Dulye Leadership Experience preps SU students for entering workplace

Rob Enslin
(315) 443-3403

The College of Arts and Sciences and Linda M. Dulye ’77, an internationally recognized expert in change management and employee engagement, are inviting Syracuse University juniors and seniors of all majors to apply for participation in the second annual “Dulye Leadership Experience: Readying for the Reality of the Workplace,” to be held in western Massachusetts April 3-5, 2009. Twelve students will be selected for the interactive weekend, which will take place at various venues in the heart of the Berkshires. A full scholarship will cover all expenses, including travel, lodging, meals, supplies and the program. The seminar carries no academic credit.

“The Dulye Leadership Experience will help students grasp the realities of the workplace and help them navigate the cultural, operational and political dynamics of the business world,” says Dulye, a highly sought-after public speaker and former communications leader for General Electric and Allied Signal. “I look forward to building on the foundation of last year’s inaugural program, which was an unqualified success.”

Dulye serves as president and founder of L.M. Dulye & Co., a change-management consultancy based outside of New York City specializing in high-impact workplace communications. Currently celebrating its 10-year anniversary, L.M. Dulye & Co. has worked with Fortune 500 and other large organizations-including Bobcat, the Centers for Disease Control, CIGNA, DRS Technologies, the Environmental Protection Administration, Ingersoll-Rand, Lockheed Martin, Schering-Plough, Trane, Tyco, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Library of Congress-to improve how and what is communicated on the job.

“Research and experience tell us that most corporate organizations are filled with untapped potential and misdirected energies due to inconsistent, infrequent and unclear communications within and between layers, locations and departments,” Dulye says. A recent article in Reuters pointed out that Rolls-Royce Engine Services in Oakland tracked a 19 percent improvement in annual operating profit after Dulye implemented employee-driven communication teams and conducted leadership training. “An organization’s success hinges on the collective actions of all employees,” she adds.

In April, Dulye and a distinguished faculty of experts will lead more than a dozen interdisciplinary breakout sessions and provide networking opportunities designed to give students practical career advice. Session topics include:

• “Beyond SU: The Reality of Today’s Workplace”
• “What Is Leadership?”
• “Communicating for Success: Spoken and Written Words”
• “Find a Mentor: The Art and Value of Building Professional Relationships”
• “The Brand Called ‘You’: Resumes, Job Interviews and Dressing for Success”
• “What It Takes to Get on Leaders’ Radar Screen and Succession Plans”
• “Business Thinking for the Nonprofit World”
• “Finance 101: Understanding the Bottom Line of Business”
• “You Need a Nest Egg: Start Saving Now”
• “One Year Later: What SU Didn’t Teach Me for Surviving and Thriving in the Workplace”
• “The Entrepreneurial Spirit: Starting Your Own Business”
• “Wisdom From a Lifetime Learner and Entrepreneur”

“The Dulye Leadership Experience was an opportunity and a gift that helped me realize what to expect in the ‘real world.’ In a short amount of time, I learned a lot about myself and gained confidence in my personal ability to achieve,” says Kristyn Lao, a senior public relations and psychology major.

Dulye, a former English major, is part of a rich family legacy at SU. The Carrier Dome Press Box is named in honor of her journalist father, Raymond J. Dulye ’31, while her brother, Raymond Jr., is a graduate of the class of ’71. She also has been an SU football season ticket holder for several decades, taking over a family tradition that extends to the 1940s. “I take great pride in my Orange roots,” says the Warwick, N.Y., resident. In addition to funding an annual scholarship for a graduating senior at her high school alma mater, Dulye is an active philanthropist and supporter of various local, state and national animal rescue causes.

Students interested in being considered for The Dulye Leadership Experience can access an online application. Selection will be based on community, volunteer and work experience, as well as academic performance. The application deadline is Dec. 31. For more information, contact Lisa Balogh at (315) 443-2212 or visit http://thecollege.syr.edu/dulye.

More information about Dulye and her company is available at http://www.lmdulye.com.