Executive Women’s Leadership Program | The Center for Excellence in Public Leadership (CEPL)

Alumni Feedback

Verneka Roberts

Program Officer, Office of Design & Construction, General Services Administration

As an aspiring leader over the years, I was elated that the program reignited and moved me into action on leadership strategies, some which I had learned previously and put on the shelf. In addition, I gained new insights, like emotional intelligence, which will enable me to continue to develop as a leader and reach the Vision I am so committed to.

Laurence Telson

Senior Operations Specialist, Gender and Diversity Division, Inter-American Development Bank

The program gave me the framework to explore what I really wanted in my life and who I am as a leader. I now see that I am an agent of myself.

Carey Kluttz

Head of Country Programs, Open Contracting Partnership

The content and faculty were great... I didn't expect to enjoy all the sessions, but was pleasantly surprised, and I also really enjoyed getting to know all the fantastic women in the program.

Almena Ryans

Execution Lead, Other Transaction Agreements, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command

I came away from the Executive Women's Leadership Program enlightened -- from both a professional standpoint and a personal standpoint. I am so excited about moving forward.

Kate Hudson

Having a safe and confidential space to talk about the challenges and pressures I have faced as a woman leader meant the world to me and allowed me to freely share my experiences and facilitated growth.

Nicole S. Mason, Esq.

EEO/Diversity Professional
I highly recommend this program to aspiring, emerging and current women leaders who are intentional about learning what their purpose is and those who are already living in purpose. This program IS a game changer personally and professionally. I am even more empowered by this experience!!

Katherine Manning

A great mix of inspiration and practical advice for women leaders.

Charlie Palumbo

Belonging. I feel like I have arrived and found a tribe that just gets me without judgment or expectation. They are open to me as who I am and to support me in my vision and making it happen.

Executive Women’s Leadership Program

Strategies for Accelerating Impact, Influence and Advancement

Photo of Leslie Grossman, Faculty Director, Executive Women's Leadership Program at GW-CEPL speaking at a podium

While gender diversity is recognized as a hallmark of the most successful organizations, studies - including “Women Rising: the Unseen Barriers” reported in HBR* - reveal that gender bias continues to exist in most organizations. This program will provide participants with transformational communication skills, executive presence, and powerful leadership strategies while transforming mindset and behaviors that may hold women back from both contributing fully and moving up in the organization.

Propel your career forward with this highly interactive 3-day program presented by The George Washington University Center for Excellence in Public Leadership. Designed for women leaders in the private and public sectors who aspire to positions of greater influence and impact or have been identified as high-potential in their organizations, this breakthrough program will provide new strategies and tactics for you to take the lead and succeed at higher levels.

Whatever the organizational climate, key actions and behaviors learned in this program will create better leaders:

Leading with vision and purpose
Building trusted relationships and influential networks
Language, voice, and leadership presence
Powerful conversations to build trust and ensure accountability and engagement
Negotiate with skill and ease
The mindfulness of confidence
The courage to lead, speak up and be heard

Participants will have the opportunity to network and build community with guest speakers and participating women leaders throughout the three days.

Guest Speakers:

Katharine Manning, Founder, Blackbird, Author, The Empathetic Workplace
Jan Nolte, High-Performance Speaking Coach
Jessica Robinson, Founder, PurePoint International, Cybersecurity Expert & Entrepreneur
Joy Michiko Sakurai, Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State
Karen M. Schaefer, Former Operations Officer, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency
Pernille Spiers-Lopez, Former CEO-North America, IKEA

The program is led by Leslie Grossman, Senior Fellow and Executive Coach at GWU Center for Excellence in Public Leadership, and founder of the Women’s Leadership Exchange. She is the author of "LINK OUT: How to Turn Your Network into a Chain of Lasting Connections".

We offer the option to continue the learnings of the 3-day program with a monthly ‘virtual’ Mastermind Group accessed online for 6 months following completion of the EWLP program.

Members share insights, ideas and get support for newly learned best practices and address challenges in the workplace and in their career. Facilitated by executive coach Leslie Grossman, members can set goals, request accountability partners and continue to move forward expanding their leadership abilities and goals.

Target Audience:

Executives and functional managers who aspire to positions of greater influence and authority in their organizations
Those identified as high-potential talent by their organizations
Mid and senior-level managers who lead teams or have direct reports
Entrepreneurs, business owners, and family business professionals preparing for a leadership role
Leaders at non-profits

*Harvard Business Review, September 2013, Hermina Ibarra, Robin Ely, and Deborah Kolb

View Sample Agendas

Online Program

Sample Agenda

Day 1: Vision, & Leadership Presence
Day 2: Courage, Confidence & Communication
Day 3: Relationship Building & Influence

Followed by optional 90 minute sessions during following weeks with guest speakers on:

Negotiation
Speak Up and Step into Your Power
Emotional Intelligence

Option to participate in follow-up monthly Mastermind series (1-1/2 hour online) for 5 weeks at additional fee.

In-Person Program

Sample Agenda

Day 1: Vision, & Leadership Presence
Day 2: Courage, Confidence & Communication
Day 3: Relationship Building & Influence

Guest Speakers included in the program during each day.

In-person networking sessions conclude each day’s sessions from 5 – 6:30 pm.

Option to participate in follow-up monthly Mastermind series (1-1/2 hour online) for 5 weeks at additional fee.