How SMU’s Women in Leadership Program Changed the Way Jami Jenner Leads

"Every leader, regardless of experience, industry, or title, goes through similar struggles."

That realization, more than anything else, is what stayed with Jami Jenner after completing SMU's Women in Leadership program. As Manager of Document Control at loanDepot, Jenner came into the program already leading a team, but she didn't expect how quickly the material would connect to challenges she was facing in real time.

"Many of the modules could be tied into real situations that I was currently dealing with," she said.

One module in particular changed how she runs her team day to day: the DISC assessment, a behavioral model that categorizes personality and communication styles into four traits, Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. For Jenner, it wasn't just a personality framework; it gave her a new perspective on how she communicates.

Her results showed a high score in the Dominance range, generally associated with a direct, results-oriented, and fast-paced approach. As the only team member with a "high D" score, she recognized that her natural communication style could sometimes come across as more forceful than she intended. That awareness helped her think more intentionally about how she communicates and how she builds trust within her team.

"Owning my side of dynamics and recognizing that clear communication isn't just about what I say, but how I say it, and how others receive it," she said, was the biggest shift in how she leads.

She didn't keep the insight to herself. Jenner brought the DISC assessment back to her own team, had everyone take it, and led a session unpacking the results together, walking through how each person's dominant traits shape the way they communicate, collaborate, and work under pressure. From there, she made a deliberate choice: instead of leading only with output and production, the way she says most leaders default to, she led with vulnerability. She shared her own leadership journey openly, including what she was working through and how she was adapting her own style.

"That opened the door for them to be vulnerable, share concerns, and meet me halfway," she said.

The program's biggest surprise wasn't a specific tool or framework. It was the reassurance that come with realizing her struggles weren't unique to her. "It was surprising, or comforting, knowing that every leader, regardless of experience, industry, or title, goes through similar struggles," Jenner said.

Asked how she'd describe the experience to a colleague considering the program, her answer was direct: "Very eye-opening and practical. It gives you deep and actionable insights into how your leadership style shapes the culture and trust within your team."

Interested in bringing this experience to your organization's leaders? Learn more about SMU's Women in Leadership program for corporate partners at https://wil.smu.edu/smu-women-in-leadership

Jenner's experience reflects her individual professional circumstances and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of specific leadership, team, or career outcomes for other participants.

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