L&D Leadership Skills
Inclusive Leaders Academy
The Inclusive Leaders Academy (ILA) is a 13-week, hybrid leadership development course offered without cost to people and program managers at Georgia Tech. The program comprises of carefully curated content spanning multiple disciplines. Participants progress through the curriculum with a cohort of like-minded leaders, with whom they engage in interactive workshops and synthesize their learning.
We provide innovative professional development experiences for leaders who proactively want to build self-awareness, increase their personal power, and global leadership capacity.
It is our intention to nurture and cultivate a growth mindset and build skill sets to aid in the successful management of other people. While we provide a set of curriculum guides to aid you in jump-starting your initial circle meetings, this is a self-directed learning opportunity. As such, participants have the freedom to create their own path for the experience, focusing on their specific learning and development needs.
Program Details
Who Should Attend
The Inclusive Leaders Academy is open to all people leaders, managers, administrators, researchers, and academic professionals at Georgia Tech. Eligibility is based on one of the following:
- holding a supervisory role in a campus unit
- leading an enterprise project
- serving in a leadership role in an Employee Resource Group, Diversity Council, Staff Council, or other approved campus network.
How You Will Benefit
There are many reasons to complete the Inclusive Leaders Academy. Some of the primary benefits you may find in your day-to-day job:
-
Improve your decision making
-
Gain insights and tools to strengthen your teams
-
Enhance the organizational climate of your unit as well as the institution
-
and more!
Program Pillars
Self Awareness
Who are you? What beliefs and habits shape your leadership?
- Acknowledge the factors that shape perspectives and decision-making.
- Develop authentic leadership habits that strengthen collaboration.
- Foster an environment where diverse perspectives enhance team success.
Social Intelligence
How do you engage and influence others?
- Strengthen relationships with direct reports, peers, and supervisors.
- Build trust, cultural awareness, empathy, and compassion.
- Develop habits that foster collaboration and belonging.
Courage
Who do you want to be as a leader? What is your call to courage?
- Embrace vulnerability and storytelling to lead with confidence.
- Navigate difficult conversations while strengthening relationships.
- Lead inclusively by fostering connection and psychological safety.
Nominations for Cohort 10 will open in Fall 2025. Please submit this form to be notified when nominations open.
How it works
- The Inclusive Leaders Academy Culture Champion Certification Program is a free, 13-week hybrid leadership development course for people and program managers at Georgia Tech.
- It features curated content from various disciplines, focusing on neuroscience and practical leadership skills.
- Participants advance through the curriculum with a cohort of peers, engaging in interactive workshops and applying their learning through reflections, discussions, and practice.
Additional
Resources
FAQs
How often is this program offered?
ILA is a cohort-based leadership development experience that is offered once a year, typically from February through May.
How do I apply to join this program?
There are two ways to be considered for the program: individuals can self-nominate or be nominated by a colleague. The nomination period takes place during the fall semester. Only staff or faculty who meet one or more of the following eligibility requirements will be considered:
- Hold a supervisory role in a campus unit
- Lead an enterprise project
- Serving in a leadership role in Staff Council, or other approved campus network
What is the program duration?
ILA is a self-paced program designed to accommodate various schedules. Participation consists of three key components:
- Synchronous Sessions: Participants must attend a set number of required sessions, with multiple date/time options available. Additional optional sessions and activities provide opportunities to deepen learning.
- Asynchronous Pre-Work: Each synchronous session is preceded by self-paced pre-work, which participants can complete at their convenience. These range from 10 minutes to 1 hour.
- Assignments: A capstone assignment, due in May, is required for program completion. Participants can work on it throughout the program, with optional coaching sessions available for support.
- Once participants confirm their enrollment, they receive an invitation to select their session schedule for the entire program. They may adjust their selections at any time.
What is the program duration?
ILA is self-paced and designed to accommodate different schedules. There are three components to participation in ILA:
- Synchronous sessions: there is a set number of required sessions that participants must attend, with various date/time options. There are also additional sessions and activities that participants may opt into to maximize their learning opportunities.
- Asynchronous pre-work: on average, one hour of pre-work precedes each synchronous session. Participants determine when and how they complete pre-work (in chunks or in one sitting).
- Assignments: there is one capstone assignment due in May that is required for program completion. Participants may work on this assignment throughout the program. Optional coaching sessions are offered to support the story-writing effort. A few smaller assignments (requiring less than one hour) are scattered throughout the program.
- Once cohort members confirm their participation (in January), they receive an invitation to select their schedule for the entire program. They may switch sessions at any time during the program.
What are the benefits of participating in the program?
Ability to enhance the organizational climate of their unit ILA’s program pillars are self-awareness, social intelligence, and courage. Throughout the program, participants gain skills and insights in those areas by progressing through a carefully curated curriculum with a cohort of like-minded leaders. Past participants have cited the cohort experience as a major program benefit, providing a rare opportunity to meet and grow alongside fellow leaders from across the Institute.
Benefits from participation in ILA that participants have applied in their day-to-day jobs include:
- Improved decision-making
- Insights and tools to strengthen their teams
- Ability to enhance the organizational climate of their unit
I missed the nomination period. Can I still apply?
Only nominations that are submitted within the nomination period and through the official ILA nomination channel will be considered. We encourage you to submit an interest form on the website to be notified when the nomination period opens for next year’s cohort.
Can remote employees participate?
Yes. Required sessions will have virtual options, and we will work with remote employees to ensure they receive programming materials.