In a constantly changing world, everyday leaders are seeking direction and clarity on priorities and purpose. Whether in public or private enterprise, one often wonders what gives deeper meaning to our chosen professions.
For Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Philip Escalante, it was a matter of discovery through the Master in Development Management (MDM) program at AIM.
Having heard of the many success stories other officers had from garnering a postgraduate degree from AIM, Lt. Col. Escalante knew that the Institute was the best choice for its commitment to excellence. When choosing the right course, he found that the MDM program was “perfectly aligned” with his “personal and professional goals predicated on integrity, positive leadership, the pursuit of excellence, and dedication to serve.”
The significance of the role of the military in the grand scheme of national development was a crucial piece of the puzzle for Lt. Col. Escalante. Seeing how the military fits in from a local, national, regional, and global perspective and the critical functions it performs, he is resolute in increasing his participation to serve his organization more efficiently with a dedication to purpose and commitment to proaction. The MDM program’s case-based curriculum and cohort collaboration equipped him with the concepts and tools to become a more compelling manager in contributing to his organization for optimal impact.
The rigorous curricula at AIM necessitate a stringent selection process for its students. The reward is for students to be among the best in their fields who selflessly share their industry and experiential viewpoints to advance learning. Lt. Col. Escalante opined, “Being amid brilliant people who are leading encouraging impacts in their respective fields is an incredibly inspiring and humbling experience. AIM’s MDM course broadened my point of view as to the true relevance of establishing deep-rooted and genuine connections which are critical in promoting collaborative actions towards thoughtful and comprehensive development.”
He shares his thoughts on the bearing of Development Management and the importance of further education, “The world that we live in will continue becoming more complex and ambiguous. We need aspiring Development Leaders who possess high levels of self-determination to join and undertake the Master in Development Management program and be a part of the movement in advocating and ensuring inclusive and sustainable development. Intentionality is crucial to fully understand and appreciate the development challenges and opportunities before us. This will enhance our perspectives to derive innovative solutions and actions that will address current and emerging issues which affect our society and environment.”
It seems certain that Lt. Col. Escalante has found his niche.
