Page 18 - Public Gaming International September/October 2017

Programs To Develop

The Next Generation Of Industry Leaders

Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation Emerging Leaders Program and Internships

Paul Jason, PGRI: people who are so dedicated to their mission
to serve and ambitious to succeed. The
The Tennessee Education Lottery enthusiasm is infectious and rekindles our
Corporation (TEL) is an object of study own passion and sense of purpose.
for its standard of excellence on so many
different fronts. The business climate and When you look at the peak-performing orga-
environment is alive with excitement, a feel- nizations, there is always something special
ing that everyone is genuinely proud to be about the people. Harnessing the power of
a part of this winning team. Attending its people is the common thread that courses
annual sales meeting last summer exposed through the three initiatives: internship,
me to a level of energy and professionalism Wanda Young Wilson emerging leaders, and women in leadership.
that attracts industry leaders from all around Scholarship and Training and development is only a part of
the country to participate like I did. Three Internship Program the mission. It’s about creating a culture
days of high-intensity training, workshops, of passion, commitment and uncompromis-
competitive team projects, and motivational Emerging Leaders ing dedication to the mission. When the
talks has produced thirteen consecutive Emerging Leaders and Interns look to us for
years of growth in net funds generated for Women in Lottery inspiration, we are reminded of the passion
public education. Leadership we have for our jobs and the stakeholders
we serve. Sharing that passion with others
There is a big-picture theme happening at brings out the best in all of us. We may be
the Tennessee Lottery. It may start with helping others, but we end up benefitting as
the conviction that developing talent and Emerging Leaders Wanted: We are much as anyone.
nurturing an inclusive corporate culture looking for the next generation of lead-
that appreciates diversity and inclusion ers – rising stars who will determine the Wanda Young Wilson, Chief Operating
are important priorities. But there is a future of our corporation. Candidates Officer and General Counsel:
seriousness of purpose that becomes appar- must demonstrate potential for growing These three initiatives were championed
ent as we watch the presentations made by personally, effecting change, and impact- by our CEO Rebecca Hargrove and reflect
interns who have poured their hearts into ing the corporation now and in the future. her focus on developing the talent and skills
their team project. The interns are college (Excerpted from the Mission Statement of young people from all segments of society.
students from Historically Black Colleges of the Tennessee Education Lottery Her executive team works hard to accom-
and Universities who have come to Nashville Corporation Emerging Leaders Program) plish her goal of ensuring that everyone be
to join the immersive program at the TEL given all the tools, the management support,
that gives them a sense of what the corporate Rebecca Hargrove, President & Chief and the surrounding corporate culture they
world is really like. Executive Officer: need to achieve their full potential. It is an
Emerging Leaders is a program we devel- all-hands-on-deck total immersion initiative
This year, there were fifteen candidates oped to support the careers of our internal that involves everyone, including the entire
selected from seventy-five applications. staff. The goal is to give ambitious and executive team with Rebecca in the lead.
Close to two-hundred students have gradu- talented managers the tools to accomplish That’s because we know that this commit-
ated from the Internship Program over the increasingly important assignments, be ment we make benefits not only the students,
last thirteen years. There is leadership and trusted with more responsibility, and achieve and the emerging leaders, and women lead-
guidance, but the standards are uncom- their own professional objectives. Each class ers – it benefits each one of us personally
promising, the work-pace brutal, and the of Emerging Leaders runs about a year and who are ourselves challenged to be in a
individual is responsible for his or her a half and we have completed three classes state of always learning, always stretching
own destiny. That is one thing they learn. to date. to develop new skills and become better at
Another thing they learn is the thrill of our own jobs. A Lottery with a staff that is
knowing that you are part of an elite team I am blessed with a fabulous executive team inspired and energized by these initiatives
that is doing great things because they know who do so much to make these programs is also more likely to produce the kind of
their team-mates are going to perform at the work. I think we are all quite energized by results that serves the interests of all Lottery
highest level. Pressure! the whole process, and by helping young stakeholders. n

18 // PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL // SEPTEMBER /OCTOBER 2017