GatorLead

GatorLead is a semester-long leadership development program for graduate students and postdocs aspiring to leadership roles in any career sector. Early career scholars will develop self and career sector awareness while building their networks through a series of interactive workshops, small team discussions moderated by accomplished leaders, one-on-one mentoring, and career path researchScholars will attend weekly 2-hour virtual workshops and will have ongoing mentoring and networking assignments.  

Eligibility: Graduate Students in terminal Masters programs (ex: MFA), doctoral students, and postdocs aspiring to leadership roles in any career sector are invited to apply.

In Fall 2025, the program will be offered online via Canvas & Zoom. We will meet on Thursday from 2 pm - 4 pm from August 28th to November 13th. Deadline to apply is July 18 at 11:59pm.

APPLICATIONS FOR FALL 2025

 

Questions? Please email grad-success@ufl.edu

Past participants have said:
"I feel like this program made me more self-aware than I have ever been both in my personal and my professional life, and it helped me to just build the confidence I have in myself, I need to trust in my decisions. "
"It's incredible to think how much this program actually changed me because you don't really see the effects happen as you go through it and in having these discussions, but literally last week, I asked for a raise for the first time. Don't be afraid to ask for what you're worth... I've taken what I have learned and put it to use so it's just such an honor to be a part of this program and I really appreciate it."

 

* Meetings are online through Zoom on Thursdays from 2-4pm EST

Course Component Week Weekly Topic
Welcome 08/28/2025

Welcome & Logistics 

Self-Awareness 09/04/2025

Communications and Behavioral Style Awareness

Self-Awareness 09/11/2025 

Personal & Career Planning

Careers: Knowing what is possible 09/18/2025

Career Sector Exploration

Self-Awareness 09/25/2025  Emotional Intelligence
Professionalism 10/02/2025 Personal Branding
Career Advancement 10/9/2025 Financial Considerations in Professional Life
Effectiveness & Purpose 10/16/2025 

Tools for Conversations

Effectiveness and Purpose 10/23/2025
 

Managing Biases

Career Advancement 10/30/2025

Salary Negotiations

Effectiveness & Purpose 11/06/2025 Transferable Skills for Leadership Roles
Careers: Knowing what is possible 11/13/2025  Graduation Ceremony
CAREERS: KNOWING WHAT IS POSSIBLE

CAREERS: KNOWING WHAT IS POSSIBLE

Explore career sectors
Identify careers that align with skills, interests, and values
Build professional networks to accomplish career goals

SELF-AWARENESS

SELF-AWARENESS

Develop communications and behavioral style awareness
Employ design thinking for personal and career planning
Use verbal and digital communications strategies to convey personal and professional value

EFFECTIVENESS & PURPOSE

EFFECTIVENESS & PURPOSE

Learn strategies for managing bias and leading challenging conversations
Understand how to influence situations
Explore tools for negotiations