Next Generation Leadership Program

Launching in 2025, NFRA’s First Penguin Leadership Program is designed to provide a unique opportunity to young professionals in the frozen and refrigerated CPG/retail space.

Now accepting applications! Deadline: January 10, 2025

Apply Now (Google Form)
Apply Now (Fillable PDF)

What is a First Penguin?

In The Last Lecture, a book by the late Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch, he describes a “First Penguin Award” he designed to reward students who took great risks in pursuing their goals, even though they met with failure. The concept comes from the notion that when penguins are about to jump into water that might contain predators, somebody’s got to be the first to jump.

Pausch understood that in the process of pushing outside their comfort zones, students were actually raising the bar higher for everyone’s sake – they were testing possibilities and learning to make mistakes while learning from those mistakes. In other words… they were leading.

NFRA’s First Penguin Leadership Program will select 10-15 “students” and helps to position them for future success within their organization, as well as future leadership with NFRA. The First Penguin mindset resonates with a variety of career challenges, including:

  • Advancement in a role
  • Leading a team
  • Having difficult conversations
  • Communicating one’s value
  • Advocating for yourself

The program is for individuals who are seeking to:

  • Build their industry knowledge
  • Develop peer relationships
  • Improve project management & leadership skills

Participants will receive:

  • Unique professional development opportunities
  • Invaluable networking opportunities with frozen & refrigerated industry leaders
  • NFRA-developed leadership program toolkit/materials
  • Group project work and touchpoints throughout 2025
  • Complimentary attendance at the 2025 NFRA Executive Conference, April 6-9, Tempe, AZ including:
    •  1.5 day moderated in-person education-intensive workshop, April 6-7, Tempe, AZ
    • Reception Sunday evening, April 6, Tempe, AZ
    • Guided store tour visits April 7, Tempe, AZ
  • Complimentary attendance to the 2025 NFRA Convention, October 18-21, Orlando, FL plus:
    • Group presentation at the 2025 NFRA Convention
    • Awards/recognition at the 2025 NFRA Convention
  • Additional program-exclusive benefits

Who Can Apply

  • Young professional at an NFRA member organization (frozen and/or refrigerated) including any manufacturer, retailer/wholesaler, sales agent, supplier organizations
  • Aged 40 and under as of January 1, 2025
  • Identified as a rising star/future leader at their company
  • Has interest in engaging with NFRA in a leadership capacity

Timeline

  • December 2024:  Submit applications to NFRA
  • January 31, 2025:  Program participants selected; invited to attend virtual meet & greet
  • February-October 2025:  Program runs; present case study projects