DYLA ProgramProgram Impact Paper

Cynthia BryantJuly 11, 2013

It has been an incredible experience. When I set out to participate in the Darlene Young

Leadership Academy (DYLA), I wanted to put my all into it and took seriously the comment

from the DYLA Handbook, “What you get out of this program will be based on what you put

into this program.” While I enjoy the use of the written word, I admit it difficult to employ the

written word here to fully express the global impact of this program on my life.

I set out to improve my negotiation/mediation skills and focused on four core

competencies – decisiveness, resilience, influencing/negotiating, and political savvy. While all

the other aspects of the program seemed to fall into place, I found it most difficult to find

individuals willing to allow a three to five day shadow. With a great deal of perseverance, I

finally met this requirement, and I must admit that those that I ultimately shadowed were those

from whom I was intended to learn.

With decisiveness and strengthening my ability to make timely, well-informed and

difficult decisions, I found Bradberry and Greaves’ book, Emotional Intelligence 2.0

enlightening as I discovered how people often initially react in situations with their emotions,

and how I need to recognize this human condition in relationship to my rational thought process.

Decisiveness requires me to be clear with my purpose, and as Dean Treanor and FCC Managing

Director David Robbins counseled, I need to make the best decision given the particular set of

facts. While I can never completely divorce myself of emotions, and believe that sometimes

emotion is the spearhead required for change, rational thought will nonetheless allow me to

effectively flush out the situations that confront me.

Vice President Joe Biden’s book, Promises to Keep, my interview with Dr. Julia Hill and

my shadowing experience with Dr. Johnnetta Cole, opened my eyes to the concept of resilience.

Impact Paper C. Bryant

Vice President Biden’s book inspired me to move forward and visualize my desired personal and

professional achievements to make them a reality. Dr. Julia Hill echoed much of what I had read

in Vice President Biden’s book and I learned from her to never fear exploring deeper waters with

confidence and faith, and to seek counsel in those that are there to assist in both good and

difficult times. Further, if I fall, I must still get up and move forward. It was comforting to me

to mentally absorb the counsel of this 90 year-old civil rights leader. Through Dr. Johnnetta

Cole, I observed resilience in action and a woman who was very comfortable in her own skin. I

benefitted from witnessing how she strategically folded her daily ups and downs into her

unwavering vision. I learned from her to embrace my work with joy and commitment, and

remain focused on my vision as I navigate through the cross sections of my days.

The influencing/negotiating trio comprised of the book Getting to Yes, a one-week

workshop at the Harvard Negotiation Institute and having a conversation with President and Mrs.

Carter came together very well to further strengthen my negotiation abilities. I was able to

broaden my personal and professional insight as I migrated from first reading on effective

negotiation concepts, to speaking with a former leader of the Free World and former First Lady

who counseled me on the importance of neutrality and peace, to finally working with other

negotiators from around the world to fine-tune my craft through a variety of negotiating

exercises. Finally, President Carter’s book, Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President, together

with now Acting Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn and the Mayor and Councilmembers from

Kansas City aided me in discovering how to strategize when faced with internal and external

organizational and political realities. I learned to listen to and engage all voices in the decision-

making process, and to seek consensus and win-win results for the collective.

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Impact Paper C. Bryant

My 30-day detail in the Front Office of the Federal Communications Commission’s

Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau was more than I could have dreamed. My Bureau

Chief and others provided projects geared to enhance my core competencies and negotiation

skills, and confidently placed the reins in my hands to lead. Decisiveness became my

responsibility, resilience my resolve, effective influencing/negotiating towards win-win

situations my mission, and political savvy my aim. I was tested on many fronts with all that I

had studied and learned through the DYLA program, and I felt equipped to handle the leadership

that was demanded of me.

I found the team project to be essential to the program to not only reinforce the concept

of team management and leadership, but also to allow DYLA participants to collectively work

together on a project geared to enhance BIG. It wasn’t easy at first to come together as a team

since we had only one face-to-face meeting, but we successfully evolved and each person found

his/her way in the team structure. The team leaders were a great help in assisting us reach this

turning point, and a memorable moment for me occurred when the team naturally moved into

talking about difficulties and successes in completing the program. At that juncture, I felt better

connected with my team members.

As a steward of the DYLA program and President of my chapter, I have been able to

spread the word about the program, and I believe that my Agency recognizes the growth

potential that it affords its employees. I have connected with some fascinating people and will

continue an ongoing dialogue with them, and I believe that this will only serve to further enrich

my personal life and work productivity.

According to my True Colors, I am green with blue close behind, and yellow and orange

rather distant in tow. I am emerging as an extrovert, but I admit that I often still lean on my

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Impact Paper C. Bryant

introverted ways. I am a communicator and enjoy both self-reflection and nurturing others

towards their achievements. This is a snapshot of who I am and I am grateful that the DYLA

program allowed me to cultivate these facets of my personality. My rewards have been many,

and I would highly recommend the program to those who truly wish to, as Mr. Bernard Robinson

counseled and to paraphrase from the song “Break Away,” spread their wings and learn how to

fly.

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