AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM
25 th
SENIOR FELLOW PROFILE
AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM
AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM
Girl Scouts Heart of
Edelman
Central California
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“ ALF is about building that web of trust and shared experience . If you have that shared experience , you can start conversations from G or H instead of from A .”
Craig Jones President , MBK Rental Living
Linda E . Farley , CEO of Girl Scouts Heart of Central California , is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum ’ s Class XXII . Her ALF experience has helped her become even more effective as she guides an organization that serves more than 16,000 girls in 18 counties .
Girl Scouts is a 109-year-old organization working to build girls of courage , confidence and character who make the world a better place . Providing myriad programs and experiences , Girl Scouts is the premier leadership development organization for K-12 girls .
“ Relationships created during my ALF class continue on through strong communication and bonding ,” Farley says . “ I feel a sense of belonging , which is not always easy in today ’ s world . Our deep , candid conversations stretched my mindset and I am a stronger and more empathetic leader because of ALF .”
6601 Elvas Ave . Sacramento , CA 95819 ( 916 ) 452-9181 girlscoutshcc . org
6601 Elvas Ave . Sacramento , CA 95819 ( 916 ) 452-9181 girlscoutshcc . org sectors — traditionally where leadership candidates are fielded — but also city managers , police chiefs , spiritual leaders and more . The experience is much richer because you ’ re not leaving out a facet of the human experience . It opens your eyes to lots of different perspectives .”
One of the key ways ALF Fellows first bond is during the Wilderness Experience , a weeklong mountain excursion of camping , hiking , rock climbing and other group activities .
Blumenstock clearly remembers her first trip . “ I was halfway up a mountain and I thought , how the hell did I get here ?” she says . “ Of all the things I ’ d imagined I ’ d be doing in my 50s , climbing a rock face was not on the list . … The wilderness requires you to show up without any pretense , to really be who you are and confront that . Doing that is going to change you . … It ’ s an incredibly powerful experience .”
For Lofgren , her trek inspired a career change . After years as a city attorney and city manager , she got lost hiking with Roy Brewer on the Class IX wilderness trip and ultimately went into business with him . “ It was the partnership formed at 9,000 feet ,” Lofgren says .
A Lasting Impact While not all ALF participants go into business together , nearly every graduate , or Senior Fellow , touts the program ’ s ability to open doors and expedite problem solving . By creating a network of people with a shared experience across multiple sectors , issues can often be resolved with a single phone call .
“ If another Senior Fellow is involved , it allows you to cut to the chase and get to the meat of the matter ,” says Tim Murphy , CEO of the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange and Class XVI graduate . “ Even if it ’ s someone who wasn ’ t in your cohort , knowing you had that shared experience gives you a foundation to operate within . … We ’ re able to have these very heartfelt , deep conversations in a space with complete trust , confidentiality ( and ) respect without judgment . That ’ s a space that ’ s not necessarily available to many people today .”
ALF gives members myriad opportunities to stay connected both during and after the program . Current Fellows and Senior Fellows attend events like the All Access Reception , which welcomes new leaders to the region , and the Exemplary Leaders Awards Dinner , which annually
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