Mayor is selected for Bloomberg Harvard leadership program

Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval is currently in New York City alongside 37 other mayors from around the globe chosen for an intensive program on city leadership.

As part of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, Sandoval will receive the latest in leadership and management practices, the city said in a news release Sep. 30. As a member of the 2021-22 class, Sandoval will be taught by faculty from the Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School, as well as international experts from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ global network.

The program kicked off Sept. 26, with a three-day meeting for mayors in New York City. Each day, mayors attended classroom sessions using case studies and workshops developed at Harvard.

Learning about data tracking and resource allocation are what he will be focusing on during the program, Sandoval said by phone Sept. 30. What Sandoval takes away from the courses, he said, will be passed down to community members with the goal of improving their quality of life.

“What I’m here to do is sharpen my skills,” Sandoval said. “Being around other mayors that may have similar issues, whether homelessness or human trafficking, it’s all about listening, learning and putting together a plan.”

Two senior-level city officials nominated by each mayor will take part in virtual classes throughout the year. Pomona City Manager James Makshanoff and development services director Anita Gutierrez will be participating in the yearlong program, Sandoval said.

Sandoval’s participation in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative — including tuition, accommodations, meals and airfare — is fully funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Michael R. Bloomberg, the founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and former three-term mayor of New York City, collaborated with Harvard University leadership to create the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative in 2017.

“We created the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative because cities have always been on the frontlines of the biggest challenges we face — and it’s critical that mayors have the skills, support, and resources they need to confront them,” Bloomberg said in a news release. “Five years later, with mayors leading the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s never been more clear how important that work is.”