Continuing and Professional Education

In a world where leadership is often measured by speed and output, instructor Yedda Stancil believes the real power comes from something far simpler: being present.

“When it comes to leadership development, there's a lot of consumption of content,” she said. “I found the biggest transformation in helping people change really lifelong behaviors is learning to slow down, get out of their mind and actually practice being present.”

That belief is at the center of two online workshops Stancil will lead this fall through VCU Continuing and Professional Education in partnership with The InnerWork Center. Both Mindful Leadership workshops are designed to help professionals strengthen their focus, build emotional intelligence and foster more inclusive environments. Stancil says these skills are in short supply in today’s high-pressure workplaces.

Unlike traditional leadership training that often emphasizes productivity and performance, these courses take a different approach. Participants practice mindfulness techniques that improve attention, reduce stress and increase self-awareness. Stancil explains that even small shifts – such as pausing before reacting or noticing limiting beliefs – can ripple outward in meaningful ways. 

“When you develop more self-awareness, what happens is you literally develop the ability for better self-regulation,” she explained. “Self-regulation is the ability to slow down, take in the information, and then say, ‘What's the most thoughtful, kind, considerate, compassionate thing that I could do here?’”

The first workshop, Foundations of Focused Leadership, which runs in September and October, introduces simple practices to help participants stay grounded and intentional, even amid daily distractions. The second, Emotional Intelligence & Inclusive Leadership, begins in November and shows how mindfulness can deepen empathy and improve communication, qualities that Stancil believes are essential for leaders who want to create equitable and supportive workplaces.

She stresses that the workshops aren’t just for executives or managers. “We're all leaders. Whether we're leaders at home, at work, in the community…so I think anybody could benefit from this class,” she said. “It is a great thing to invest in, because at some point in your life, you might actually be asked, or forced or invited to step into a leadership role.”

Past participants often describe immediate benefits, from clearer focus to reduced stress, and Stancil hopes this fall’s sessions will reach people who might not normally consider mindfulness as part of leadership development. 

Stancil says she has one message for anyone hesitant to enroll: “If you're curious about what would life look like if I was kinder to myself or other people, then say, ‘Yes.’ It's a minimal investment for a minimal number of classes to basically just learn something that could help you, no matter what in life.”

The workshops will be offered live on Zoom, making them accessible to learners across professions and locations. Registration is now open at https://ocpe.vcu.edu.