EMERGING LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

Our online professional development program is designed to foster the growth of emerging municipal leaders

Emerging Leadership Academy

CALTAP's Emerging Leadership Academy (ELA) is a professional development program designed to foster emerging municipal leaders. Through a series of focused, interactive virtual workshops, participants will build the mindset and practical tools needed to lead with clarity, build trust, and drive results in complex public-sector environments.

Each Academy workshop is conducted live via Zoom and includes a participant workbook to keep learned skills close-at-hand. A pre- and post-assessment will help you gauge your achievements, and all graduates earn a leadership certificate and digital badge.

The Emerging Leadership Academy is practical and interactive, focusing on the real situations professionals face every day. The program consists of six 3-hour workshops and a seventh capstone project that allows participants to apply everything they've learned to a real-world leadership scenario.

The ELA Roadmap

Workshop 1: Fundamentals of Leadership +

Strong leadership is the foundation of high-performing teams and thriving organizations. This workshop introduces participants to the fundamentals of leadership, equipping them with the mindset and tools to influence with clarity, build trust, and take action that inspires others.

You’ll walk away with:

  • A clear sense of the difference between managing tasks and leading people
  • Recognition of the core qualities of effective leaders
  • Tools for earning trust with coworkers and customers
  • Strategies for motivating teams and holding each other accountable

Workshop 2: Fundamentals of Effective Communication +

Learn to write clear, professional emails, speak up with confidence in meetings, and listen effectively to teammates, supervisors, and customers. Explore simple frameworks for giving feedback that is both direct and respectful to build clarity, trust, and accountability at work.

You’ll walk away with:

  • How to write clear, professional emails
  • Tips for speaking up in meetings, briefings, and public forums with confidence
  • Ways to listen better to teammates, supervisors, and customers
  • Simple frameworks for giving feedback that is direct but respectful

Workshop 3: Fundamentals of Project Management +

From launching new initiatives to improving day-to-day operations, successful projects require planning, coordination, and follow-through. This session introduces the basics of project management in a straightforward, practical, and easy-to-apply way.

You’ll walk away with:

  • Ability to clarify goals and scope to ensure alignment
  • Tools for setting priorities and meeting deadlines
  • Clarity on roles and responsibilities within a team project
  • Tips for updating leaders, stakeholders, and colleagues in a way they’ll understand

Workshop 4: Fundamentals of Conflict +

From navigating differing opinions to managing competing priorities, conflict is a natural part of working with others. When handled effectively, it can lead to better decisions, stronger relationships, and improved team performance. This session introduces the fundamentals of conflict in a practical, approachable, and immediately applicable way.

You’ll walk away with:

  • Clarity on what causes conflict and how to recognize it early
  • Strategies to address issues directly while maintaining professionalism
  • A simple framework for having productive, solution-focused conversations
  • Tools to manage emotions and stay composed under pressure

Workshop 5: Fundamentals of Professional Presentations +

From leading team updates to presenting project outcomes, the ability to communicate clearly and confidently is a critical leadership skill. Strong presentations are not only about what you say but also about how you structure your message, engage your audience, and deliver it. This session introduces the fundamentals of professional presentations in a practical, structured, and easy-to-apply way.

You’ll walk away with:

  • Ability to structure your message so it is clear, concise, and easy to follow
  • Strategies to communicate key points with confidence and presence
  • Tools to engage your audience and keep their attention
  • Techniques to manage nerves and stay composed before and during presentations

Workshop 6: Fundamentals of Leading Through Challenging Change +

From shifting priorities to evolving community needs, change is a constant in municipal organizations. Leading through change requires more than processes—it demands clarity, communication, and the ability to stay steady under pressure. This session introduces the fundamentals of leading through challenging change in a practical, structured, and immediately applicable way for real-world environments.

You’ll walk away with:

  • Ability to recognize and manage personal and team responses to change
  • Strategies to stay composed, focused, and clear in uncertain situations
  • Tools to communicate effectively even when information is incomplete
  • Techniques to support, influence, and guide others through transition

Capstone Project: Operational Breakdown, Organizational Change +

In this final 3-hour segment, participants work in teams to present solutions to a real-world organizational scenario, applying the leadership, communication, project management, conflict resolution, presentation, and change leadership skills learned in Workshops 1–6.

The Instructor

Kelly Oberle is a mental performance expert, leadership specialist, and founder of Access Human Potential.

With a BS in Organizational Studies and Master’s in Leadership, Kelly equips individuals with the skills to strengthen resilience, enhance emotional IQ, and perform at their highest potential.

Kelly Oberle

ELA Certification

Successful graduates receive both a Certificate of Completion and CSULB Digital Badge*, recognizing their skills development and program completion.

Requirements:

  • Attend all 7 workshops
  • Complete pre/post-assessments
  • Participate in workshop activities
  • Complete workbook assignments
  • Submit course evaluations

*Add to your digital resume, email signature, or LinkedIn account

Need More Help?

California LTAP Center

Phone: (562) 985-2872

admin@caltap.org