Members of the Brenda Barnes Leadership Academy explored the Quad Cities with President Andrea Talentino (back row, gold jacket).
Alumnae mentor first-year students in new academy
Twenty-nine students of Augustana’s Class of 2027 make up the inaugural cohort of the Brenda Barnes Leadership Academy (BBLA). These first-year, high-achieving female students are taking part in community-building events and mentorship experiences to help them become leaders.
"Brenda Czajka Barnes was a leader with a vision for the world that included the empowerment of women to make change in the world," said Augustana President Andrea Talentino. "The launch of the academy this year continues her legacy and will inspire the brightest young women from Illinois to follow in her footsteps and impact their professions, families and friends in the same way that Brenda did."
After Barnes graduated from Augustana in 1975, her unrivaled work ethic took her from business manager at Wilson Sporting Goods in 1976 to president and CEO of Pepsi-Cola North America 20 years later. In 1997 she left Pepsi-Cola to spend more time with her children. She returned to the corporate world as COO of Sara Lee in 2004.
Brenda Czajka '75 Barnes
A year later, she was promoted to president and CEO of Sara Lee, then the largest female-run Fortune 500 company. In 2010, Barnes was ranked 10th on Fortune magazine’s Most Powerful Women list.
Throughout her life, Barnes generously shared her time, talents and gifts with the college to ensure that Augustana students have the same transforming experience she had. She served 16 years as a college trustee, including five years as the board chair.
"I credit Augie for so much of what I have," she said in a 2012 interview with Augustana College Magazine. "I give back what I can to a place that gave so much to me."
Barnes passed away in 2017, remembered by Augustana as an inspirational leader who knew it was important for young women to have mentors. The academy aims to instill the leadership and perspective of its namesake.
In 2012, Brenda Czajka '75 Barnes met with Hilary Timmerman '13, Ly Pham '12 and Courtney Grob '12 to talk about ways to balance work and family, the role of a CEO, the importance of hard work to attain their goals, and more.
All BBLA members have been matched with mentors — Augustana alumnae who will meet in person or virtually once a month with their BBLA mentee to provide support and perspectives from their career experience.
Courtney Wallace, Augustana’s assistant vice president for enrollment management, said the mentorship relationship will carry through the participants’ first year at Augustana.
"We know as professionals how important networking and finding mentorship or sponsorship is," Wallace said. "We know students these days may be less comfortable in those situations, so we want to make sure these women feel comfortable and understand the value and perspective a great mentor can provide."
BBLA events held this fall included a session on emotional intelligence and helping participants find their authentic selves.