One CKI member has turned a passion for learning into a major leadership role. 

Before becoming a Circle K International trustee, Jetta Briggs began her journey to leadership through the Global Leadership Certificate (GLC). In fact, the chance to strengthen her leadership foundation has continued to influence her service at the club, district and international levels. 

“I was really interested in developing my leadership skills at that time,” says Briggs. “When I heard about GLC, I thought, ‘That sounds really interesting.'” 

 After completing the courses, Briggs was inspired to serve as her CKI club’s president and Montana District governor — and now as a 2026-27 international trustee. 

Supporting personal growth 

One GLC lesson in particular has stayed with Briggs: active listening.  

“With my personality, I always try to jump in and join the conversation,” Briggs says. “But I have learned how to be thoughtful, to stop and listen.” 

That shift helped her become a stronger communicator, whether she was working with fellow club officers, leading service projects or collaborating with district leaders. 

GLC also helped her understand that effective leadership doesn’t come in just one style. Lessons on strategic and detail-oriented leaders showed her that successful teams need both big-picture thinkers and people who excel at execution. 

“It’s important to have both approaches because they can complement each other,” Briggs says. 

Another surprise for Briggs was a lesson on voting and civic engagement. 

“It’s not something that you would necessarily think about when you’re talking about leadership skills,” Briggs says. “But it is something that’s really integral to being an active member in your community.” 

Collaborative and accessible learning 

For Briggs, one of the most valuable parts of GLC is the opportunity to discuss the courses’ contents with others. GLC allows course completion in group settings — and Briggs encourages CKI members to complete courses alongside fellow club officers or members. The discussions can strengthen teamwork and generate new ideas. They also help participants apply leadership concepts directly to service projects, fundraising and membership development. 

“Those conversations help bring lessons to life,” Briggs says, “and allow people to hear new perspectives and consider how the lessons apply to their own clubs and communities.” 

Briggs also believes the program’s flexibility makes it accessible to anyone. Even while balancing classes, extracurricular activities or leadership responsibilities, participants move through the courses at their own pace. 

“I like that your progress isn’t stopped if you need to take a break,” Briggs says. “It’s broken down in a way where there are defined stopping points.” 

For Briggs, GLC’s influence has extended well beyond Kiwanis family leadership roles. In college and professional settings, she continues to use active listening, collaboration and understanding different leadership styles. 

“Absolutely go through it” 

While she found value in the program as an experienced leader, Briggs believes it may be even more impactful for members who are just getting started. 

“If you haven’t had much or any leadership training before,” she says, “GLC provides a really great framework and foundation for some very important skills.” 

Her advice for anyone considering the program: “Absolutely go through it.”