This program is designed for those aspiring to the presidency in the next 1-3 years, including professionals who may not think they’re currently a candidate for the role. While all aspiring candidates can benefit from this training, it will especially benefit those who are taking the non-traditional path, including:

• VPs leading administrative functions
• Deans who wish to move directly into the role of President, including Academic Deans, Deans in Student Affairs, Administrative Affairs, and Development
• Board Chairs pursuing the presidency
• Leaders in the government and non-profit sector

This program is geared towards leaders who understand that the awareness and alignment of one’s values, strengths, and sense of purpose is foundational to effective and fulfilling leadership, particularly for the demanding and fluid role of the president. 

Day 1: Introductions, Purposes, and Principles
In this introductory hour, you will get to know one another and share key highlights about your leadership journey. We will discuss the program’s outcomes and underlying principles and introduce you to the roadmap you will be designing and drafting throughout the program.

Day 1: The Changing Presidency in Higher Education
We will explore how the role of the president is changing, and the implications this has on different pathways to the presidency. We will discuss how the changing presidency opens opportunities for non-traditional candidates and highlights gaps that traditional candidates need to address.

Day 1: The Future Skillset for the Changing Presidency
Understanding the changing role of the president, how do you lead when there is no map? When the territory is unknown? What different skills are needed? Drawing on extensive research and conversations with leaders across higher ed, we’ll share five of the less obvious skills and qualities future leaders, particularly presidents, will need to thrive.

Day 1: Frameworks for Your Roadmap
Drawing on the future skills for the changing role of the president, you will have the opportunity to reflect on motivations for your presidential aspirations, your current experience and strengths, and how this shapes your own individual roadmap.

Day 1: Presidential Stories: The Differing Pathways to the Presidency
In this session, you will have an up-close experience of hearing the journeys that different presidents have taken on their pathways to the presidency. Rather than share the “how to” of the presidency, this is an opportunity for you to listen to and reflect on the different avenues.

Day 1: Presidential Q&A
This is your chance to ask the experts. In small groups, you’ll meet with a few members of our faculty panel to ask your specific and burning questions, such as: How do you assess whether the role or institution is a good fit? How do you vet opportunities? What’s the biggest mistake our experts have made? What’s their most important advice to someone aspiring to the role?

Day 1: The Lay of the Presidential Land
During this hour, you will have the opportunity to rotate among different discussion tables that address some of the key landmarks that can make or break a presidency.

Day 1: Sharing Your Roadmap with Peers and Presidents
You will have the opportunity to work together with a group of peers and presidents to explore ways to leverage your experience, work towards bolstering your position for a presidency, address gaps, and explore a potential good institutional “fit.” You will begin to get feedback on your 1-3-year plan for reaching the presidency or a similar role that aligns with your life and career plans.

Day 1: Networking Reception
This informal reception is your chance to decompress, have some refreshments on us, and expand your network of connections. Our programs are intentionally designed for smaller groups, so this is a great time to catch-up with attendees and speakers whom you may not have connected with yet.

Day 2: How Higher Ed Leaders and Presidents Derail
Drawing on research published by Academic Impressions and the highlights from the Presidential Q&A, our facilitators will share some of the key ways in which higher ed leaders derail and some of the strategies for mitigating them. We will utilize national research to explore some of the factors that have led to presidents leaving involuntarily.

Day 2: Exploring an Institutional Fit and Story
In this interactive session, we’ll talk through the different demands of the presidential search process, including how to discern a good institutional fit, considerations for your family, and whether to engage a search firm. We will also explore important factors for crafting your narrative about your fit for the presidency at an institution.

Day 2: A Deep Dive into Your Roadmap
We will explore different strategies and considerations to address the strengths and gaps in your pathway to the presidency, including building a network of trusted advisors, ensuring you are getting honest feedback about your leadership, and understanding how coaching may support your leadership development.

Day 2: Transitioning Well
More important than landing the role is being successful in the role. While you may still be several years away from being appointed to the role, it’s never too early to consider the steps towards the presidency and how you can effectively plan for your transition. Whether you are an internal or external candidate, we’ll share the most important areas you need to pay attention to, why 100-day plans don’t work, how you can accelerate your learning curve, how to effectively lead change, and how to manage the expectations of the board, the campus community, and state.

Day 2: Refining Your Roadmap and Conference Close
Whether you decide you want to pursue the presidency or not, this is the opportunity for you to complete mapping your leadership development plan for the next 1-3 years.