The Challenge: Building consistent leadership in a lean university environment

Viterbo University is a university environment with roughly 290 full time staff and faculty, plus a large adjunct population. Like many institutions, people move into leadership because they are strong contributors, not because they have had structured training to manage.

When Emily Weaver joined to lead HR, she quickly determined there was a need to implement consistent manager training.

The university needed practical fundamentals that managers would actually use, without creating a heavy lift for a lean HR team.

Manager 101 created a shared language across teams for performance, development, and accountability. 

Managers now reference the frameworks in monthly manager syncs, reinforcing key practices and reducing the time HR spends resolving misalignment.

The approach has also helped reduce post-training drop-off. By layering in follow-up conversations and peer accountability, TrueLook is seeing more consistent application of what managers learn.

At a time when many peers are struggling to hold on to top talent, TrueLook’s investment in manager development has also played a role in boosting internal mobility and improving retention, especially among high-potential employees who want to grow.