• Functional and cross-functional team leaders focused on fostering collaboration, building trust and driving team performance through clear and purposeful communication
• Emerging leaders looking to establish their leadership presence, develop confidence and refine their communication styles to engage stakeholders and accelerate career growth
• Managers preparing for senior leadership roles who aspire to develop the confidence and skills required to lead multifaceted teams and align organizational goals
• C-suite executives and senior leaders seeking to enhance their ability to communicate with influence, inspire confidence and lead effectively in high-stakes situations
• Consultants and advisors supporting leadership development and organizational transformation, looking to deliver actionable strategies for enhancing engagement and influence

• Communicate with self-awareness, executive presence, empathy and flexibility in communication style
• Evaluate executive presence and communication flexibility using self-assessment and feedback
• Analyze the levers that can be used to build executive presence and adapt communication style across various situations
• Develop a robust toolkit for effectively communicating in critical moments that can make or break a reputation as a rising leader, including situations such as delivering difficult feedback, driving change or building the culture for a high-performing team
• Apply communication strategies to improve the clarity and impact of communication

Module 1: Foundations of Transformative Leadership Communication

• Develop a communication strategy rooted in self-awareness, emotional intelligence and adaptability to effectively engage and inspire multifaceted teams
• Learn the fundamentals of communication strategy and understand why communication is complicated and prone to breakdown
• Understand the role of emotional intelligence (EQ), how to build it and the importance of flexing leadership and communication styles through self-monitoring
• Explore the need for true self-awareness and methods to develop it effectively

Module 2: Building Executive Presence (Part One)

• Strengthen leadership impact by cultivating credibility, clarity and confidence as the core components of executive presence
• Recognize why executive presence may feel elusive, how it’s commonly misunderstood and the role it plays in strong, effective leadership
• Analyze the key components of executive presence, including credibility, ease and ego, and the specific role of credibility in establishing executive presence

Module 3: Building Executive Presence (Part Two)

• Identify the roles of ease and ego in establishing executive presence
• Refine leadership style by practicing techniques to project authenticity, authority and ease in high-stakes situations

Module 4: Fostering Engaged, High-Performing Teams

• Build psychological safety for high team performance (managing energy), learn the drivers of employee engagement and coach for higher performance
• Recognize the importance of understanding the audience as core to strong communication
• Enhance communication skills by actively listening and effectively communicating across cultures

Module 5: Mastering Difficult Feedback Conversations

• Deliver impactful feedback with confidence, empathy and structure to encourage dialogue and drive performance improvement
• Embrace discomfort and anticipate reactions to better navigate challenging conversations
• Leverage the Situation-Behavior-Impact (SBI) framework to facilitate clear, constructive communication
• Foster dialogue to create a more open and productive communication environment

Module 6: Launching and Leading through Change

• Lead transformational initiatives by crafting compelling narratives and designing strategies for effective collaboration
• Navigate the change curve effectively and manage change with respect and empathy
• Learn the art and science of persuasion and manage resistors to ensure smooth transitions and successful outcomes

Shana Carroll - Academic Director; Clinical Associate Professor of Management Communications; Associate Chair of the Management & Organizations Department; Co-Director of the Leadership Development and Communications Program (LDEV)

Brooke Vuckovic - Clinical Professor of Management & Organizations

What is the learning experience?

Your learning experience will consist of frameworks delivered via video lectures, live webinars, real world examples and case studies, application of frameworks through weekly activities, customized assignments and quizzes, discussion boards, and faculty engagement.

What is the program format?

The program consists of 6 modules delivered over 7 weeks online. Learners can expect to dedicate 4-6 hours per week to watch videos, complete assignments and participate in discussions. Modules are opened at the beginning of each week and have quizzes/assessments at the module’s conclusion. Learners may choose to engage with the program module all in one sitting or in smaller segments of time throughout the week. While the modules do not close, access to assignments is closed each week.

Could a learner choose to opt out of some topics?

No. This is an online program in which a topic module is introduced each week and the learner is expected to watch the video lectures, participate in the live webinars, complete the exercises/activities and take the mastery quiz at the end of each week to progress to the subsequent week’s topic.

Are any of the sessions delivered in real time (live)?

There will be live webinars, led by faculty and/or subject matter experts, delivered during the course of the program via a video conferencing platform. These sessions provide learners an opportunity to listen and ask questions, and while they are valuable in enhancing the overall experience, attendance is not mandatory. All live sessions are recorded for later viewing.

What methods will be used for grading and evaluations?

Kellogg program leaders will review assignments, discussions and exercises to determine participants’ understanding of the material.

How much time is allocated to complete assignments?

The due date for submitting assignments is typically within 7 days of the module opening, but can be as long as 14 days, depending on the scope of the assignment. However, learners may request deadline extensions to accommodate for business and personal conflicts that may arise during the program timeframe. Reach out to the support team to discuss any challenges you may have in completing assignments.

Can participation in this program be counted as credit toward a degree, either at Kellogg, Northwestern University or another academic institution?

No. Executive Education offers only non-degree programs and each participant receives a certificate of completion at the end of the program. This certificate does not count as credit toward a degree. In addition, at this time, our online programs do not count as credit toward a Kellogg Executive Scholar Certificate.

Does the program offer community engagement for learners?

Yes, participants can create a profile, connect and collaborate with peers, and interact with academic/industry experts such as program leaders and teaching assistants. Live sessions with subject matter experts will be held during the program and all participants are welcome to join in with questions or to discuss assignments.

What are the requirements for accessing the program?

Participants will need the following to access the program:

• Valid email address
• Computing device connected to the internet (Mac/PC/laptop, tablet or smartphone)
• The latest version of your preferred browser to access our learning platform (Chrome and Firefox are preferred for accessing Canvas)
• Microsoft Office and PDF viewer to access content such as documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts
• Additional software and resources may be required for certain programs – this will be communicated upon registration and/or at the beginning of the program

PLEASE NOTE: Google, Vimeo and YouTube may be utilized in the program delivery

Does the program offer a certificate?

Yes. Participants will receive a digital certificate of completion from Kellogg following a successful conclusion to the program. Since this program is graded as a pass or fail, participants must receive an 80% to pass and obtain the certificate. This digital certificate can be shared with colleagues and posted on LinkedIn. (PLEASE NOTE: We do not provide reports of assessments, or “transcripts,” since this is a non-degree program.)

Who is Emeritus and what is their relationship with Kellogg Executive Education?

Kellogg Executive Education is partnering with Emeritus Institute of Management, an online education provider, to develop and deliver this program. By working with Emeritus, we are able to provide broader access to Executive Education, beyond our on-campus offerings, in a collaborative and engaging format that is consistent with Kellogg’s standard of quality.

Additional questions?

Please contact us by calling 847-467-6018 or email us at execedonline@kellogg.northwestern.edu.