Build the Character That Accelerates Your Career

MEMORANDUM

TO: [Name, Title – e.g., Jane Smith, Director of Human Resources]

FROM: [Your Name, Your Title]

DATE: [Current Date]

SUBJECT: Professional Development Funding Request: Character Leadership Development Program

I. PURPOSE

I am requesting approval and funding in the amount of $500.00 to participate in the Character Leadership Development Program, an 8-week research-backed professional development initiative offered jointly by PB JAM and Avila University from July 6 through August 30, 2026.

II. PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Character Leadership Development Program is a comprehensive training based on the Ivey Character Model, which identifies 11 empirically-validated dimensions of character that correlate with leadership effectiveness and organizational performance. The program employs a hybrid learning format combining asynchronous content delivery with small-group peer learning sessions.

Program Specifications:

• Duration: 8 weeks (July 6 – August 30, 2026)
• Time Commitment: 2-3 hours per week
• Format: Hybrid (asynchronous modules + synchronous small group sessions)
• Cohort Size: Limited to 30 participants (founding cohort)
• Investment: $500 (75% discount from standard $2,000 pricing)
• Deliverables: Certificate of completion, portfolio project, peer evaluation, measurable competency assessment

III. BUSINESS JUSTIFICATION

A. Return on Investment

Research from the Association for Talent Development demonstrates that organizations realize an average $5 return for every $1 invested in professional development. Furthermore, companies that offer upskilling opportunities retain 94% of employees, significantly reducing recruitment and onboarding costs.

B. Strategic Alignment

This program directly addresses documented skills gaps that impact organizational performance:

• 70% of executives report their businesses suffer financially because employees lack critical soft skills
• 65% of employers cannot find candidates with essential soft skills such as strategic thinking and collaboration
• 48% of 2025 graduates feel unprepared for entry-level jobs, indicating a systemic gap in professional readiness

C. Competitive Advantage

Leadership research from KRW International demonstrates that CEOs with high character achieve 5× higher return on assets (9.35% vs. 1.93%). Developing character-based leadership capabilities at all organizational levels creates sustainable competitive advantage.

IV. COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS

Investment Component	Amount
Program Tuition (Founding Cohort Pricing)	$500.00
Standard Pricing (Future Cohorts)	$2,000.00
Savings (75% Discount)	$1,500.00

Expected Benefits:

• Enhanced leadership capabilities across 11 research-validated dimensions
• Improved cross-functional collaboration and strategic thinking
• Portfolio-ready project demonstrating applied learning
• Professional network expansion with cohort peers
• Measurable competency growth documented through peer evaluation
• Certificate credentials for internal advancement opportunities

V. RECOMMENDATION

I respectfully request approval to participate in this program. The founding cohort pricing represents a 75% savings opportunity that will not be available for future cohorts. The research-backed curriculum, measurable outcomes, and alignment with organizational priorities make this a high-value professional development investment.

I am available to discuss this request at your convenience and can provide additional documentation as needed.

Respectfully submitted,

[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]
[Your Title]
[Your Department]
[Your Contact Information]

Attachments:

• Program Overview and Curriculum Details
• Research Brief: Ivey Character Model and Leadership Outcomes
• Business Case: ROI Data for Professional Development

Evidence for the Ivey Character Model and Its Application to Professional Development
PB JAM + Avila University Character Leadership Program

I. Key Research Findings

Character and Organizational Performance

• 5× Higher ROA: Organizations led by high-character CEOs achieved 9.35% return on assets compared to 1.93% for low-character leadership (Seijts et al., 2016)
• Employee Outcomes: Leader character dimensions predict employee engagement (β = .48), organizational citizenship behaviors (β = .41), and reduced turnover (β = -.37) (Riggio et al., 2010)
• Ethical Climate: Meta-analysis of 73 studies shows character-based leadership creates ethical organizational climates that reduce misconduct (Mayer et al., 2009)

Developability of Character Dimensions

• 14-week character development programs produced significant increases (d = 0.52 to 0.78) that persisted at 6-month follow-up (Hannah et al., 2011)
• Peer-based interventions produced stronger effects than individual coaching (d = 0.67 vs. d = 0.41) (Fowers et al., 2021)
• Longitudinal research demonstrates sustained behavioral changes visible to supervisors and direct reports (Crossan et al., 2017)

II. The 11 Character Dimensions

Dimension	Definition	Application to Leadership
Accountability	Taking ownership for actions and outcomes	Reduces blame culture; increases trust
Collaboration	Working effectively across boundaries	Essential for matrix organizations
Courage	Acting despite risk or uncertainty	Enables innovation and change
Drive	Sustained effort toward goals	Correlates with achievement
Humanity	Consideration for others’ wellbeing	Increases psychological safety
Humility	Openness to learning; self-awareness	Facilitates continuous improvement
Integrity	Consistency between values and actions	Foundation of trust and ethics
Judgment	Sound decision-making processes	Critical for strategic thinking
Justice	Fair treatment of all stakeholders	Reduces turnover; increases commitment
Temperance	Self-regulation and balance	Prevents burnout; models sustainability
Transcendence	Connection to purpose beyond self	Inspires others; creates meaning

III. PB JAM Platform: Research to Practice

PB JAM’s blog (pbjamplatform.com/blog) translates academic findings into accessible insights for practitioners. Specific posts relevant to this program include:

• “Organizational Psychology and PB JAM” — I/O psychology principles in platform design
• “Behavioral Sciences and PB JAM” — How behavioral science informs behavior modification
• “Cues and Sustainability of Behavior Change” — Sustained behavioral change mechanisms
• “SafeSpace© and PB JAM” — Creating psychologically safe peer learning
• “Why PB JAM is so effective?” — Four core challenges in professional development
• “Neuroplasticity and PB JAM” — Neuroscience research on adult learning

IV. Selected References

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Source
ROI per Dollar Invested	$5	ATD, 2023
Retention with Upskilling	94%	LinkedIn, 2024
Higher ROA with Character Leadership	5×	KRW International, 2018
Executives Citing Skills Gaps	70%	Springboard, 2024

The Business Problem

• 70% of executives report businesses suffer financially because employees lack critical soft skills
• 65% of employers cannot find candidates with essential soft skills needed for success
• $8.5 trillion in unrealized annual revenues globally due to skills gaps (World Economic Forum, 2023)
• 40% productivity loss when skills gaps go unaddressed (Deloitte, 2024)
• 2.5× recruitment cost to replace employee who leaves due to lack of development opportunities

The Solution

• Research-backed framework: Ivey Character Model with 11 empirically-validated leadership dimensions
• Measurable outcomes: Pre/post assessment, peer evaluation, portfolio deliverable
• Minimal disruption: 2-3 hours/week hybrid format fits work schedules
• Immediate application: Learning applies directly to current role responsibilities
• Retention tool: 94% of employees stay when development opportunities are provided

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Investment	Expected Returns
Program Tuition: $500 Employee Time: ~20 hours over 8 weeks Total Investment: $500 + time	Direct ROI: $2,500 ($5 per $1 invested) Retention Value: Avoids $15,000–$30,000 replacement cost Productivity Gain: 10–15% improvement in collaboration Leadership Pipeline: Prepares for advancement

Competitive Advantage

Dimension	Status Quo	With This Investment
Leadership Readiness	Limited bench strength for advancement	Documented leadership capabilities and portfolio
Skills Gap	Part of the 70% with documented deficits	Ahead of 65% who can’t find these skills externally
Employee Value Proposition	Standard benefits package	Differentiated development opportunity
Talent Retention	Industry average (~15% turnover)	94% retention with upskilling (6% turnover)

Program Deliverables & Accountability

• Certificate of Completion: Documents 24+ hours of professional development from Avila University
• Measurable Growth: Pre/post assessment across 11 character dimensions with quantified improvement scores
• Portfolio Project: Applied learning deliverable demonstrating real-world application
• Peer Evaluation: 360-degree style feedback from cohort participants
• Knowledge Transfer: Option for employee to present learnings to team (lunch-and-learn format)

Recommendation

Approve this professional development request for the following strategic reasons:

• High ROI: $5 return per dollar with research-backed framework
• Retention Value: 94% retention rate prevents costly turnover and knowledge loss
• Skills Gap Closure: Addresses critical soft skills deficits impacting 70% of organizations
• Leadership Pipeline: Prepares employee for expanded responsibilities and advancement
• Cost Efficiency: 75% discount ($1,500 savings) represents exceptional value unavailable in future cohorts
• Competitive Intelligence: Investment in people development outperforms competitors struggling with 65% skills shortage