No Excuses

When it comes to professional and career development, often one of the biggest challenges is simply finding the time to learn. This is especially true as individuals’ careers are on a forward and climbing trajectory; any spare time is always at a premium.

But if an opportunity to learn and grow presents itself, any leader will share that engaging in learning advanced skills is well worth the time and effort. And when an organization takes it a step further, recognizing the benefits, making that time for its employees to take part in organized leadership programs, it’s a win all around.

Such is the case with Alberta-based Jayman BUILT, a company specializing in construction, real estate, and the financial aspects of home ownership. 

“As an organization that prioritizes promoting from within, we recognized the need to further develop our leaders, explains Nicole Westman-Jones, Executive Director, Legacy & Strategy at Jayman BUILT. “When the (University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business) Strategic Leadership Development Program (SLDP) was introduced, it aligned naturally with our commitment to leadership growth, making it an ideal fit for our organization.”

SLDP, offered through Haskayne Executive and Professional Development (EPD) , allows leaders to refine their business acumen and leadership skills; through a series of in-person and online sessions, the programs are open to individuals or a group of leaders, the path chosen by Jayman BUILT.

Says Westman-Jones, “The SLDP provided a structured and comprehensive opportunity to enhance leadership capabilities and prepare our team members for more senior roles within the company.”

Over the past few years, Jayman has sent several leaders to the Strategic Leadership Development Program. Jayman BUILT has prioritized learning from those who are transitioning into more senior leadership roles, with participants representing units across the organization, including sales, construction, finance, and marketing.

Learning to get ‘off the dance floor and onto the balcony’

Jordan D’Haese was one of the Jayman BUILT participants who took part in SLDP in 2024-25.  The Vice President of Jayman Financial was transitioning from a management position to a senior role within the organization when he was selected.

“Jayman has always supported education and career development for employees,” says D’Haese. “Jayman offered us the opportunity to take part in the SLDP to help us move ourselves to the next stages of our careers.”

D’Haese, who has been with Jayman for his entire 25-year career, knew the course would require a time commitment. But as someone who completed much of his post-secondary education while working full time, he knew what would be required and was ready—both for the work and what he would learn.

“I knew that to advance I would need to be able to see the big picture.” he explains, “but to still be ready to roll up my sleeves and fill other roles as necessary.”

And D’Haese says the SLDP program really helped him with that. “We talked about an analogy--the concept of getting off the dance floor and onto the balcony.  When you’re on the dance floor, you have to hustle and you're in the mix, and you’re probably missing the bigger picture.

“A leader needs to able to watch the entre floor from the balcony, to see and understand how everyone is functioning in their roles, and to know when to head back down onto the floor and to step in when and where required.” 

Programs benefit individuals and organizations alike

Nicole Westman-Jones believes the program helps leaders to think beyond day-to-day operations, developing a broader, more strategic perspective that ultimately strengthens decision-making and organizational effectiveness. And she says the cross-functional mix enriches discussions and strengthens collaboration across departments. 

D’Haese joined seven colleagues in a larger group of 28 in the SLDP, who came from other industries, including non-profits and public sector, represented by a variety of experiences, from manager to vice-presidents. “It was a unique experience, as we had the opportunity to learn about the pain points of other industries and organizations, and it was especially useful to be able bounce ideas and challenges off the others and to share ideas.” 

D’Haese says the experience with his Jayman classmates took the course a step further. 

“We’d take part in an online class (as part of the SLDP program) and we created our own in-house debrief session, so after every session, we would have lunch together and talk about that morning's topic. This really helped to reinforce that day’s learnings.”

D’Haese says he appreciates being able to talk regularly with those individuals. “We all know what we're trying to achieve, what's going on,” he says, “and I appreciate another’s insights when I’m told I am spending too much time on the dance floor.” 

“The SLDP is an exceptional program,” says Westman-Jones. “Our participants have consistently benefited from enhanced leadership capabilities and a stronger ability to think strategically. For any organization looking to invest in developing future leaders, this personalized approach delivers meaningful and lasting value.”

About Haskayne Executive and Professional Development
Executive and Professional Development (EPD) at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business equips leaders and organizations with the capabilities to navigate complexity, lead with confidence, and drive measurable impact Through open-enrolment and customized programs, EPD delivers practical, evidence-based learning that strengthens leadership, strategy, and organizational performance. Online info sessions are scheduled in June and programs are currently open for registration.