Breakthrough leadership is an introductory, foundational-level program intended to prepare team members for future leadership opportunities. It is also designed to acclimate team members to working in state government.
Team members eager to learn, committed to evolving as leaders, and demonstrating a growth mindset are encouraged to apply. Team members should also be:
*A senior leader is a level below a director and is responsible for budgets, programs, people, etc.
Yes. If an individual was not accepted during a prior application period, they must apply to a future summit to be reconsidered.
Yes, a new application will be needed for each summit in order to qualify for participation. We recognize that not all summit dates work for team members and it allows applicants to modify their application if they so choose.
The beginning of the application captures your contact information and your supervisor’s contact information, department and division, length of service, and attestation you have the approval to apply for the program. The three essay questions are:
- Why are you interested in participating in Breakthrough Leadership? How do you see your participation contributing to your own professional development, as well as to the betterment of state government as a whole?
- Leadership development often requires stepping outside your comfort zone. Describe a situation where you encountered a significant challenge related to learning a new skill or navigating an unfamiliar process. What did you learn from the experience?
- Imagine you are leading a team in your agency, tasked with a complex project. A team member expresses frustration with their workload and feels unsupported. Describe how you would approach this situation.
Note: You have 1,500 characters available to answer the questions with.
Breakthrough Leadership focuses on leading self, specifically through a servant leadership lens. Uniquely built for those new to State government, Breakthrough Leadership is a 3-day intensive summit with opportunities to stay engaged post-summit through continual learning and growth.
40 people are selected per summit, with seat allocations divided proportionally across departments.
In Jefferson City. The exact location will be shared with the participants each quarter as the specific location may change from quarter to quarter.
Yes. Supervisor support of participants is essential to their success!
The application process for Breakthrough Leadership includes supervisor approval, essay question responses, and a letter of recommendation. Each application is reviewed, and selections are made based on the quality of that application.
Yes. A list of the team members who were selected will be sent to the HR Directors to review and approve, once selections have been made. If, for some reason, the selected individual(s) are not approved by their HR team, the Director of Breakthrough Leadership will work with the HR team to make any new selections. A full list of who applied can be sent to departments upon request.
There is no requirement or restriction on who can write your letter of recommendation; just be sure to ask someone who can speak to your leadership qualities and why you should be chosen to attend the summit. Here is a template you can share to assist in the writing process.
It is preferred to attach your letter of recommendation to your application to ensure it stays with your application. You can exit the application and return where you left off once you receive the letter(s) of recommendation. Please do not email them.
Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:
The Breakthrough Leadership program takes an experiential approach to course delivery, proven to have an impact on personal growth. Participants will connect and collaborate across the three-day program, and beyond.
- Day 1 Explores personal behavior through DISC, self-limiting beliefs, and the importance of networking. Participants will also attend a networking dinner with graduates from Missouri Leadership Academy and Breakthrough Leadership.
- Day 2 Introduces participants to legislative and budget processes through interactive, educational activities. Participants will have an opportunity to connect with legislative leaders at dinner.
- Day 3 Focuses on leading others and change through our influence, and leveraging resources available to us.
Breakthrough Leadership is an introductory, foundational-level program intended to prepare team members for future leadership opportunities. It is also designed to acclimate team members to working in state government.
The summits are scheduled quarterly. You can find all the important dates on the Summits page.
Department costs are limited to travel and lodging expenses for team members who travel to Jefferson City for a summit. The Office of Administration covers all other expenses.
Email talentdevelopment@oa.mo.gov with any additional questions.
