Recently, WashU IT hosted a quarterly cohort meeting of MOR graduates. This meeting focused on the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on leadership. More than 100 IT professionals were invited to attend, each a member of a WashU MOR Leaders Program cohort.
MOR Associates is a leadership development and strategic consulting group that provides extensive training opportunities, challenging and developing leaders, teams and organizations. The MOR Leaders Program is a multi-month initiative designed to enhance participants’ leadership capabilities.
To ensure the knowledge gained during the extensive leadership training is not lost, Veleria Boaten, Assistant Director, Administrative Enterprise Technologies, and Lisa Jordan, Assistant Director, End User Services, began working with WashU IT senior leaders in late 2024 to establish a quarterly cadence for MOR graduates to meet and tackle timely, relevant topics. Boaten and Jordan thanked Amy Walter, Deputy Chief Information Officer and Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, Clinical and Medical Education Technologies, and Jen Stedelin, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic and Administrative Technologies and Interim Chief of Staff, for their support of the initiative.
Prior to a virtual kickoff meeting with MOR representatives last fall, graduates were asked to complete a survey indicating the level of involvement they wanted to have in the planning and execution of the cohort meetings. A subset of the respondents that indicated a greater level of interest were picked and polled about potential topics.
“It was strategic to have a diverse group represented from all units,” Boaten said of the subset, highlighting the careful planning that went into shaping the direction of the February virtual meeting, and for subsequent ones. The group will hold both virtual and on-site meetings.
Jordan emphasized the importance of the chosen topic for February, stating, “AI was top of the list for our alumni cohort meetings, with many expressing a keen interest in delving into its impacts on leadership roles.”
The reunion provided an avenue for graduates to engage in a comprehensive agenda exploring AI’s multifaceted impacts. Chris Shull, Chief Information Security Officer, and Greg Hart, Chief Technology Officer, led discussions on how the MOR program has influenced their respective leadership journeys. Both provided insightful context and set the stage for subsequent exercises.
MOR ToolKit exercise: SWOT analysis
A key component of the meeting was the MOR ToolKit exercise led by Jennie Franke, Senior Director, PPMO, which involved a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis based on the prompt: “How does AI impact you as a leader?” Attendees were encouraged to consider the SWOT on AI in their roles at WashU and beyond. This exercise was designed to foster a rich conversation, drawing on a variety of perspectives and in-depth analysis.
To aid in this discussion, participants were provided with a selection of articles highlighting both the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
Interactive session: pluses and deltas
Following the SWOT analysis, the session continued with a Plus and Deltas interactive exercise. Attendees provided feedback on the meeting’s helpful aspects (pluses) and areas for improvement (deltas). This reflective activity ensures continuous improvement for future gatherings.
Announcements and conclusion
The meeting concluded with organizers thanking those in attendance for their participation. Individuals were asked to provide their thoughts on potential future meeting topics, as well as whether they were interested in assisting with planning or facilitation of future meetings. This focused discussion equipped WashU’s IT leaders with the insights needed to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI, reinforcing the university’s commitment to fostering innovation and leadership in the digital age.
Planning is already underway for the next cohort meeting. These meetings will take place on a quarterly cadence. Jordan added the goal is to open future meetings to others within WashU, including those who have not completed MOR training. Current and future leaders interested in getting more involved should contact Jordan or Boaten to learn more.