Villanova HRD Spring Development Series Recap

This semester, Villanova HRD and the Villanova SHRM student chapter, VUSHRM, co-hosted a free hybrid development series. This series had a theme of agility and covered the topics of decision making, leadership, and negotiations. Many students, faculty, and HR professionals from around the country were able to partake in these learning experiences. Here is a recap of the Spring sessions!

Agility in Decision Making

Our first spring development series, hosted by Villanova HRD Associate Director, Dr. Heather Cluley. Heather was joined by Terri Boyer, who serves as the Director of the McNulty Institute for Women's Leadership. Terri brought a human-centered and mission-driven approach to the forefront during her session. She guided participants through a series of reflective questions, beginning with one of the most important: Does this decision align with my mission and values? This approach encouraged attendees to view every decision, no matter how routine or complex, as an opportunity to reinforce purpose. One of Terri’s central themes was the importance of not going it alone. She advocated for the formation of advisory teams, particularly for leaders navigating high-stakes decisions. These teams offer not only support but also the ability to see issues from multiple angles. Terri highlighted that group decision making can challenge individual assumptions and lead to more robust, equitable outcomes. For example, seemingly innocuous design choices (like paint color in an empowerment space) can hold deeper social or cultural implications that only surface through team dialogue. She also addressed the very real limits of decision making, such as constraints of time and funding. These, she explained, are natural parts of leadership and shouldn’t deter thoughtful action. Instead, they can be managed through clear systems like pilot testing and feedback loops, which allow for revision and reflection without abandoning the decision-making process altogether. Finally, Terri called attention to the emotional and psychological layers of leadership. Recognizing that imposter syndrome can hinder people from speaking up, she reassured the group that everyone at the table holds power and insight. By owning their questions, their perspectives, and even their mistakes, leaders can become more effective and resilient. “Questions are a superpower,” Terri declared, one of the most memorable and empowering takeaways from the session.

Dr. Heather Cluely and Terri Boyer during our first Spring Development Series Session.

Agility for Leadership

Our second spring development series was hosted by our very own Villanova HRD Associate Director, Bethany Adams. Bethany was joined by Dr. Christine Palus, the Dean of the College of Professional Studies at Villanova University.

Christine explored what it truly means to be an agile leader in today’s unpredictable environment. With a thoughtful and grounded approach, she defined leadership agility as a blend of strategy, emotional intelligence, and a commitment to growth, both for oneself and for the teams being led. A key takeaway from her talk was that leadership is no longer about having all the answers, it’s about fostering autonomy and creating an ecosystem where team members feel psychologically safe to ask questions, try new things, and make decisions. Christine urged leaders to embrace ambiguity and resist the urge to default to rigid structures or overly cautious decision-making. One of the most powerful ideas Christine shared was that feedback culture is not optional for agile leadership, it’s essential. Asking for feedback, even when it’s uncomfortable or critical, is part of building trust and a high-performing team. She acknowledged that resistance to change is natural and encouraged leaders to approach it with patience and active listening. Sometimes people just need to be heard multiple times before they’re ready to move forward. Christine also tackled real-world challenges, including how women leaders navigate the double bind of being assertive yet approachable. She reminded the audience to stop undercutting their ideas with disclaimers like “This might be a bad idea…” and instead stand in their expertise. Being agile doesn’t mean being inconsistent, it means being flexible while maintaining a sense of purpose and structure.

Bethany Adams & Dr. Christine Palus with attendees throwing V's upduring our second Spring Development Series Session.

Agility in Negotiations

Our final development series for this spring was a panel discussion hosted by Dr. Gerry Brandon, Villanova HRD Program Director. Gerry was joined by Mark Jankowski, seasoned negotiator, former sports agent, and corporate trainer, as well as co-author of The Power of Nice. At the heart of Mark’s session was a reminder that being “nice” isn’t soft, it’s strategic. “The best way to get what you want is to help others get what they want,” he explained. But kindness in negotiation isn’t about giving in, it’s made possible through preparation. When you’re informed, clear, and grounded, you can approach negotiation with confidence, flexibility, and empathy. To guide participants through this process, Mark introduced his proven framework: the Three Ps of Negotiation: Prepare, Probe, Propose. This model encourages leaders to step into conversations ready to listen, ready to learn, and ready to offer solutions that reflect shared value. Mark also addressed the emotional undercurrent of negotiation. In moments of stress or stalled progress, he encouraged participants to use tools like mirroring, restating, or simply taking a timeout to re-center the conversation. Additionally, Mark discussed the use of AI as a support tool for negotiation prep. Whether you're seeking fresh perspectives, outlining talking points, or rehearsing how to phrase your ask, AI can help leaders overcome internal barriers and generate options they may not have considered on their own. Before closing, Mark shared his three essential rules of negotiation: try not to make the first offer, don’t accept too early, and ask for more than you expect. Whether you’re navigating workplace dynamics, presenting a bold idea, or resolving resistance, the tools of agile negotiation will help and with preparation, curiosity, and calm, you’re more equipped than you think.

Interested in learning more about negotiating? Take Dr. Brandon's new Negotiating in Business and Life (HRD 8899) Summer II or Fall II of 2025!