This September will bring an expanded version of the successful Management Essentials Program, now known as The Art of Management. This revised, redesigned program will take participants on an exploration of their leadership potential and delve into the nuts and bolts of creating a team culture that is motivational and strengthens relationships across Facilities and beyond.  

Facilities will partner with University Services to enrich the employee learning experience and build cross-campus connections. The University cost-saving initiative presented a natural opportunity for the partnership, and for a revitalized structure of the program.   

“Many things changed in this iteration of the program,” Assistant Director of Talent Development, Paula Gallo shared. “We reshaped this cohort model into leadership focused sessions that cultivate a stronger element of community and personal accountability.” 

The inaugural version of the course focused on supervisors and people leaders new to managing direct reports, providing the basic principles and policies relevant to Facilities, as well as the University. The target audience has now expanded to include both new and experienced leaders, and the program will be offered in the fall and spring semester. “We feel empowered to develop content that is relevant to and benefits both groups,” Paula said.  

 The informal peer mentorship and relationship-building that occurs when “different generations” of employees learn from each other is one of the highlights of the program, Gallo shared. 

One of the outcomes she and co-facilitator, Danielle Dennis of University Services, envision for The Art of Management, is that it allows people to dissect, build, and refine their leadership skills in community with others. “We want to maximize the time people have together and build connections,” Dennis said. In fact, the informal peer mentorship woven into the program has the potential to enrich participants’ professional journey long after the course has concluded.  

Michelle Lee, the Finance and Budget Manager of Facilities Finance Administrative Services (FFAS), participated in the pilot Management Essentials Program, and credits the curriculum with deepening her confidence in her communication and presentation skills.  

 “The last day of the training, we were asked to give a presentation to the group, which gave me a chance to get out of my comfort zone and reflect on my own management style,” she shared. The personality assessment Lee and other participants took within the program gave her an added awareness of her strengths. “My goal is to build a climate of support, that gives my team independence while ensuring that their growth is nurtured,” she shared. “I learned a lot about how to be aware of hierarchy in team dynamics, and how to use motivational language.”  

An added benefit of the course for Lee was the chance to learn in community with her peers and be inspired by their successes and leadership strategies. “The chance to meet in person and digest the material together was unique. It would take some time to build those relationships and learn the material independently, without Paula’s guidance and the team atmosphere.”  

Diann Schilk, Building Services Supervisor, describes the Management Essentials program as insightful.  “I found the program so fascinating,” she shared. “It opened my eyes and helped me understand why people have different communication styles, and how to apply that knowledge to our staff. I would recommend this to everyone. It can really expand your mind.” 

This container for reflection and growth has significantly shaped Gallo’s own approach to community-building at Princeton, and she has found it rewarding to create a sustaining program on a large scale. “I didn’t consider before teaching this material that I, too, would build relationships throughout Facilities,” she shared. The cross-departmental connections make both the macro and micro of organizational growth and change possible. 

Program participants are nominated by Senior Leaders. This training will be offered again in the spring of 2026. Stay tuned in the winter for more information about how to participate in the next The Art of Management cohort.