Executive Women’s Leadership Program

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.

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. 

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

1. Leading with vision and purpose
2. Building trusted relationships and influential networks
3. Language, voice, and leadership presence
4. Powerful conversations to build trust and ensure accountability and engagement
5. Negotiate with skill and ease
6. The mindfulness of confidence
7. 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 have included:

• Ava J. Abramowitz, Professor, GWU Law School, Negotiation
• Barbara DeRosa-Joynt, Division Chief for Biodiversity, Office of Conservation and Water, U.S. Department of State
• Michelle T. Ferebee, Deputy Director for Strategy in Aeronautics Research, NASA Langley Research Center
• Hayley Foster, Speaker Coach & Short Talk Expert
• Katharine Manning, President and Founder of Blackbird DC;  Attorney with expertise in trauma & victimization
• Jan Nolte - Executive communication & voice coach
• Wanda Peters, Deputy Director for Planning & Business Management, Aerospace Engineer, NASA, Goddard
• Judy Schramm, President of ProResource
• Grace Speights, Chair, Board of Trustees, The George Washington University; Leader, Labor Law Employment Practice, Morgan, Lewis Bockius
• LindaSwindling, JD, CSP - Negotiation speaker and author
• Carrie Valiant, Partner, Board of Directors, Epstein Becker Green Law Co-chair, Healthcare Fraud Practice

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".

• 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