In each of the two examples below examples, the leaders spoke to their upstream leader first, to plant the seed and test appetite for investment, and then followed up with the below emails.

Example #1

Hi XXX,

Following up on our conversation, I gathered more details about the HUMiN, Inc. Leadership Development program. This specific leadership program is geared towards senior level women leaders who may be an "only" or a "one of few" at their level around the table. This dynamic sometimes requires extra energy to navigate, so I'm excited about the prospect of participating in this program. I've been reflecting on the feedback you gave last XXX when I was not selected as the leader of the XXX group. I want to grow in order to be a strong candidate when future opportunities arise.

After speaking with one of the program leaders and executive coaches (Mitch), I feel confident that this program can help me navigate next steps in my growth, professionally and personally.

Areas I would like to focus on through this program are:

  • being an extroverted introvert, so I can show up confidently and strategically to have greater impact and influence.

  • better understanding how I am perceived in the rooms where I need to exhibit more confidence and identify where I can improve my effectiveness as a leader

  • building a high-trust community of other women leaders who can act as mentors and advisors to me as I navigate my leadership challenges and opportunities at XXX.

The full program includes access to 10 one-on-one leadership coaching sessions, interview based 360 feedback, 12 cohort coaching sessions, and an immersive women's leadership development retreat, and also meetings with you along the way to check in on progress and feedback. The program extends over 9 months, but the retreat itself is in XXX from <Date>. The total cost is $28,500 and I am prepared to invest in the immersive leadership retreat portion of the program ($8,500), if that is an expense XXX will not cover.

Let me know if you have any questions or feedback on the focus areas I've outlined. I look forward to following up with you during our one-on-one on XXX. Thank you for your consideration and advocacy. I've attached the draft SOW as well and would be happy to connect you with the CEO of HUMiN, and executive coach, Mitch Shepard if you'd like to field any questions directly.

Thank you for considering. XXX

Example #2

Hi <XXX>,

XXX and I had a chance to meet this week to review my intentions for joining HUMiN, Inc. Leadership Development program. As I shared, this leadership program is geared towards senior level or exec level women leaders who may be an “only” or a “one-of-few” at their level around the table, ready for mindset breakthroughs. As we know, this dynamic requires extra energy expenditure to navigate, so this program will help leaders navigate next steps, professionally and personally. Starting in <date>, I have access to one-on-one executive coaching sessions, interview based 360 feedback, 12 group cohort coaching sessions including, and an immersive women’s leadership development retreat. The total cost is $28,500 that would be paid via P.O. to HUMiN, Inc.

Through this process my coach (Mitch), yourself, and I will set times to review my progress in the program. Specifically for myself, I’ve shared with my coach (Mitch) the following holistic focus areas:

  • Increase my capacity for strategic thinking and influence across SVP business roadmaps.

  • Understand how to balance fear of failure as a leader, gain better judgment on when to ask for

  • help and scale through my team.

  • Develop a plan to re-engage my creative mindset for strategic innovations.

  • Create healthy rhythms and habits to prepare for future family plans.

Each of these areas have elements of psychological safety, performance feedback and well-being which are important factors for me to thrive. Let me know if you have any questions on my focus areas. I plan to share those with my coach, by adding into the working agreement. I will also work with HUMiN, Inc. to get the invoice sent over to myself and finance, attaching this email as approval. Please reply to all with your approval by next, <date>.

Sincerely, XXX