LEADERSHIP

ISFFA seeks to develop its members and empower them to reach their highest potentials by providing opportunities to learn from successful entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and professionals in the industry; by creating a safe space to network, share ideas, and expand our respective spheres of influences, and by bringing together individuals to create meaningful mentoring relationships.

Effective Leadership Equals Success

Is leadership a position of office or authority? Or, is leadership simply an ability to lead? We all may know or hear of people who are in positions of leadership but who are not providing leadership. A position of office is no guarantee of leadership but the leadership position usually commands a listening ear from its staff or constituents and is a good starting point for anyone who desires to be a leader.

A leader by its strict meaning is one who goes first and leads by example, so that others are motivated to follow. This is a basic requirement. To be a leader, a person must have a deep-rooted commitment to the goal so that he/she will strive to achieve it even if nobody follows!

Good leaders are made not born. If we have the desire and willpower, we can become effective leaders. Good leaders develop through a never ending process of self-study, education, training, and experience. There is not one definable definition or quality for leadership. Leadership is a mix of various qualities, skill sets and training. Regardless of our current position in our profession, leadership skills will help us reach a higher level.

ISFFA’s customized program will highlight self-awareness tools and activities that will enhance each individual’s leadership capabilities. We will learn strategies for continuous development through peer assessment, group discussions, self-reflection, small group activities and personal coaching. Our leadership workshop aims to develop leadership skills based upon each member’s unique personality.

Mission

To provide its members and professionals with the requisite training to: (a) enable them to develop and mature professionally and (b) allow them to reach their highest potential as leaders in the community.

Target Classes

The Basic class is designed for new graduates, new members of the workforce and mid-to-senior level managers. The Advance class is designed for senior to executive members of management.

Outcome

We will develop a deep sense of self-awareness that will help us:

Give and receive feedback more effectively
Lead change in our organization
Build and maintain productive relationships
Develop others to be their best
Manage ourselves
Leverage differences in other people
Set clear, achievable goals
Resolve conflicts The program will be most effective for those who receive and apply feedback and are willing to take positive action.

Program

Each year ISFFA will host a series of approximately four (4) training workshops, presentations and/or seminars customized to the members’ needs.

ISFFA’s in-house training will consist of two primary modules: Basic and Advanced. Each module will be conducted annually by a staff comprised of ISFFA members, board and/or advisors.

Aside from the basic and advanced programs, individual half or full-day sessions will be offered on a variety of soft skills techniques.

Training

For most of us already in the workforce, our daily challenges are addressed in the Basic training. Basic classes will help each professional deal effectively with their supervisors, co-employees and staff on a day-to-day basis.

For members who are already in management positions and feel that they need to further fine-tune their leadership skills, ISFFA offers the Advanced classes.

1. Leadership Training Modules

There will be at least one and no more than two annual whole day ISFFA-sponsored workshops.

Basic classes
1. Identify our role and skills required to perform in our position
2. Understand performance expectations
3. Reward with positive recognition
4. Learn to provide constructive feedback
5. Resolve conflicts and win support from others.
Advanced classes will address an executive’s guide to professional maturity.

2. Other training

Such events may run from a couple of hours, half-day or full-day presentations and training taught by outside professionals and sponsored by various organizations.

These are skills that will assist the individual members, such as:

How to be an effective and dynamic speaker
How to improve our basic writing and technical skills
Learn to read and understand body language
How to resolve conflicts
How to productively manage our time
Others

LET THE LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE UNDERSTAND YOUR ISSUES SO WE CAN FURTHER CUSTOMIZE THE WORKSHOPS ACCORDING TO YOUR NEEDS.

MENTORSHIP

ISFFA Mentor is a mentoring program sponsored by ISFFA that connects emerging Filipino professionals with accomplished volunteer professionals in mentoring relationships. The program is open to all ISFFA members who wish to develop professional and networking skills to become successful. Our program is dedicated to helping emerging professionals across all business fields connect with ISFFA mentors willing to share their professional, business, and leadership expertise.

APPLY HERE BECOME A MEMBER

How ISFFAMentor Works

Participants start by completing our online application form. Here mentors describe their experience, expertise and availability, and members outline their professional needs and mentoring goals.
We will match members’ requirements with the mentors in our database. Brief bios of the mentors who are available will be listed for the member to review.
The mentee will select the appropriate mentor for him/her. This request will be sent to ISFFA which will forward the mentee’s contact information, along with the request, to the prospective Mentor.
Once connected, relationships progress over email and telephone, lasting an average of three months or as needed.
Once the mentoring is completed, both mentors and mentees will be asked to provide ISFFA with feedback. We will continue to develop and grow our offering.

Head onto the ISFFAMentor microsite here to begin searching for a Mentor or to apply as a Mentor.

Becoming an ISFFA Mentor

Watch this short clip about our ISFFAMentor and ISFFALeader Programs There are few bonds in professional work life and the more influential one is between a young professional and an established one. As you begin your journey toward becoming an ISFFA mentor, you will need to understand the basics of mentoring before entering into a relationship with a young professional.

Looking at a role you are probably familiar with you will find that most of us have had a supervisor, a boss or coach. Those people wore many hats and acted as delegators, role models, cheerleaders, policy enforcers, advocates, and friends. As an ISFFA mentor you will wear these same hats.

Mentors understand the need to assume a number of different roles during the course of a mentoring relationship, but successful mentors also share the same basic qualities:

A sincere desire to be involved with a young professional.
Listen actively.
Empathize.
See solutions and opportunities.
Be flexible and open.

As you and your mentee begin your communication; exploring values, interests and goals, you will find yourself making a difference and having a positive effect on that young professional’s life. What you may also be surprised to see is that you will be learning more about yourself, too. Mentoring is a shared opportunity for learning and growth. Mentoring doesn't just affect the young professional.

Prospective Mentors with 5 years or less work experience can still become ISFFA Mentors to students and select members provided that they:

Have sufficient business experience and expertise, such as: At least 1 year working in the US. at least 5 years of work experience with at least 3 years managerial experience.
Have the desire and commitment to help and develop emerging Filipino Finance & Accounting professionals in the US.
Have high professional achievement.
Are engaged in continuous learning and development.
Have good interpersonal and communication skills.

If you wish to become an ISFFA Mentor and have 5 years or more work experience, you will find that a broader spectrum of mentees will contact you to become their mentor. The requirements, however, are still for you to:

Have significant business experience and expertise, such as:
- At least 5 years working in the US.
- At least 3 years of management experience or leadership role in the US.
Have the desire and commitment to help and develop emerging Filipino Finance & Accounting professionals in the US.
Have high professional or business achievement.
Are engaged in continuous learning and development.
Have good interpersonal and communication skills.

Mentoring provides significant benefits. As a mentor, you will be:

Making a difference in someone else's life. Learning about yourself. Giving back to your profession and country and contributing to the future. Having fun.

If you're still not sure you understand what is expected of a mentor then just ask a young professional. Good mentors are willing to take time to get to know their mentees, to learn new things that are important to the young professional, and even to be changed by their relationship.

Accept the challenges and rewards of mentoring a young professional for a period of three months and experience the benefits that will last each of you a lifetime!

SCHOLARSHIP

Since 2010 ISFFA has been partnering with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and other organizations to raise funds dedicated to helping students in their academic endeavor.

APPLY HERE

LEADERSHIP, MENTORSHIP, & SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS

Are some of the Professional Development and Beneficial Programs We Offer for ISFFA Members.