Ateneo leaders exceed expectations in COA LeaD 2011

The COA Training and Development Department (T&D) presented future Atenean leaders with a leadership-training day entitled “EXCEED!: COA Leadership Day 2011” last December 3 at the Leong Hall Auditorium.

The main aim of the COA Leadership Day (COA LeaD) is to equip potential future leaders of all organizations in the Ateneo, may it be from those who are accredited or not, the tools and skills needed by the Atenean leader. The Sanggunian and the Core of Publications (COP) were also invited to join. With this in mind, the event was divided into three parts: The Ateneo Philosophy of Leadership, Specialization, and Stages of LeaD.

With an lineup of heavy topics, there is no doubt that COA Leadership Day was a big and very much anticipated event, most especially to Denzel Dy, the Vice President for Training and Development, who spearheaded COA LeaD.

“This year, the event was entitled ‘EXCEED!’ since we want to impart to the participants that they may exceed their own limitations and their perceived strengths and weaknesses,” says Denzel. Apart from that, COA LeaD can also serve as an avenue for future leaders to get in touch with their call to service and to also have a clearer idea of what they’re getting into as heads of their own organizations.

The hosts for the morning were Mico Suba, Raisa Tabusalla, and Stephie Sy. For the first half of the day, talks were given by notable speakers with the likes of our very own Ateneo president, Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ wherein he gave the introduction to the Ateneo philosophy of leadership. Sir Eduardo Calasanz and Ma’m Antonette Palma-Angeles, both noted professors of Philosophy, gave insights on the methods of discerning and ethical decision-making, respectively.

For the other half of that day; the would-be leaders were sorted out into their own specializations for talks and activities that are related to their future positions or offices. It is important for future leaders to be guided by those who have been through what these future leaders are about to get into.

Various speakers were invited for each specialization. Speakers such as last year’s Sanggunian president, Rob Roque, and our very own COA president, Ken Abante, gave insights for the Presidents’ specializations, while last year’s recipient of COA leader of the year, Jerry Perez gave a talk for Vice Presidents or HR Officers and their specializations. Current COA Finance Officer, Eldridge Tan, talked to finance officers about their specialization, current COA Secretary-General, Suzie Barba, for Chief Administrative Officers’ specialization and last year’s COA Vice President for Special Projects, Leslie Yu, for Project Heads’ specialization. After each talk, integrating activities crafted specially for each position. Booklets were also distributed.

The participants then gathered in SEC field for Stages of LeaD, where activities tackled on the necessary qualities of a leader such as teamwork and communication, also effectively enforcing camaraderie among the participants.

Nothing could get any better than seeing a group of future leaders form good ties with each other as early as now. It is easy to say that they will be seeing a lot of each other as fellow org leaders. By the end of the day, everyone was tired but was filled with a newer and fresher sense of direction and inspiration with regards to their leadership. There are many paths to leadership, but there is no proper path. Hopefully with COA LeaD, it made those paths easier to discern.