Leading with Purpose: FuelHBCU Cohort Kicks Off Professional Development with a Session on Leadership

Fall in Alabama means more than football and falling leaves — for our Fall 2026 FuelHBCU Innovation Internship cohort, it means growth. This week, the cohort held its first professional development session of the semester, and the theme couldn’t have been more fitting: leadership.

Leading with Knowledge, Courage, and Initiative

The session dug into what it actually means to lead — not just in title, but in practice. Students explored different leadership styles, how to lead with initiative during an internship, how to lead with knowledge, and how to lead with courage, even when it’s uncomfortable.

To bring those concepts to life, the cohort heard directly from two leaders doing the real work every day: Darryl Young of Alabama Power and Fred Sibley of Southern Company. Both shared candid, personal perspectives on how they define their own leadership style — and the kind of leaders they hope to become moving forward.

“We were able to be with Darryl and Fred, and we were so excited to hear their perspectives — how they led, how they assumed their leadership style, and the type of leadership they want to provide,” said Jasmine Williams, EDPA’s Manager of Talent Retention and Attraction. “We had engaging conversations, impactful stories. Students left encouraged. They left committed.”

A Student’s Perspective

For Jeremiah Perry, who supports EDPA’s Alabama Business Intelligence Center (AL Intel), the day hit differently than expected.

“I learned a lot about what I thought — or who I thought I was as a leader — and what I needed to do to improve as a leader,” Jeremiah shared. “This experience was very fulfilling, and I’m going to take what I learned today to become a better person and carry it on in my career.”

That’s the goal of these sessions — not just information, but moments that genuinely shift how students see themselves and their potential.

Spring 2027 Applications Are Now Open

Moments like this are exactly why the FuelHBCU Innovation Internship exists — connecting HBCU talent with Alabama employer partners for real, hands-on professional growth. And we’re building on that momentum.

Spring 2027 applications are officially open, and we’re increasing next cohort’s stipend to $3,500.

If you’re an HBCU student ready to gain real-world experience with leading Alabama companies, or an employer ready to bring in talent like Jeremiah, now’s the time.

Applications close October 23.