The Maynard Institute welcomes back Virgil L. Smith, Principal Consultant of the Smith Edwards Group, as executive-in-residence for the Maynard 200 fellowship program’s Executive Leadership track. Smith started the consulting firm in October 2015 after retiring from the Gannett Company, where he worked for 24 years as a president and publisher and corporate HR executive focused on talent development, talent acquisition, talent management and diversity. Prior to joining Gannett, Smith spent 20 years with the McClatchy Company, where he held a number of executive positions. His commitment to leadership development is evident in the hundreds of media professionals he has coached in achieving their career and life goals.
One of the Maynard Institute’s core programs, the Maynard 200 Fellowship provides advanced, tuition-free training to mid-career journalists of color. With the supportive peer network, Maynard 200 fellows have the opportunity to grow the impact of their work while helping diversify institutional and entrepreneurial news organizations.
Designed for media professionals seeking the next level of leadership
The Maynard 200 Executive Leadership track is designed to assist fellows in achieving their career goals. As a testament to the program’s success, every Maynard 200 fellow in the program’s first year executive leadership cohort has since advanced to a c-suite and/or executive vice president level position.
As executive-in-residence, Smith’s approach to the curriculum is influenced by the Maynard Institute’s mission and founders. “I have been a supporter and affiliated with the Maynard Institute since the early days. I had the honor of knowing Bob and Nancy Maynard as well as their daughter Dori Maynard,” Smith said.
“The founders’ vision and commitment to developing an institute that gave people of color the opportunity to learn and develop in a non-judgmental environment was invigorating. When you look at the landscape of journalism leaders of color across the nation, many participated in the Maynard Institute since its founding in 1977. My goal is to create the same type of environment and success for the journalists who strive to be leaders in their organizations and the industry.”
Smith described how Maynard 200 fellows benefit from experienced faculty who challenge participants to engage in the shared experience with their peers. Fellows gain insights, skills, and a support network to propel their careers, as well as executive mentorship to continue learning throughout the year.
Smith said, “the trainers we have as part of the Maynard 200 Executive Leadership track are exceptional and accomplished professionals. The combined expertise and knowledge that faculty and Maynard 200 fellows bring together is what makes this program so special. It’s a place for shared learning with a supportive peer network.”
Maynard 200 Executive Leadership curriculum topics include: Human Capital Management, Financial Leadership, Introspective Leadership, Personal and Professional Development, Corporate Governance, and Investor Relations and Developing a Strategic Direction.
As part of the Executive Leadership track, fellows are encouraged to complete a 360-degree assessment. The 360-assessment approach provides a view of a leader’s strengths and opportunities for growth. The assessment measures 16 competencies critical for success, as well as 5 possible career derailers.
Are you a media professional seeking to move up the organizational structure to senior level positions? If you are confident in your ability to learn and lead top performers in the industry, learn more about the fellowship program. Applications are now closed.
About Maynard 200 faculty, mentors and partners
The Maynard 200 program is grateful to all members of the 2022 faculty and mentors. In addition to media entrepreneurship, the Maynard 200 program includes three additional areas of focus for investigative storytellers, executive leaders, and frontline editors. Each track is led by accomplished industry veterans such as peabody award-winning journalist Aaron Glantz for investigative storytelling, former newsroom C-suite executive Virgil Smith for the leadership track, and senior editor John X. Miller for frontline editors and managers.
Over 60 executives in media and other relevant disciplines participate in the Maynard 200 program. Their expertise and representation mirror that of our fellows — of diverse heritage, geography across the United States and globally, affiliation at mainstream and ethnic media outlets as well as entrepreneurial ventures.
Since the inception of Maynard 200, the Maynard Institute’s partners have been instrumental in the program’s success. Partner organizations include Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA), National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), Native American Journalists Association (NAJA), National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Poynter Institute, the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York (CUNY), and Society for Professional Journalists (SPJ). Special thanks to IRE’s support for this year’s mentorship roster, which includes their distinguished board members and network partners.
The program supports and emboldens the next generation of storytellers, leaders, managers, creators and founders of new media ventures. Check out the video greetings from the 2021 Fellows and the recap of the 2021 fall training session plenary fireside chat featuring Los Angeles Times executive editor Kevin Merida.
Maynard 200 has been supported by Google News Initiative, the Craig Newmark Philanthropies, the Hearthland Foundation, and the McClatchy Foundation. The Fox Corporation is a confirmed sponsor for the 2022 program.
Join the Maynard 200 Kick-off in Los Angeles
The 2022 program will be held in-person during the week of June 27th at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism in Los Angeles, California. Maynard 200 fellows will benefit from tuition-free training and mentorship, plus air travel and lodging expenses will be covered by the Maynard Institute.
The deadline to apply for Maynard 200 was March 28, 2022. Applications are now closed.