Emerging Leadership Academy
The Emerging Leadership Academy (ELA) is a professional development program designed for emerging municipal leaders. Through a series of focused, interactive virtual workshops, participants build the mindset and practical tools needed to lead with clarity, build trust, and drive results in complex public-sector environments.
Each workshop is virtual via Zoom, runs 3 hours, and includes a pre-assessment completed before class. The approach is practical and interactive, focused on the real situations professionals face every day.
The program consists of six core workshops and culminates in a Capstone Project where participants apply everything they have learned to a real-world leadership scenario.
Academy Roadmap
Workshop 1: Fundamentals of Leadership +
Strong leadership is essential for creating 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 understanding of the difference between managing tasks and leading people
- Recognize 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
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.
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.
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.
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: Leadership in Action +
Participants apply leadership, communication, project management, conflict resolution, presentation, and change leadership skills to a real-world organizational scenario.
