Achieving Region 5 Priorities: Leadership Force Multiplier to Scale Leadership Capacity
IEEE Region 5 Leadership Multiplier Pilot
Developing Leadership Capacity Through Mentorship, Collaboration, and Replication
This mini-site is developing a life-cycle STEAM-to-leadership pathway: early STEM exposure, hands-on learning, mentorship, volunteer activation, documentation, recognition, and workforce readiness.
This Leadership Multiplier Pilot explores how IEEE Region 5 Sections can strengthen leadership continuity, volunteer vitality, and mentorship pipelines through collaboration and shared learning. The intent is to keep participation lightweight while enabling Sections to exchange insights and/or lessons learned from their experiences — including both successes and challenges. By treating leadership development as a collaborative learning process, similar to engineering prototypes, this pilot aims to identify practical approaches that can be replicated to build sustainable leadership capacity across the Region.
We are treating leadership capacity as being engineered, prototyped, refined before any large-scale deployment.
2026 Proposed Region 5 Section Learning Exchange
Engineering Week — February 25
Kickoff aligned with George Washington’s Birthday
Independence Month — July 22
Constitution Month — September 23
Veterans & Thanksgiving Month — November 18
Each session will feature 2–4 Sections sharing insights.
Insights and lessons learned could include:
-
What experiments increased mentorship activation?
-
What barriers persist?
-
Where do you need support?
-
What should Region stop doing?
Notes:
- To provide context, please review tabs from left to right.
- AI-assisted content is used to compensate for volunteer capacity and coordination cost.
- You will see AI-errors since AI has limited multi-modal presentation and capability. That is text and image may blur in an AI-assisted and generated video.
The Pikes Peak, Denver and Houston Sections participated in the kickoff collaborative webinar session, with over 100 registrants. The next several tabs provided their contributions and insights in scaling leadership capacity.
We also experimented with Google NotebookLM to provide an audio overview of the subject slides. Output from AI-assisted tools are given as well for multi-media creation, such as explainer videos to reduce production time.
As you know, AI is not perfect. As an example, you will frequently find that IEEE (pronounced as eye-triple-E) is mispronounced as IE.
SNAP CIRCUITS
Recently, the Houston, Denver, and Pikes Peaks Sections are collaborating in extending and amplifying their community and STEM outreach with SNAP circuits. Resources and sample templates/playbooks are being provided to provide Sections to activate STEM/STEAM program or amplify their existing outreach programs. We are in collaboration with the Houston High Tech Rising to provide free SNAP circuit kits currently being distributed in the Colorado and Texas Sections.
Suggested and sample SNAP Circuit templates or playbooks can be found here.
Digital Flipbooks
For digital flipbooks, you can enlarge the ebook by clicking on the icon as shown below:
Promotional Video
This video can be used in multiple forums including social media, websites, newsletters, presentations, etc. Directions for how to share on social media and websites for each are below.
View IEEE Impact Challenge video
Length: 2:05
Share Options:
- SOCIAL MEDIA — Copy and paste this link into your post:
- EMBED ON A WEBSITE — Copy and paste this code:
- <iframe src=”//ieeetv.ieee.org/player/
embed_play/240411/auto” allowfullscreen frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no” width=”760″ height=”430″ ></iframe>
- <iframe src=”//ieeetv.ieee.org/player/
Introduction and Strategic Intent of Pilot
1. Low Threat
We are not imposing requirements.
2. Psychological Safety
Sections can share experiments without fear of failure.
3. Identity Alignment
Sections can connect leadership with American civic milestones.
4. Replication Potential
Sections are creating reusable knowledge artifacts.
5. Systems Thinking
Sections can treat leadership as an engineering problem.
IEEE Region 5 Leadership Multiplier Pilot
Developing Leadership Capacity Through Mentorship, Collaboration, and Shared Learning
This mini-site describes an emerging leadership and mentorship approach being explored across IEEE Region 5 with the goal of strengthening:
-
Leadership continuity
-
Volunteer vitality
-
Student and Young Professional pipelines
-
Section sustainability
-
Industry engagement
The approach is based on listening to Section needs while coordinating Region-level collaboration to share insights and/or lessons learned from various approaches used by Sections. This sharing of information allows each Section to tailor their needs according to their leadership and volunteer capacity.
This effort is intentionally structured as a pilot, not a program, to avoid adding burden to Sections while enabling shared learning and experimentation.
The site is currently a work in progress and will evolve as participating Sections contribute perspectives and experiences.
Purpose of the Pilot
The objective of this pilot is to explore how leadership capacity can be intentionally developed, activated, and sustained across volunteer organizations through mentorship and collaboration.
Participating Sections are invited to share:
-
Insights and/or lessons learned
-
Experiments that increased engagement
-
Processes that improved mentorship activation
-
Outreach or partnership approaches
-
Metrics or indicators used to track progress
Perfection is not expected. Learning is the goal.
Leadership Multiplier Philosophy
Leadership capacity grows when three elements interact:
Skillset × Mindset × Mentorship → Leadership Capacity
When mentorship is present, leadership does not simply add — it multiplies.
This pilot focuses on creating repeatable processes that allow Sections to:
-
Recruit new volunteers
-
Mentor emerging leaders
-
Activate participants through projects
-
Replicate leadership through mentorship cycles
This creates a sustainable growth loop rather than one-time engagement.
Regional Collaboration Model
Participating Sections will share short presentations describing insights and/or lessons learned related to leadership and mentorship approaches within their Section.
The intent is collaborative learning across Region 5 rather than evaluation.
Pilot Collaboration Schedule
Because 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the American experiment in self-government, this pilot aligns with major national milestones emphasizing leadership, service, and civic responsibility.
Proposed Collaboration Windows
Engineering Week — February
Collaborative kickoff aligned with George Washington’s Birthday
Independence Month — July
Constitution Month — September
Veterans & Thanksgiving Month — November
Each session will include 2–4 Sections providing brief 10-minute share-outs followed by one or two questions per Section
Presentation Guidelines
Participating Sections are invited to provide brief section share outs:
-
10-minute presentation
-
1-2 questions per Section
Suggested topics:
-
Mentorship programs
-
STEM outreach models
-
Student branch engagement
-
Industry partnerships
-
Leadership development approaches
-
Volunteer activation strategies
-
Insights and/or lessons learned
Observers are welcome.
Why This Pilot Matters
Strong leadership pipelines produce:
-
Sustainable Sections
-
Increased volunteer retention
-
Stronger student transitions to Young Professionals
-
Expanded industry collaboration
-
Long-term organizational stability
This pilot represents an experiment in developing leadership capacity within IEEE — similar to how engineering uses prototypes to refine systems before large-scale deployment.
Call to Participation
Sections interested in participating or observing are invited to complete the planning form as found in this mini-site.
Participation can be lightweight. Sharing insights and/or lessons learned is sufficient.
Webinar date: 25 February 2026
The Pikes Peak, Denver and Houston Sections participated in the kickoff collaborative webinar session, with over 100 registrants. The next several tabs provided their contributions and insights in scaling leadership capacity.
We also experimented with Google NotebookLM to provide an audio overview of the subject slides. Output from AI-assisted tools are given as well for multi-media creation, such as explainer videos to reduce production time.
As you know, AI is not perfect. As an example, you will frequently find that IEEE (pronounced as eye-triple-E) is mispronounced as IE
Snap Circuits
Recently, the Houston, Denver, and Pikes Peaks Sections are collaborating in extending and amplifying their community and STEM outreach with SNAP circuits. Resources and sample templates/playbooks are being provided to provide Sections to activate STEM/STEAM program or amplify their existing outreach programs. We are in collaboration with the Houston High Tech Rising to provide free SNAP circuit kits currently being distributed in the Colorado and Texas Sections.
Suggested and sample SNAP Circuit templates or playbooks can be found here.
Description
Engineering Leadership That Scales: A Systems Approach for IEEE Volunteers and Professionals
Engineering Leadership That Scales
How can IEEE Sections apply engineering discipline to leadership development?
Join this interactive Engineering Week session exploring how strategy, operations, and tactical activation connect to build sustainable volunteer systems. Learn practical, replicable approaches for activating members, reducing burnout, and compounding leadership capacity.
Turning Strategy into Sustainable Activation
Engineering Week is more than celebration — it’s an opportunity to examine how leadership capacity can be designed, deployed, and scaled with the same discipline engineers apply to complex systems.
In this one-hour virtual session, we explore how engineering principles can be applied to leadership development within IEEE — moving beyond inspiration toward structured, repeatable impact.
Rather than asking “How do we find more volunteers?”, we ask:
–
How do we design leadership systems that sustain themselves?
–
How do strategy, operations, and tactical activation connect?
–
How can Sections activate members without increasing burnout?
–
What does scalable leadership look like in a volunteer ecosystem?
Using real examples from Region 5 initiatives — including makerspaces, STEM outreach, and pull-based activation models — this session translates systems thinking into practical action.
Participants will learn how to:
• Frame leadership as engineered infrastructure
• Align central intent with local execution
• Activate volunteers through lightweight, repeatable models
• Build capacity that compounds over time
Designed for:
–
Section leaders
–
Educational Activities chairs
–
Women in Engineering & Young Professional leaders
–
Industry and academic members
–
Anyone seeking to strengthen IEEE’s long-term impact
This is not a one-direction presentation — it is a learning exchange focused on replicable approaches that Sections can adapt immediately.
Speaker(s): , ,
Agenda:
Engineering and Scaling Leadership – A Systems Engineering (Strategic, Operational, Tactical Activation) Perspective
1. Framing the System (5 minutes — You)
Purpose: Establish a shared mental model before diving into examples.
Key Points
– Engineering Week as a systems and scaling for leadership development
– Why IEEE is uniquely positioned (students, academia, industry, legacy professionals)
– Introduce the lens: Skillset × Mindset × Mentorship → Compounded Leadership Capacity
Engagement Question (1–2 min)
– Where do you most often see breakdowns today—skillset, mindset, or mentorship?
– Which one is hardest to sustain in a volunteer organization?
—————————————————————
2. George Washington as a Systems Engineer and Implications (15 minutes)
Purpose: Anchor the conversation historically and conceptually.
Key Points
– Roads, canals, and surveys as an early infrastructure platform
– Central intent, local execution as a systems design choice
– Why engineers often build lasting systems
– Relevance to modern engineering leadership and IEEE Sections
Engagement Question (2–3 min)
– What is the modern equivalent of “roads and canals” in IEEE—platforms, people, or processes?
– Where should intent be centralized, and where must execution remain local?
—————————————————————
3. From Strategy to Operations via Makerspaces (15 minutes — Denver / Lucy Talley)
Purpose: Translate vision into hands-on execution.
Key Points
– Makerspaces as physical systems where:
– skillset is practiced,
– mindset is formed,
– mentorship happens naturally
– Bridging academia ↔ IEEE ↔ workforce through experiential learning
– Insights from EAB/SEOC: why execution—not strategy—determines outcomes
– Why coordination beats control in volunteer ecosystems
Engagement Question (2–3 min)
– What happens when students learn leadership by building—not just attending?
– How could Sections use makerspaces (or maker-thinking) even without formal facilities?
—————————————————————
4. Activation & Scale through Pull Mechanisms (15 minutes — Houston / Olivia Zindel)
Purpose: Show how systems scale without adding burden.
Key Points
– The student–affinity group–professional connection gap
– Newsletter as a pull-based system, not a push mandate
– Allowing students and YPs to request speakers, mentors, and opportunities
– Why low-cost, opt-in platforms scale better than centralized programs
Engagement Question (2–3 min)
– What would change if students pulled opportunities instead of waiting for them?
– What’s the minimum structure needed to activate volunteers without burning them out?
—————————————————————
5. Integrated Q&A and Reflection (10 minutes)
Purpose: Synthesize and test scalability.
Suggested Focus Areas
– Replication: What could your Section try within 30–60 days?
– Effort level: What felt lightweight vs. heavy?
– Next steps: What’s one experiment worth running after Engineering Week?
Optional closing prompt:
– If IEEE were designed today from scratch, what would we keep—and what would we redesign?
Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/540037
Automated Creation of Newsletter
Olivia Zindell provided her newsletter proposal that is automated based on members inputs.
SNAP Circuits
Download Slides: These slides are courtesy of Annie Dai.
Below are documents from Central Texas sharing their STEM Events:
Career Fair at KIPP Paseo Preparatory 2026
Below are digital flipbooks from the documents provided by Central Texas sharing their STEM Events:
Career Fair at KIPP Paseo Preschool
Resource: Future Innovators Workshop
FIW proves the STEM activity can work; PPS is proposing the leadership multiplier framework that helps similar activities become repeatable across Sections.
The IEEE UNT Future Innovators Workshop is highly relevant. It was developed and hosted by the IEEE UNT Student Branch as a free K–12 STEM outreach program focused on electricity, circuits, microcontrollers, and Arduino-based hands-on projects. The kit included an Arduino Uno, breadboard, sensors, logic ICs, op-amps, LEDs, resistors, capacitors, diodes, switches, buzzers, and other components.
“The FIW handbook also introduced voltage, resistance, current, capacitance, Arduino basics, and projects ordered by difficulty.With the Fort This event is developed and hosted by students at the University of North Texas as members of the IEEE UNT Student Branch. We are excited to offer the opportunity to share our enthusiasm for electrical and computer engineering with future engineers through this completely free K-12 STEM outreach program. The goal of this event is to provide electronics kits to students and teach them about the wide world of electricity, circuits, and microcontrollers through hands-on projects. “
2026 IEEE STEM Summit Booth Topics
Click on the purple checkbox to see the multimedia content. This serves as an example of an interactive hotspot. You can enlarge to full screen by clicking on the upper rightmost icon.
Important note: If you do not see an image below with 3 purple interactive checkmarks to view multimedia, please refresh the browser.
You can also visit our mini-websites at: Snap Circuits | PhET Demos | PhET Demos – Math | PhET Demos Photonics
Engineering Week
Download slides.
Due to technical difficulties and operator error, not all of the presentations are recorded. For Dr Santiago’s portion, Google’s Note Book LM was used to provide an overview of his presentation slides. The audio overview was in the form of an interview podcast.
IEEE Participation at the Pikes Peak Region Science and Engineering Fair
Pikes Peak Regional Science and Engineering Fair
Date: February 28 2026
IEEE members participated as judges during the regional science fair.
IEEE Participation
-
7 IEEE judges
-
Included 3 Past Section Chairs, Life Members, and additional volunteers
Fair Participation
-
approximately 65 judges
-
approximately 65 student projects
-
more than 200 students, teachers, judges, and volunteers
Impact
The judging process allowed students to interact directly with practicing engineers, providing mentorship and professional feedback while strengthening IEEE’s connection with the regional STEM community.
STEAM-TEAMS Monthly Meeting
Date: February 23 2026
The Section also held its monthly STEAM-TEAMS meeting.
Participants included:
-
2 IEEE Senior Members
-
1 invited guest
-
families and children
-
Dr. John Santiago (Life Senior Member / LMAG)
These meetings provide opportunities for:
-
family-oriented STEM engagement
-
volunteer interaction
-
mentoring conversations within the Section community.
LEADERSHIP/ MENTORSHIP OPERATING SYSTEM
The video below has no narration. Used by Dr John Santiago to brief extemporaneously depending on audience interest.
Examples of AI-Assisted Multimedia Content
Virtual Booth at 2025 STEM Summit and Playlist of 3d Animation of STEM/STEAM Topics
The first video below was shown at the 2025 STEM Summit, held in 23-24 Oct 2025. There were 65 visitors where 33 provided their emails. (50% conversion rate)
Here is a sample YouTube playlist of 3d animation videos: Storytelling Animation on STEM/STEAM Topics
Challenge Coins
Interactive Hotspots:
2025 STEM SUMMIT
Region 5 and Pikes Peak Section Virtual Booth (emulation)
For more information on pilot initiatives and experiments, please visit here: Leadership Multiplier 2 | IEEE Pikes Peak Section
Webinar Date: 22 July 2026
Registration for the July Section Learning Exchange: Region 5 Leadership, Mentorship and STEAM Learning Exchange
July 2026 Region 5 Section Learning Exchange
As before, a lightweight format could be to invite 2–4 sections to provide short 10 to 15 minute presentations, followed by one or two questions per section. The focus would be practical: what they tried, what worked, what was learned, and what another section could copy or adapt.
Introduction
Sowmya Chintakindi of the Oklahoma City Section is hosting a Podcast to prepare the next generation engineer.
Below is a digital flipbook…
Biography
Sowmya Chintakindi is an IEEE Senior Member, software performance engineering professional, educator, mentor, podcaster, and technology community leader with more than 14 years of industry experience. She serves as Vice Chair of the IEEE Oklahoma City Section and supports mentoring, professional development, technical education, and awards and recognition activities. Through the InfiLab initiative and her podcast work, she shares practical insights on technology, careers, learning, leadership, and innovation while expanding access to hands-on STEM education. Her interests include performance engineering, cloud technologies, artificial intelligence, career development, and creating scalable learning opportunities for students and professionals.
Building a Scalable Summer STEM Outreach Model for IEEE Sections
Presentation Description
IEEE Sections play an important role in inspiring the next generation of engineers and technology professionals, yet many are looking for practical, sustainable ways to expand their STEM outreach. This presentation shares the IEEE Kansas City Section’s developing Summer STEM Outreach initiative and presents a scalable, low-cost framework that other Sections can adapt using local volunteers, university partnerships, and community organizations.
The session will highlight how the Kansas City Section is building relationships with universities, educators, makerspaces, and community partners to create engaging, hands-on STEM experiences for K–12 students. It will discuss practical approaches to volunteer recruitment, partnership development, activity planning, resource identification, and strategies for sustaining engagement beyond individual events.
Attendees will learn:
- How to identify and engage local STEM partners
- Strategies for organizing low-cost, high-impact outreach activities
- Ways to involve university students and Young Professionals as volunteers
- Lessons learned from early implementation efforts
- Resources and templates that can help other IEEE Sections launch similar programs
The presentation will conclude with opportunities for collaboration across IEEE Region 5 and ideas for developing a shared network of outreach resources, volunteers, and best practices that can strengthen STEM education and community engagement throughout the region.
Biography:
Kyrian Chinemeze Adimora is a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science at the University of Kansas, where
his research focuses on applying machine learning and artificial intelligence to optimize scheduling and
resource management in high-performance computing systems. His work explores scalable, intelligent
computing solutions that improve the efficiency and performance of next-generation computing
infrastructures.
He serves as the IEEE Kansas City Section Educational Activities Chair, where he leads initiatives that
expand STEM education and strengthen connections among IEEE volunteers, universities, K–12 schools,
and community organizations. His efforts focus on developing sustainable outreach programs that
provide students with engaging, hands-on learning experiences while encouraging interest in
engineering, computing, and technology careers.
With more than a decade of experience in engineering education, mentoring, and technical leadership,
Kyrian has contributed to research, teaching, and community engagement across academia and
professional organizations. His interests include artificial intelligence, high-performance computing,
engineering education, and STEM workforce development. Through IEEE, he is committed to helping
Sections build practical, collaborative outreach programs that broaden participation in STEM and inspire
the next generation of engineers and technology innovators.
Webinar Date: 23 Sep 2026
September 2026 Region 5 Section Learning Exchange
As before, a lightweight format could be to invite 2–4 sections to provide short 10 to 15 minute presentations, followed by one or two questions per section. The focus would be practical: what they tried, what worked, what was learned, and what another section could copy or adapt.
Webinar Date: 18 November 2026
November 2026 Region 5 Section Learning Exchange
As before, a lightweight format could be to invite 2–4 sections to provide short 10 to 15 minute presentations, followed by one or two questions per section. The focus would be practical: what they tried, what worked, what was learned, and what another section could copy or adapt.
Overview of IEEE Educational Ecosystem
Below is a brief a description of the educational resources and ecosystem found within IEEE
You can click on the ‘BLUE CHECK MARKS’ found on each topic of interest and found on the lower right of each topic slide.
If you do not see an image below with BLUE CHECK MARKS, refresh your browser. You can enlarge to full screen by clicking on the upper right icon before viewing the slides.
TryEngineering Lesson Plans
Explore IEEE Try Engineering’s database of lesson plans to teach engineering concepts to your students, aged 4 to 18. Explore areas such as lasers, LED lights, flight, smart buildings, and more through our activities. All lesson plans are provided by teachers like you and are peer reviewed. View our complete TryEngineering lesson plan list. STEM Lesson Plans & Activities for Ages 4-18
TryEngineering Playlist:
Introductory Summary
The inaugural IEEE Ethics Week, planned for September 2026, is an IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology initiative designed to elevate ethical leadership, scientific integrity, and responsible innovation across the IEEE ecosystem. It responds to growing ethical challenges associated with generative AI, emerging technologies, research and publication practices, engineering education, and public policy. SSIT intends to serve as the central coordinating hub while encouraging IEEE Societies, Regions, Sections, and Chapters to organize webinars, panels, conferences, and locally relevant grassroots activities.
The initiative is organized around five complementary dimensions:
- Professional ethics
- Research ethics
- Ethics of technology
- Ethics in education
- Ethics in public policy
Together, these dimensions reinforce the principle that IEEE leadership involves more than technical competence. It also requires integrity, accountability, ethical reasoning, responsible decision-making, and attention to the societal consequences of technology.
Relationship to the Leadership Multiplier Mini-Site
The IEEE Region 5 Leadership Multiplier Pilot provides a practical mechanism through which the goals of Ethics Week can be translated into Section-level learning, mentorship, and action. The mini-site describes a life-cycle pathway connecting early STEM exposure, hands-on learning, mentorship, volunteer activation, documentation, recognition, workforce readiness, and leadership development.
Its central relationship is:
Skillset × Mindset × Mentorship → Leadership Capacity
This framework complements Ethics Week because ethical leadership is not developed through rules alone. It grows through technical skill, sound judgment, positive role models, mentoring relationships, reflection, and opportunities to practice responsible leadership. The Leadership Multiplier therefore supplies the developmental infrastructure through which IEEE members can learn, discuss, model, and replicate ethical behavior.
The mini-site’s Section Learning Exchanges are especially well suited to the Ethics Week call for grassroots participation. They provide a lightweight, psychologically safe environment in which Sections can share experiments, successes, barriers, lessons learned, and reusable resources without imposing a new formal program. The September 23 Learning Exchange could therefore serve as a direct Region 5 contribution to Ethics Week, while the July 22 exchange can establish the broader STEAM, mentorship, leadership, and ethical-leadership foundation.
Suggested Connecting Narrative
IEEE Ethics Week defines why ethical leadership matters. The Leadership Multiplier Pilot explores how ethical leadership capacity can be developed and sustained across Sections.
Together, they create a progression:
Ethical awareness → reflection → mentorship → responsible action → shared learning → replication
Under this framing, Region 5 would not merely host a one-time ethics presentation. It would use Ethics Week to strengthen an ongoing leadership-development process in which members learn from one another, mentor future leaders, document effective practices, and connect technical excellence with service, character, and higher purpose.
During 2024 Education Week, Region 5 – Pikes Peak Section AI and Privacy webinar demonstrates that responsible innovation requires more than technical skill. It requires ethical judgment, stakeholder collaboration, public responsibility, and leadership. Through the Section Learning Exchange, IEEE volunteers can examine these issues, share practical approaches, and help other Sections replicate responsible-technology programs. Please visit the 2024 AI Education Week the 5-webinar series where the first tab is about AI and Privacy at:
2024 IEEE Education Week