The American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Advancing Diversity in Emerging Leaders (ADEL) program supports next generation leaders by equipping them with the skills, peer networking and mentorship that will help them achieve their goals. ADEL is a year-long program, with the 2025 cohort kicking off in June and running through May 2026.
Advancing Diversity in Emerging Leaders (ADEL)
Supporting Our Next Generation of Leaders
Participation includes:
- Online personal assessments to understand and maximize individual strengths
- Skills development focused on building a professional brand, increasing leadership acumen, improving presentation skills, and facilitating strategic thinking
- Networking and mentorship opportunities that build advocacy, legislative and regulatory awareness relevant to the chemical industry
- Connectivity with the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) program
Program Engagement & Commitment
ADEL program participants will be expected to fully engage in relevant training, skill assessment, networking, mentorship and conferences throughout the program. A summary of the anticipated engagement and time commitment is summarized below.
Elements
- 1 – 2 Online Skills Assessment (~3 Hours)
- 4 Mentorship Sessions (~1 per Quarter)
- 4 Peer to Peer Networking Sessions (~1.25 Hour per Quarter)
- 4 Training Opportunities (In-Person and On-Demand, ~4-6 Days)
- 2-3 ACC Meeting/Conference Attendance (~2-4 Days)
- 1 Online Program Survey (~1 Hour)
Cost
ADEL covers the cost for registration fees for leadership and skills training; skills assessment; and relevant conference/meeting attendance. Participating companies are asked to cover their ADEL participant’s travel costs (i.e., air, ground and lodging cost) associated with program events.
Application
Members can identify candidates for potential participation through an online application form. Nominations must be submitted by an ACC Board level executive or their designee. Candidate nominations for ADEL will be accepted through March 31, 2025. Each member company will be limited to one candidate per nomination.
Training & Skills Development
Below is a summary of the online skills assessment and training courses that will be leveraged in the program.
Online Skills Assessment
Each ADEL program participant will take the Hogan Assessment, an online assessment that helps measure normal personality characteristics, career derailment risks, and core value drivers, in year 1.
- Duration: ~2 Hours
- Available: Virtual via On-Demand & a follow-up discussion with a Hogan administrator to review results
Each ADEL program participant will take the following American Management Association training courses during the program.
How to Build a Professional Brand and Image
This course contains several lessons focused on: strategies to help increase self-confidence and improve credibility and trustworthiness with colleagues; motivating others and expanding influence at all levels in the company; establishing a greater presence at work; learning how to be comfortable and confident in asserting oneself; discovering how to channel one’s emotional intelligence; and learning to speak with confidence in any situation.
- Duration: ~5.5 Hours
- Available: Virtual via On-Demand
Leadership Certificate Program
This intensive learn-by-practicing leadership course helps attendees transform into an incredible business leader. From insights on how to build commitment to leading change and developing an agile mindset, this program gives attendees the skills and know-how to expertly handle challenges and implement a vision for success. This course covers skills focused on: Becoming a Powerful Leader; Identifying Yourself as a Leader; Building Engagement and Commitment; Setting Direction Through Strategic Leadership; Leading Change; Navigating Organizational Politics; and Building an Agile and Resilient Mindset.
- Duration: ~3 Days
- Available: In-Person in Washington, DC (2025)
Presentation Skills Workshop
This course will cover how to: present effectively and become comfortable with one’ own style; develop key presentation skills and learn how to present ideas with conviction, control, and poise—and without fear. It will also provide advice on how to handle especially challenging presentation situations.
- Duration: ~1 Days
- Available: In-Person in Washington, DC (2026)
Innovation and Strategic Thinking for Managers
This course contains several lessons focused on: building knowledge and skills to help define change management, identifying the need for it and discover one’s role as a change leader; learning specific communication tactics to drive change and address employee doubts about change; getting an overview of the Five Phases of the Creativity-to-Innovation Process, plus guidance on how to gain buy-in from stakeholders.
- Duration: ~2.5 Hours
- Available: Virtual via On-Demand
Nominating Candidates
Interested member companies can identify candidates for potential participation in the 2025-2026 ADEL cohort through an online application form. Candidate nominations will be accepted through March 31, 2025. Ten participants will be selected for participation in the program by May 1, 2025.
Submission Guidelines
- Prospective candidates must be nominated by an ACC Board of Directors level executive or their designee.
- Nominators are limited to submission of one candidate per company.
- Nominations will be reviewed and selected by an ACC-led committee.
- All questions should be directed to ADEL@americanchemistry.com.
Nominators should use their organization’s internal process to identify candidates for program participation. Some areas to consider when identifying a candidate are:
- Is the candidate in good standing and have a recent positive performance evaluation from the nominating company?
- Has the candidate demonstrated leadership skills in your organization?
- Has the candidate completed a minimum of 10 years of professional experience within the industry?
- Will the candidate be able to fully participate in the program activities over the 12 months?
- How or to what extent are the applicant’s individual life experiences tied concretely to a quality, or character, or unique ability that can contribute to ADEL program goals?
Participants will be selected by the ADEL selection committee after a review of all applications. Selection will be based on several factors including recognized leadership potential, experience in the chemical industry and responses to the application questions.