• July 1, 2026 | 3:35 PM - 4:30 PM
• PCC,105AB

Empowering Early Professionals: Building Leadership Capacity in Athletic Training

Despite the growing demands on athletic trainers to be effective leaders, the literature highlights a gap in leadership development among early professionals. Many face barriers such as fear, lack of mentorship, and low leadership self-efficacy. This session addresses these gaps by exploring key findings from a literature review that demonstrates the importance of early leadership engagement, transformational leadership theory, and mentorship. Participants will learn actionable strategies to enhance leadership development and contribute to the advancement of the profession.

Learning Objectives - Identify common barriers early professionals face when pursuing leadership roles in athletic training.
- Differentiate between transformational and transactional leadership styles and their effects on professional satisfaction and team dynamics.
- Develop strategies to incorporate mentorship and leadership skill-building within early professional development and academic programs.

Keywords: Mentorship, Transformational Leadership, Professional Growth