5 Things You Should Know About Us
1. Unique Values-Based Approach
At the Soderquist Center, we are unique with our values-based approach to organizational, team, and leadership development. We see values not as a peripheral matter, but rather, the foundational tool that enables alignment between:
- Individual values and organizational values
- Individual behavior and organizational mission
- Individual initiative and organizational vision
We believe that the alignment between these individual and organizational attributes creates the best environment for productivity, morale, and performance.
Where other leadership vendors may prescribe off-the-shelf programs, we know that every organization has unique challenges that need customized solutions. Our customized values-based approach will propel your organization to its full potential.
2. Partnership with John Brown University
The Soderquist Center has a special relationship with John Brown University. Not only are our headquarters located on the second floor of the Soderquist Business Center on campus, but we actively participate in campus life. In partnership with the Undergraduate Division of Business, our team is responsible for direction of JBU's chapter of Students In Free Enterprise.
In the spring semester, we also host Leadership Week on campus. The Soderquist Center brings in renowned leaders and speakers to share insights with students. Reset was the theme in 2010--a call to think differently about leadership. In 2011, we welcomed Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS, to campus. The theme was Retell the story of profitable business. Stay connected to hear about what's planned for Leadership Week this year!
John Brown University is ranked 2nd among colleges and universities in the South in the U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges and Universities in America. Its award-winning business division produces some of the highest caliber graduates in the state, and has dozens of medals, stories, and results to prove it. The Soderquist Center is also privileged to give students the opportunity to apply for the Soderquist Fellowship.
3. Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders
This isn’t just something we talk about. We actually do it. Through our Soderquist Fellowship Program, we select the best students from around the country and offer them a full scholarship to get their Master’s Degree in Business or Leadership and Ethics while working for us.
During their time with us, they are exposed to great leaders from diverse industries and backgrounds. They help with planning events, developing and delivering content, facilitating experiential learning, and get to see some of the best leaders in the country wrestle with important issues of ethics, values, and leadership. This is what Jacob Little, a former Soderquist Fellow had to say about the program:
“The Soderquist Fellowship has given me a front-row seat to interact with some of the cutting-edge ideas on leadership, values, and ethics. The people here truly take an interest in my development as a person, as a professional, and as a leader.”
At the Soderquist Center, preparing the next generation of leaders is central to how the organization operates.
4. Experience Driven
Unlike many facilitators who only teach from models and theories, our facilitators have extensive real world experience in numerous industries. From Walmart, to Kimberly Clark, to the banking industry, our facilitators know what life is like in the real world, and in the real workplace. We do not just propose abstract one-size-fits-all theories, but work to customize the content and application that your organization needs to reach its full potential.
You need real solutions that can only come from people with real experience in the workplace.
5. Narrow and Deep
We do not do everything – we focus on one thing: values-based leadership. If you need help developing your leaders, teams, or organization to operate on a solid foundation of values, we can help your organization reach its greatest productivity, performance, and potential. In the leadership and development industry, there are many distractions and ineffective programs. Let our targeted, deep, thorough values-based approach to development transform your organization.
We know our approach is effective is because we learned it from our founding executive, Don Soderquist, former COO and Senior Vice-Chairman of Walmart Stores, Inc. Don advocates that strong core values are what launched Walmart to the success it enjoys today. We want to help you implement the same foundation and culture so that your organization can reach its peak performance.
Don’t be distracted by programs that do not reach the core of your organization. The only development that will last is that which reaches the heart of your leaders, teams, and organization. Our approach may be narrow, but it is deep enough to transform what is truly important.