SELF: Senior Executive Leader Fellowship

Addressing the Needs of MLT Executives

Clarity. Growth. Community.

After years of securing credentials, earning validation, and advancing wisely, you have arrived. You have the title, the financial security, and—most importantly—the freedom to craft “what’s next” in a way that is meaningful, rewarding, and authentic to the type of leader you want to be.

Gaining clarity for your personalized mission and vision as a leader is the fundamental question that executives of impact ask themselves. And even then, most fall short on road mapping and executing that vision.

With its apropos acronym, SELF is about personal discovery and attainment of your full potential at the executive level.

Benefits

SELF provides high-impact, senior executives of color with a comprehensive suite of support when they need it most.

Personalized assessments to prompt reflection and clarity on your next steps as an executive

Executive coaching to help you devise a feasible, yet ambitious roadmap for your top aims

Career Agents to implement executive needs for wealth, presence, expertise, social impact, and target network access

Leader development workshops to strengthen the attributes and mindset you will need as a leader of impact

Executive-led small groups for greater support and accountability as you navigate your next steps

A cohort of senior leaders for an accelerating peer community of executives across sectors, roles, and experiences.

Eligibility

The SELF-application is open to MLT executives with senior leadership experience or comparable scope of responsibility. You must be an MLT alum to apply and at least two years removed from the last MLT program you completed.

C-level corporate experience (particularly CEO, CIO, CFO, CTO, CMO, COO, GC, and CPO positions);
VP/SVP/EVPs 1-3 levels removed from CEO in public companies, or at private companies that have scale;
Founders/Managing Partners/Directors of LLPs, LLCs, or mutual funds with annual revenues of $5M or higher; or;
High-ranking military/government leaders or national and/or statewide elected or appointed officials

Program Timeline

Application Opens: Dec. 2022
Application Closes: April 1, 2023
Selection Notices Sent: May 1, 2023
Onboarding Completed: June 30, 2023
SELF Compass Week: Oct. 10-15, 2023
Cont. Programming: Nov. 2023 – Aug. 2024

Investment

MLT, private donors, and partnering organizations are underwriting a significant cost of SELF.

Fellows can expect to pay:

$7,950 upon acceptance, either in one upfront payment or two installments
Compass Week travel and select meals

If attending the optional Reunion Weekend, Fellows are expected to cover lodging, travel, and select activities, given their interests and availability.

Agent Experience

MLT curated a group of leaders from the top organizations in sports, tech, media, consulting, wealth management, executive search, philanthropy, and board access. You will select 1-2 Agents to help actualize your most accelerating needs.

Content and thought-leadership
Business, wealth, and tax needs
Board and network strategy
Donor, org, community impact
Online and executive presence

Meet the Fellowship Team

Desirée Stolar, Managing Director of Alumni Engagement and Strategy

Desirée Stolar steers digital engagement, career acceleration programming, communications, personal development, and special projects to serve 9,000+ MLT alums. She designed and launched the SELF program in 2021 for MLT’s senior executive alums.

Desirée was the Co-Founder and CEO of Unshrinkit, a Shark Tank-winning product. Under her leadership, Unshrinkit secured domestic retail partnerships, global distribution, and a successful sale in 2019. Before Unshrinkit, Desirée spent several years as a research and brand strategist for media, tech, retail, and nonprofit organizations.

She currently advises a VC-backed stealth venture, board prep programs, local government officials, and religious institutions on branding, recruitment, and external communications matters. Desirée is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Harvard Business School.

Shanna Kennedy, Associate Director of SELF

Shanna Kennedy steers the program execution, management, and growth for the SELF program.

Shanna graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, SC, and later earned her master’s degree in Educational Leadership & Management. As a life-long learner, Shanna has also expanded her educational credentials with a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Waldorf University and Women in Leadership from Emory University.

Shanna resides in Greenville, SC, where she is actively involved in her community, exposing minority high school students to higher education, especially to HBCUs. Shanna is a member of various local organizations and has spearheaded several local initiatives to empower minority women through productive networking, collaboration, mentorship, and professional growth.

Onix Nava, Manager of SELF

Onix Nava focuses on Fellowship operations and communication, and supports Alumni Engagement and Strategy.

She is dedicated to serving institutions leading socioeconomic mobility and leadership development in underrepresented communities. In her free time, Onix advises organizations on strategy, branding, and content marketing. She also mentors students and professionals pursuing higher education and career development, particularly by helping elevate their writing abilities.

Onix is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Northwestern University. A Chicago native, she resides on the city’s southside with her family.

More Alumni Services

Career Advancement Program, a 12-month intensive program for highly-talented, mid-career professionals who are sponsored by their organizations to advance to senior leadership
Intensive Alumni Coaching, for alumni who are focused on targeted outcomes—promotions, transitions, or mid-career personal clarity

Apply to Cohort III by April 1, 2023