Thunderbird and American Express to Help Social Sector Organizations

Weeklong Educational Program to Help Leaders Develop Crucial Skills

(GLENDALE, Ariz.) – Thunderbird School of Global Management and the American Express are partnering to help develop strong leadership skills within some of the world’s top social sector organizations, including the American Cancer Society, Make A Wish of America, International Rescue Committee, The Peace Corps, Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, The Grameen Foundation, National Audubon Society and Habitat for Humanity.

In today’s volatile economic environment, these organizations, now more than ever, need to be properly equipped to lead their organizations with strong, ethical leadership, innovative global mindsets and sustainable strategies that will solidify their long-term viability and create lasting value for the organizations and the communities they serve.

Leaders from these organizations will participate in a weeklong executive education program funded by American Express and delivered by Thunderbird’s top global faculty March 9-13 at the school’s Glendale campus. The “Thunderbird Social Sector Leadership Program” is funded by a grant from American Express as part of its Developing New Leaders for Tomorrow philanthropic initiative.

“At American Express, we recognize the impact that leaders have on business and in society, especially within the current environment,” said Timothy J. McClimon, president, American Express Foundation. “This partnership with Thunderbird reflects our ongoing commitment to providing current and future nonprofit leaders with opportunities to build and sharpen leadership skills that are critical to the sector.”

The program, funded by a grant and custom designed solely for a group of nonprofits, governmental and nongovernmental organizations is the first executive education program of its kind for Thunderbird, and the school is hoping to use this program as a model for similar opportunities in the future.

“Thunderbird Corporate Learning is proud to be involved in the executive development of high potential leaders in the social sector,” says Beth Stoops, senior vice president of Thunderbird Corporate Learning. “Educating leaders who create sustainable value not only in their organizations but also within their communities and the world at large is Thunderbird’s mission. Programs like this allow us to carry out that mission in a very meaningful way.”

The five-day program will guide participants on how to develop new leadership skills in these tough economic times and training will include leadership, sustainability, strategy, brand management, fundraising and innovation.

“Our program will lead nine well-known, world-class social sector organizations, all with noble missions, through a hands-on learning journey designed to take them to new levels of capability in this new economic landscape,” Academic Director Mary Teagarden, Ph.D., says. “We have combined the expertise of Thunderbird’s outstanding faculty with the know-how of social sector practitioners to facilitate learning and collective problem solving.”

Participants will bring to the leadership development program specific challenges they may be facing within their organization that will become their class projects for development throughout the program. Students will work with other participants and Thunderbird’s world-renowned faculty to find solutions to those problems and to develop plans of action to take back to their organizations for implementation. The program includes follow-up consultations from Thunderbird’s faculty, to help ensure their success.

About Thunderbird
Founded in 1946, Thunderbird is the first and oldest graduate management school focused exclusively on global business. It is regarded as the world’s leading institution in the education of global managers and has operations in the United States, Latin America, Asia and Europe, including Russia. Ranked No. 1 in international business by the Financial Times, U.S. News & World Report, and The Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive 2007 Business School Survey, Thunderbird is dedicated to educating global leaders who create sustainable prosperity worldwide. The school’s programs facilitate the development of the global mindset, which is critical to managing effectively in different social, economic and political environments. More than 38,000 students have graduated from Thunderbird, and its alumni live and work in more than 140 countries. For more about Thunderbird, please visit: http://www.thunderbird.edu/

About American Express
American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global payments and travel company founded in 1850.

American Express: Developing New Leaders for Tomorrow
One of American Express’ three platforms for its philanthropy is Developing New Leaders for Tomorrow. Under this giving initiative, which recognizes the significance of strong leadership in the nonprofit sector, American Express is making grants focused on training high potential emerging leaders to tackle important issues in the 21st century.

Technorati Tags: Arizona, economy, Glendale, Thunderbird School of Global Management