Rocket Software Welcomes New Aurora Program Graduates

Rocket Software weaves our values of Empathy, Humanity, Trust, and Love into everything we do, making investments across all Rocketeers to ensure everyone feels a sense of belonging. One way this comes to life is through the Aurora Program, established in 2020 in partnership with reacHIRE. The Aurora Program is a development course for women at Rocket Software designed to foster and grow their leadership capabilities.

This program, part of Rocket Software’s Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (RIDE) initiative, reflects just one of the many ways we invest in the development of all Rocketeers. While Aurora is tailored to women, we are equally committed to creating opportunities for all our colleagues to grow and thrive within an inclusive and supportive environment. The Aurora Program teaches participants how to identify their unique leadership styles and address common workplace challenges, regardless of whether they are just starting their careers or have decades of experience.

Since the inaugural graduating class, more than 100 Rocketeers have successfully completed the Aurora Program. In September, we hosted a graduation ceremony to welcome 38 additional women to this exceptional cohort.

Celebrating the 2024 Aurora Program

Throughout an intensive six-month-long program, these participants reflected, learned, and developed their individual leadership styles. In team meetups and one-on-one sessions, they each explored important topics, including authenticity, resilience, communication, negotiation, and the power of influencing.

I had the pleasure of joining this year’s graduation ceremony and heard from graduates about their experiences and personal growth. It was inspiring to hear how these women felt the program empowered them to grow and invest in themselves.

Four Takeaways From 2024 Aurora Program Graduates

The positive impact on the Aurora Program’s participants shone through during the graduation ceremony. The testimonials below, shared during the celebration, illustrate how the program helped these leaders feel more empowered in their careers, learn how to handle difficult situations as leaders, and feel more confident at work.

Read the inspiring testimonials below:

Theresa Parker, Director of Product Management: Finding that spark again

“Aurora has really helped me regain my personal spark and purpose. It was really reassuring to hear that others were facing or had faced similar challenges and how people approached them. Overall, the Aurora Program is something I consider to be a huge win for me in my career, and I'm incredibly grateful to Rocket Software and my management for sponsoring my participation in the program.”

Robyn Andersen, Senior Product Manager: Honoring your authentic self

“The Aurora Program has contributed both to my personal and my professional growth. The program honors the importance of a work-life balance, bringing your authentic self to the work environment, and having the confidence to be your own advocate. It provides practice methods and techniques to help you achieve this because it's not always easy.”

Renna Nikolaidis, Associate Manager of Customer Solutions Engineering: Exemplifying Rocket Software’s commitment to growth

“I valued being able to hear from Rocketeers and other professionals who have different experiences and are at different places in their careers. The program exemplifies how Rocket Software is dedicated to making sure every Rocketeer has opportunities and support to not only grow at the company, but also on an individual level. The work the Aurora Program is doing is making such a big impact in so many women's lives.”

Hillary Guillaumin, Sales Engineering Manager: Turning ‘weaknesses’ into strengths

“The Aurora Program has not only made me a better leader, but a better person in and out of work. Not only was I given tools to deal with conflicts and understand different points of view, but it also helped me understand my own potential. And I came to realize that things that I thought were a weakness are actually a strength. And as a bonus, I now know my own leadership style.”

To learn more about the Aurora Program, click here.