Foundations of Effective Leadership micro-credential

Foundations of Effective Leadership

Lead with Clarity. Manage with Confidence.

Where leadership capability begins—and impact grows.

Stepping into a leadership role is both exciting and challenging. The Foundations of Effective Leadership program is designed to support new leaders as they transition from individual contributors to people leaders, equipping them with the skills, confidence, and mindset needed to succeed. 

The Foundations of Effective Leadership Program combines applied leadership practice with core business fundamentals, including enhanced leadership, team-building and communication skills, improved decision-making, and strategic thinking expertise for new leaders. Participants will explore the foundations of effective leadership as well as the fundamentals of leading organizations through interactive workshops, peer learning, and real-world application.

This is where leadership capability begins - and where long-term leadership growth is launched.

Structure:

Completion of 2 distinct courses: Business Essentials and Leadership Essentials, as well as an integrated workplace assessment.

Delivery:

Blended

Investment:

  • Leadership Essentials: $3,495
  • Business Essentials: $3,495
  • Foundations Micro-Credential Fee: $250 

Total Investment: $7,240 


Who it's for

  • Newly appointed managers and frontline leaders, with 1 – 5 years leadership experience
  • High-potential professionals preparing for their first leadership role
  • Technical experts transitioning into team leadership

Why this program

  • Designed specifically for new leaders
  • Structured as a coherent leadership progression pathway
  • Built to integrate people leadership and business thinking
  • Directly aligned with organizational impact 

Program format

  • Cohort-based learning experience
  • Hybrid delivery, combining in-person modules and virtual learning experiences
  • Highly interactive and application-focused
  • Total commitment: ~60 hours across both programs

Program structure

Participants complete two integrated programs plus a final applied assessment: 

 

Young leaders smiling

Business Essentials
Fall 2026

(30 hours | 2.5 months)

  • Strategic thinking & execution
  • Innovation & value creation
  • Financial literacy
  • Operational excellence
  • Performance metrics & value management
  • Effective decision-making
  • Online synchronous and asynchronous sessions
  • 3-day in-person module
  • Applied case study & presentation 
  • Online Launch [webinar]: October 26, 1 – 2pm
  • Online Masterclass: November 9, 1 – 3pm
  • In-person Module: November 30 – December 2, 8:00 – 4:30
  • Capstone presentations: January 11, 8:30 – 2:00
A young leader smiling

Leadership Essentials
Spring 2027

(30 hours | 2.5 months)

Key themes: 

  • Purpose & values-based leadership
  • Core leadership practices 
  • Building high-performing teams
  • Emotionally intelligent leadership
  • Employee engagement & motivation
  • Leading in complex environments
  • Online synchronous and asynchronous sessions
  • EQi assessment
  • 3-day in-person module
  • Leadership Challenge project & presentation
  • Online Launch [webinar]: March 30, 1 – 2pm
  • Online Masterclass: April 6, 1 – 3pm
  • In-person Module: April 27 – 29, 8:00 – 4:30
  • Capstone presentations: May 25, 8:30 – 2:00
A young female leader looking at a computer screen

Applied Impact Assessment
(Opens May 31, 2027)

A workplace‑anchored integrative assessment demonstrating the application of leadership and business fundamentals.

Demonstration of application of core leadership capabilities and business fundamentals to a real-world organizational challenge, showing sound judgment, self-awareness, and impact-oriented decision-making.

Completion of a case study analysis of an upcoming organizational challenge, opportunity, or decision that requires both leadership effectiveness and business acumen, or a project or initiative that has already occurred, deriving lessons learned and suggestions for future initiatives.

Projects must address: 

  • Business context
  • Leadership analysis
  • Integrated decision and action plan
  • Outcomes and measures

Deliverables include either a video presentation, a written brief, or a slide presentation.

 


Learning outcomes

By the end of the program, participants will be able to: 

  • Lead with clarity, confidence, and sound judgment
  • Translate strategy into team-level execution
  • Balance people, performance, and operational priorities
  • Use financial and performance data to inform decisions
  • Navigate complexity and competing stakeholder demands
  • Drive accountability, engagement, and measurable impact