IMPRESS Celebrates Over a Decade of Leadership Skills Differentiating Whitman Students

In fall 2014, the Whitman School launched the Goodman IMPRESS Program through the generosity of Ken Goodman ’70, retired president and chief operating officer of pharmaceutical company Forest Laboratories. Goodman has always believed that teaching students leadership skills—like teamwork, ethics, business etiquette and networking—is critical to fostering standout candidates for a competitive job market. His donation planted the seed to create the IMPRESS program, and 10 years later the initiative stands as a hallmark of a Whitman education.

“If people can learn leadership early in their lives, they can be more successful in college and go on to have more success in their careers,” said Goodman when the program launched.

Ken Goodman

Initially, the IMPRESS program focused on first-year students, separating them into competing “houses,” each with a faculty house mentor who facilitated the program and required course, SOM 122: Perspectives of Business and Management. Houses (which acted as teams) vied for the highest number of points for every IMPRESS activity their members participate in throughout the year (e.g., speaker presentations, networking opportunities, business etiquette sessions, discussions on prioritizing mental health). At the end of the academic year, the house with the most points is presented with the Goodman Cup.

In 2021, Goodman gifted $1.25 million to the University’s Forever Orange campaign with a significant portion directed at continuing the IMPRESS program. This was the beginning of IMPRESS 2.0, aimed at furthering opportunities and incorporating even more skills, particularly in an effort to prepare students for a digital work environment. This strategy has opened up a greater level of opportunities for upper-division students to continue to increase their leadership abilities, access more experiential learning opportunities and certifications, and make them even more sought after in the job market.

Spring 2022 saw the launch of the WIRE (Whitman Industry Readiness and Excellence) program, which has helped students achieve a total of 275 certifications on platforms like Google AI Essentials, Tableau, Microsoft Associate and even Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Green Belt—at no additional cost to the students.

As IMPRESS 2.0 expanded, Roshawn Kershaw G’22 (MAX) joined as program coordinator in 2023, furthering Whitman’s commitment to this program and students’ success.

Roshawn Kershaw

“The IMPRESS program gives Whitman students an advantage when it’s time to start looking for internship opportunities or employment,” says Kershaw. “Students understand the value that the many facets of 2018 the program are offering them, and we’ve also seen an uptick in prospective students who have decided to apply to Whitman because they’ve heard of the benefits of IMPRESS.”

“The IMPRESS program is one of the main reasons I chose the Whitman School, and it has been instrumental in shaping my college experience. Through its focus on leadership, professional development and community building, IMPRESS has helped me grow both personally and professionally. The supportive, goal-driven culture of IMPRESS has motivated me to take full advantage of the many opportunities Whitman offers. It has been a foundational part of my journey, and I am grateful for the lasting impact it has had on me," says James Crane ’25, ’26 M.S.

James Crane

That same year, and in keeping with Goodman’s focus on developing leaders, the Goodman Leadership Academy was established to offer a select group of motivated sophomores a greater level of advancement through high-touch leadership opportunities, small group mentoring, networking and interactions to opportunities to practice and demonstrate their leadership, conflict resolution and networking skills.

Highly competitive, the initiative began by choosing only 20 students per academic year from a pool of applicants. More recently, it has transitioned to a one-semester program to accommodate more students. Since its inception, 56 students in a total of three cohorts have completed the Goodman Leadership Academy. This fall, 14 students were chosen from 52 applicants. All applicants require a minimum 3.0 GPA, a high IMPRESS score and a letter of recommendation.

By the 2024-25 academic year, the IMPRESS program had grown from 108 to 135 learning opportunities with 8,754 challenge participants. This included 38 personal and professional leadership development opportunities, 29 major and industry exploration events, 24 digital resource center videos, 27 IMPRESS certifications, 16 community engagement events and five global context workshops. Students participate on their own time and for no credit, but they know these activities will help them rise above the competition in the job market.

Some recruiters have specifically remarked on the IMPRESS program as a reason why Whitman students have been chosen for a job placement. In addition, students who went through the program several years ago have come back to assist with peer mentoring, as speakers and to network with students at IMPRESS events, according to Kershaw.

“The IMPRESS program shaped the start of my career and prepared me to navigate uncertainty with confidence, as many of my IMPRESS experiences have stayed with me,” says Christina Coco ’23, who was hired by Evercore upon graduation as an investment banking analyst and is now pursuing a law degree at Fordham School of Law.

Christina Coco

“IMPRESS showed me that it was possible to have more than one interest. I learned that I could have a passion for accounting finance, retail, entrepreneurship and supply chain all at once because careers don’t always have to follow a straight path, she adds. “I went from an accounting major at Whitman to an investment banker, and now I am venturing on to become an attorney. Each pivot has been a part of my growth in ways that reflect exactly what IMPRESS set out to teach.”

The program is also fortunate that its long-time faculty house mentors—Professor of Practice John Petosa, Assistant Teaching Professor Elizabeth Wimer, Professor of Retail Practice Ray Wimer, and Professor of Entrepreneurial Practice Alexandra Kostakis—have continued with the program throughout the past decade, along with Assistant Teaching Professor Christie Novak, who joined when an additional house was created for transfer students.

“The first group of students I had when I started at Whitman are now seniors, and it’s very rewarding to see them win awards and get great internships, knowing that I’ve helped them in a special way,” says Kershaw. “IMPRESS didn’t teach them about their chosen majors, but it helped them learn how to best present themselves and the knowledge that they have gained. That’s very rewarding to me and to all of those who have been a part of this program.”

Goodman’s generosity continues to support the program and allows any students at Whitman to participate in its programs throughout the years.

“Great leadership is about empowering others by listening, mentoring and demonstrating professional and confident conduct, and it’s especially important that students are taught these valuable skills while they are in college, still figuring out who they want to be and how to succeed,” says Goodman. “It’s a process, and I’m so proud of the hard work so many people at Whitman have given to create and grow this program far and above my initial expectations 10 years ago. I’m proud that I could do my part in making the IMPRESS program a core element of a Whitman education.”