New Leadership. New Programs.

Executive Education Expert Kim Mallory Spearheads New Program Initiatives 

Senior Executive Director for Corporate and Executive Education Kim Mallory has made a career out of launching initiatives and programs to help graduate and executive-level learners succeed. 

Initially coming to UofL as Executive Director for Graduate Programs at the College of Business, she soon established herself as a leader amongst her peers. Having recently stepped into her new role focused on executive education, we spoke with Mallory about how her work in the College is shaping the growth of her and her department. 

UofL: How did you feel about being asked to take on the role of Senior Executive Director for Corporate and Executive Education? 

KM: My career has focused primarily on two areas of business education – graduate programs designed for working professionals and non-degree executive education programs. So, when the College had a need for executive education expertise, I was glad that I had experience that could be helpful. I initially came into the unit at UofL in a temporary capacity during a time of transition while continuing in my graduate program role. It didn’t take me long to remember just how much fun [that] world was. Working with Alex Bryant, Manuela Perri, and Julijana Curcic in that temporary capacity is [another] reason why I was thrilled when this role became permanent for me in July. [They] are a team that is small but mighty. I have been so impressed by their knowledge and dedication that coming on permanently [was] an easy decision.   

UofL: From your perspective, what defines a leader, and how does your department provide the greatest opportunities for leadership growth?   

KM: Most people end up in leadership roles because they are really good at what they do. If you are a high-performing engineer, for example, you will usually get tapped on the shoulder at some point to take on more responsibility and lead projects and people. But, as a technical professional, you don’t have any education or training in what it takes to lead well. This is where an executive education course can help leapfrog a professional into being an effective leader by teaching them some core leadership concepts and providing a practical toolset for thinking, communicating, and acting like a leader. [Another] notion is that we must wait until we are in a leadership or executive role to lead. We can lead from where we are. We have courses that expose [professionals] to these concepts in a low-stakes, high-impact environment that positions them well for promotion and success.   

UofL: As artificial intelligence (AI) is used by many businesses daily, how is UofL’s Executive Education Department providing education for leaders using this emerging technology? 

KM: We have just launched our first open enrollment course on AI, which is targeted at business leaders who are responsible for formulating and supporting AI strategies in their organizations. These leaders don’t need to know how to build AI models, but they do need to understand the strategic advantages of the different kinds of models out there and what they need to begin. It is focused on building out a customized strategic roadmap for their company. This course demystifies AI and brings it to a practical business use level that all executives need to make good decisions about implementation in their own organizations. 

UofL: What future opportunities will your department be providing individuals who want to develop their leadership skills? 

KM: We are launching the new Professional Skills Accelerator Certificate in the spring, [which] is designed to empower individuals with a comprehensive set of skills and competencies that are essential in today’s dynamic workplace. We are also offering our first course focused on the healthcare industry. With Lean for Healthcare, we are bringing the powerful transformational tools of Lean to patient care settings, which bring about lasting change. We [also] continue to build dynamic custom programs for organizations that focus on specific, strategic goals. With additional expertise in topics such as the business of distilled spirits, strategic AI, and Lean for Healthcare, we look forward to working directly with more organizations on custom options. 

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About the UofL College of Business:

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