Eric Sandoval participated in the Emerging Leaders Development Program. to get additional exposure to local government. In this interview, he shares his thoughts on the coaching aspect of the program and the skills he learned to take on this post-pandemic world.

Why did you choose to apply to this program?

I was interested in getting additional exposure to local government management including finance, human resources, and council relations.

How did this program influence your approach to leadership?

It made me view situations and solutions through a different lens. Having a greater appreciation for budgeting, HR, risk assessment and navigating the politics is critical if you want to be a high performing manager.

What was your biggest takeaway from participating in ELDP?

The interaction with fellow students cannot be understated. Our instructors were great, but the student interaction and input brought context to the academic work.

Did you enjoy the coaching experience? How did you benefit from it?

It was a great experience and although it was a 24-month commitment, I was so impressed I signed up for additional learning and did a MAP project. The learning experience from the ELDP program and product from the MAP project has elevated the work of our city as it moves forward to become a data driven organization.

How can you use the skills you have gained during the program in a post-pandemic world?

Although I work in technology and performance improvement, 90% of the challenges that present themselves are people-related. Having a better understanding of how government operations work in aggregate, allows me to better communicate with colleagues, executive management, and our council.

Get more information on the ICMA Emerging Leaders Development Program. Application deadline has passed.