August 19, 2025
Regional professionals complete leadership microcredential program
Twelve eastern North Carolina professionals gathered in the Isley Innovation Hub on Aug. 15 to celebrate the completion of the 21st Century Leadership microcredential program, a series of workshops designed to give participants opportunities to grow their leadership skills for the benefit of the individual and their companies.
Over the past several months, leaders from the higher education, construction, manufacturing, life sciences and nonprofit sectors engaged in an intensive curriculum focused on self-leadership, developing others, building teams, and affecting change, as well as growing the impact of their leadership in their organizations and communities. The program, offered through East Carolina University’s College of Business, Professional Services and Executive Education and the Office of Continuing and Professional Education, emphasizes real-world application and cross-sector collaboration.
Dr. Andrew Herdman, Thomas D. Arthur professor of leadership, led this second cohort of the microcredential program along with Dr. Kent Alipour and Dr. Patrick McKay.
“The cohort formed earlier this year and included seven monthly courses that worked to provide a full treatment of leadership with an emphasis on application and leveraging best practices to solve real leadership challenges in their lives,” Herdman said. “Our success is their increased effectiveness as they equip their organizations to grow and thrive.”
Leonard Paulk III, a former ECU football student-athlete and now the senior education director with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain, was drawn to the microcredential program as an opportunity to invest in himself.
“As a growing leader in the organization, this is giving me different perspectives of how to deal with people, how to build teams, build overall organizational culture and bring all of those components together to be a great employee and supervisor,” he said.
Graduates of the program earned a digital badge recognizing their leadership competencies, along with a certificate of completion. Many participants are already applying their new skills to initiatives within their organizations and communities.
Paulk said the 21st Century Leadership microcredential program made an impact on him along with his staff and the youth members of the Boys & Girls Club.
“Every session was amazing,” he said. “Every session left me with thought-provoking questions like, ‘how can I implement what I’m learning and what I’m doing with youth? How can I strengthen my staff?’ Coming here empowered me so that I can empower my staff and then share it with our members.”
The microcredential program is one of ECU’s many initiatives to support regional economic resilience and empower the next generation of leaders.
For more information about the program or future enrollment opportunities, visit the 21st Century Leadership Program or contact the College of Business Office of Expert Services at 252-737-5000 or by email.