Choose a unique leadership development experience, surrounded by nature.
From the moment program participants set foot on the wooded campus of the Truist Leadership Institute, they start noticing the differences that make their time here an exceptional leadership development experience.
For participants in multi-day programs, like Mastering Leadership Dynamics, our 60,000-square-foot campus, which was recently named The Kelly S. King Center, can provide a setting to focus on themselves, without the distractions of the office.
One of the most relaxing aspects is feeling surrounded by nature. Dozens of oak, birch, cedar and magnolia trees grow on the 11-acre campus; many of these trees nestle against the main building. A participant can settle in a comfortable chair on one of the building’s four outdoor wraparound decks and feel like he or she has retreated deep into a forest, rather than just taking a short drive from Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Our guests typically tell us, “This is like being up in the mountains.”
A seamless leadership development experience
When Truist hired me before the campus officially opened in 2018, I was tasked with outsourcing the hospitality staff. But when I started interviewing hospitality companies, I quickly realized that we needed to hire our own staff so we could own the entire guest experience. Fortunately, Truist understood that.
I think in part that’s because unlike many other leadership development experiences where participants stay at a nearby hotel, the programs we hold have the accommodations and meeting rooms all in our space.
The programs become richer for participants because they can engage with one another more fully. Instead of moving solo from workshop to hotel and back again, our program participants have many other options.
They relax on the outdoor decks, stroll the walkways connecting our buildings, or settle in a comfy couch in one of the common sitting areas. They can read a book, chat with others, or simply take in the tranquil view of Brush Creek Pond and the trees.
World-class client service
The Truist Leadership Institute hospitality staff includes 12 full-time employees. Each of them is a Truist associate and they are trained in Truist’s world-class client service. From the housekeeping staff to the guest service agents, our associates are taught to treat guests as the top priority, ensuring that they feel welcome and appreciated throughout their stay.
For our hospitality staff, client service often involves listening to and engaging with our guests. Program participants are learning invaluable things about themselves and they are usually ready to talk to someone about their leadership development experience. Our associates listen, give their full attention and engage appropriately.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention our 48 executive guest rooms. They have a simple elegance and have every necessity: a queen-size bed, a walk-in shower and high-definition TV with DIRECTV® programming. They are single-occupancy rooms designed to be comfortable and relaxing spaces. For instance, all of the rooms get natural light and were designed facing east so that guests wake to the morning sun. Expansive use of glass ensures that guests always have a view of nature, not a parking lot.