Pathbuilders® Celebrates the Launch of Its Historic 20th Percepta® Class

USA - English

• USA - English

ATLANTA, Oct. 24, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- More than 100 businesswomen gathered at the Westin Atlanta Perimeter in October for the launch of the 20th class of the Pathbuilders Percepta program. Pathbuilders, an organization that specializes in cross-company mentoring programs, company-specific programming, and gender diversity consulting, has been a trusted resource for Atlanta-area organizations to develop their female talent since 1995.

Mentoring is the core of Pathbuilders' unique approach to developing female talent. Percepta is one of Pathbuilders' four unique mentoring programs that combines a group mentoring model with interactive developmental workshops and peer networking. Percepta matches women to one or two peers who have similar developmental needs and are facing similar challenges. After a mentee group is matched, Pathbuilders then finds the mentor best suited to help the mentee group achieve its developmental goals. Percepta mentors range from senior managers to vice presidents with diverse professional backgrounds and experiences.

At the October half-day kick-off, the cohort of 80-plus mentees gathered to meet and learn more about their mentoring groups. The kick-off covered areas which laid the groundwork for the mentoring partnerships, including the unique mentee and mentor roles that exist in a formal mentoring partnership, how to set goals for their own development, and how to agree upon a common set of expectations for their partnership.

"I am most excited to be matched with my peer network and to dive into content," shared Kelli Easley, senior lead advisor of employer branding at Chick-fil-A, Inc. "I am looking forward to understanding how to strengthen my influence both cross-functionally and with senior leaders in my organization. I recognize that a key attribute to becoming a great leader is getting things done through others even when you don't directly manage them. I believe the Pathbuilders Percepta program is uniquely positioned to help me grow in this area."

Over the course of the six-month program, Percepta mentees learn to deliver results in complex work environments. The participants learn about an array of topics such as managing their personal brands, giving and receiving feedback, managing results, and understanding corporate culture from subject matter experts with an average of 25 years of experience in organizations such as Assurant, Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen, and The Coca-Cola Company, to name a few.

For the Fall 2019 class, 29 organizations from an array of industries sponsored women with proven track records of professional success to take their careers to the next level in the Percepta program. Women who are selected to participate in the program are emerging leaders learning to think broadly, manage others, and make conscious choices.

"I am extremely happy to be a part of such a wonderful and empowering program," shared Rodica Kajanovic, senior account management specialist at Novelis. "The Pathbuilders team really took their time to get to know us on an individual and professional level and were able to effectively match us with the right mentor and peers. As a professional, goal-driven woman, I strive to grow within my company, and I feel the program will help me cultivate the leadership skills and build the confidence needed to achieve success in my workplace."

Many of the women who volunteer to serve as mentors are graduates of Pathbuilders' Achieva® program, a year-long one-on-one mentoring program that positions mid-level female leaders for senior leadership responsibilities in their organizations. These women value the mentoring experience and want to give back to those who are following behind them.

"I volunteered to be a mentor in the Pathbuilders Percepta program because I strongly believe that I have a responsibility to give back my time and support in advancing the professional growth and personal development of women in the workplace," shared Marcia Shippey-Pryce, director of indirect taxes at WestRock. "Mentoring allows me to make a positive change in the lives of my mentees while gaining new insights and perspectives on situations that allow me to build on my experiences. I am excited not only about watching how my mentees will grow over the course of the next six months but also about the partnership that will develop through this mentor program and the self-actualization that will take place during this process."

For nearly 15 years, mentees and mentors from companies such as Cox Communications, Delta Air Lines, Mercedes-Benz USA, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, The Coca-Cola Company, Gas South, and The Home Depot have shared professional successes through the Percepta program. These and other organizations of all sizes continue to send their top female talent through the Pathbuilders programs year after year.

"I vividly remember the moment in 2003 when it became apparent that we needed to create a new program, specifically focused on this level of woman – a woman focused on establishing her brand, planning her career, beginning to manage results, and better understanding the culture.," shared Helene Lollis, president and CEO of Pathbuilders. "To be celebrating the 20th class of this program is overwhelming. We would not have reached this milestone without the mentors, speakers, interviewers, program managers, coordinators, and salespeople who have contributed to the success of Percepta. Of course, we are especially proud to celebrate this milestone with over 200 clients who have partnered with us to build a pipeline of female leaders inside their organizations."

Pathbuilders is delighted to partner with nearly 30 organizations for the Fall 2019 class, including:
ADP, LLC
Atrium Hospitality
Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Colonial Pipeline Company
Comcast
Cox Automotive, Inc.
Cox Communications
Delta Air Lines
Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta
Gas South
Global Payments
Graphic Packaging
Junior Achievement of Georgia
Manhattan Associates
MEAG Power
Mueller Water Products
Novelis, Inc.
Patientco
PCA Retirement and Benefits
PowerPlan, Inc.
Protiviti
Rollins
SecureWorks
Slalom
Solvay
The Kroger Company
WarnerMedia
WestRock

About Pathbuilders, Inc.
Pathbuilders transforms top talent into high-impact leaders who move business forward. Through customized programming, Pathbuilders leverages a model that effectively combines mentoring, educational workshops, and interactive peer exchange to accelerate the career growth of individuals and directly contribute to the bottom-line success of client organizations. Pathbuilders was founded in 1995 with a unique focus on developing the potential of high-performing women and creating gender-diverse leadership teams. Today, Pathbuilders leverages the corporate experience of its team to develop impactful developmental experiences for high-potential women and men in forward-thinking organizations. Pathbuilders has worked with nearly 4,000 professionals from more than 400 client organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, colleges and universities, and government agencies.

SOURCE Pathbuilders, Inc.