Developing PHM’s Rising Leaders

PHM’s Rising Leaders are a select cohort of early-career PHMers, nominated by their managers for their outstanding contributions to the organization. These leaders undertake a nine-month curriculum, diving into topics such as communication, team dynamics, performance management and emotional intelligence. This curriculum, designed to develop these leaders into effective people managers, culminates in the opportunity to manage a summer intern and put these newfound skills into action.

We sat down with two of this year’s Rising Leaders, Braxton Brent, Manager, Business Intelligence and Jacob Cohen, Supervisor, Strategy to get their perspective on how this has shaped their leadership journey so far.

How did you both feel once you heard you were selected for the Rising Leaders program? Did that change as you went through the program? 

Braxton Brent: I was definitely excited when I found out I was selected. I find cohort or smaller group instruction useful, so I was looking forward to the opportunity to join a small group at PHM and learn how to lead together.

The many group conversations and coaching sessions immersed me in the program. Each session was the highlight of my week, no matter the type of session. Making the leap from an individual contributor to a people manager can be intimidating, but personally, I love prioritizing my growth by facing new challenges. This program represented the first step into one of these new challenges, but with a great support system behind me.

Jacob Cohen: When I was nominated for the program, my first feelings were curiosity and excitement. I was particularly intrigued by the opportunity to manage a summer intern and help shape the perspective of a future PHMer. 

What were your goals as you entered the program? How did these pan out as the program progressed? 

JC: My goal throughout the program was to humanize the corporate environment for my intern by prioritizing curiosity and learning. I wanted to center their experience on what they could learn for themselves, rather than what they could give to the company for a short time.  I believe that curating any program to the individuals that are participating is the most important aspect to recruiting and retaining talent and then developing empathetic individuals.

BB: My goal heading into the program was simple: learn how to shift from an individual contributor to someone that can confidently lead others. I’ve spent the early part of my career working on deliverables and making life as easy as possible for the people above me. Being the leader in this situation represented a fundamental mindset shift, so I came into the program looking for practice and insight into making that adjustment.

My process of growing as a leader is definitely not over, but this program really gave me the instruction and space to learn new skills. The sessions demonstrated how being a manager presents new challenges, but also gave us tools to tackle them. Things like giving feedback, evaluating performance and more were all parts of being a leader I had no background in. The program helped me get into that leadership mindset and set a solid baseline for me to continue progressing.

What surprised you about the program itself and about the process of interviewing, managing and evaluating an intern? 

JC: Throughout the program, I was appreciative of the preparation offered by the PHM Talent Acquisition team, as well as the collaboration by my fellow Rising Leaders nominees.

BB: I was blown away at how quickly time can pass, it truly feels like just yesterday I was accepted into the program. Somehow, over the course of the spring and summer, we all hosted multiple interviews, onboarded interns, trained them, watched them grow and sent them back to school! I was surprised at how fast the hiring, onboarding and offboarding process really can be at times.

This passage of time also really instilled the impact that a manager has on their employees. What felt like a few quick months was an entire, impactful internship program for our interns! It was a great reminder to be mindful on how you interact every day and remember that, as a leader, you need to be constantly present and give your best to those you work with.

What lessons from the program have you taken into your daily life? What has changed for you since you began the program earlier this year? 

JC: While it was difficult to manage an intern and a full-time direct report at the same time, it was also a rewarding experience. Balancing my two direct reports challenged me in new ways, but the experience was critical for each of our growth.  Participating in the Rising Leaders program was integral to changing my perspective on how one’s actions and words can impact others in the workplace. 

BB: A lot has changed since I began the program. Midway through, I was promoted to Manager and now, I have a direct report on my team working alongside me. It’s definitely been a big shift, but the program gave me a lot insights into how to navigate the new responsibility. Our keynote speaker at our Rising Leaders graduation ceremony, Lauren Stedman, gave us impactful advice on being intentional with the people you work with. Things that sound simple like remembering birthdays and hobbies can go a long way in forging relationships that can last a lifetime. That’s definitely been a key takeaway for me. In my mind, we are building relationships everyday—so why not be intentional about building them the right way?

Connect with Braxton and Jacob on LinkedIn.

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