After investing more than 150 hours over 14 months, the first class of the Scarlett Leadership Institute at Belmont University received their graduation certificates Friday in a ceremony held at Maggiano’s on West End.
Andy Gilbert, president of Genesco Licensed Brands and a Scarlett student, said, “The Scarlett Leadership Institute brings leadership development to a new level by applying not only current leadership training to ‘real world’ business situations but teaches the principles of moral purpose and ethical leadership which are vital to success. As a result of our participation in the program, the Scarlett Leadership Institute has created residual value for the company, the shareholders and, most of all, the individual.”
Joe Scarlett, the chairman and former CEO of Tractor Supply Co., funded and facilitated the start of the Scarlett Leadership Institute on Belmont’s campus last year. Custom built around the leadership development concerns of 35 prominent Nashville CEOs, the goal of the Institute is to take good leaders and make them better.
The Scarlett vision, which is “to build first class executive educational programs with primary focus on leadership and ethics,” focuses particular attention on effective communication and measurable behavior change. The class is structured to meet for a total of 18 days over a 14-month period, with a maximum class size of 16 students.
The Institute’s inaugural class began meeting last fall and graduated following a speech by special guest Nelson Andrews, co-founder of Leadership Nashville. Companies represented in this first graduating class include Cracker Barrel, SunTrust, Ingram Barge, Bellsouth, Bridgestone/Firestone, LP Building Products and Cat Financial, among others. Two other classes have since been started that will graduate next year with a fourth class set to begin soon.
