together to examine issues of statewide concern.
4. What can businesses and employers learn from your organization’s approach to strength-based training and education through the Make RI Stronger program? Since 2014, LRI has worked with more than 75 companies and organizations to help their employees identify their strengths and maximize their potential using CliftonStrengths. Our strengths coaches have helped companies and organizations create workplace cultures centered on leveraging their employees’ strengths.
5. How is the work of Leadership Rhode Island’s Women’s Network working to support woman-owned businesses? Over the past 24 months, there has been an outpouring of interest in opportunities for women to support and celebrate other women. In February, the LRI Women’s Network [hosted] a panel discussion that [highlighted] phenomenal local women who have started their own businesses, and, best of all, [the event was] held at a woman-owned business.
Nancy Lavin is a PBN staff writer. Contact her at Lavin@PBN.com.
