The application process for this year is now closed. For more information please contact Lynn Monaghan ([email protected]).

Program Overview

Now in its ninth year, the Academy is designed to help develop leadership skills of managers in the aging-services field. Participants actively explore best practices of leaders, analyze their own leadership, learning and problem solving styles and experience the synergies that result from high performing teams. In order to maximize learning opportunities, space is limited to a maximum of 18 participants.

Click here to download brochure

Overall Program Goals

• Understand personal leadership effectiveness
• Build competency in leadership skills
• Add value to the sponsoring organization

Who Should Attend
Those sponsored for the program must be mid-level managers and above at a LeadingAge Massachusetts provider member organization with the potential and desire to make an impact on their organization. At least three years experience managing teams and/or projects is required.

Program Structure
This eight month program requires your commitment as an interactive participant in all sessions, plus preparation required for each session. Meetings are approximately every four weeks from October 2019 to May 2020.

Work required in-between sessions is estimated to be 4-6 hours per month. As these programs build on one another, missing a session can impact your learning. Please prioritize your attendance to get the most value.

Online Application Process
You will be asked to answer the following three questions in the online application form:

• What do you hope to gain from participating in this program?
• What are your career goals?
• What is a challenging leadership situation you have encountered and how have you grown from it?

You will be asked to upload the following documents:

• A letter of support from your manager/organization
• Memo of Understanding (click here to download), which must be signed by the applicant and his/her manager
• A current resume

Applications are due by Friday, August 16th

Click here to apply

Tuition is $1,200 per participant. Tuition includes all class fees, meals, handouts and a journal.

Dean of the Academy
Jodi Ecker Detjen
Serving as our Dean of the Academy for the ninth year, Jodi has been a professor of management at Suffolk University since 1999. Jodi teaches management at the MBA, Undergraduate and Corporate Education levels both online, in the classroom and internationally. Jodi writes about the skills required and organizational aspects related to living an integrated life. Jodi is the Co-Author of The Orange Line: A Woman’s Guide to Integrating Career, Family and Life. She is co-founder of a boutique consulting firm, Orange Grove Consulting, focused on developing leaders, building the skills of women to become leaders, and helping organizations to transform their approach to work and talent to foster standout performance. Prior to teaching and independent consulting, Jodi was as an international management consultant based in London, England. Jodi received her MA in International Development Policy focusing on organizational development from Duke University and her BSc from Virginia Tech in Management Science.

Program Schedule

Opening Session
October 17, 2019 – 12:00pm-7:00pm
This opening session will be an opportunity to meet the cohort and mentors and learn more about the journey ahead. This day will also include two important LeadingAge MA events:

LeadingAge MA Town Hall Forum and Annual Meeting

The LeadingAge Massachusetts Town Hall Conversation is your opportunity to provide input to LeadingAge about ways national public policy is affecting you, the older adults you serve, and how policy could be changed for the better. Then join LeadingAge Massachusetts members to help celebrate the successes of the members during the past year, to acknowledge LeadingAge Massachusetts’ achievements, and to prepare for the year ahead.

Goal Setting and Strength Finders
November 14, 2019 – 9:30am-4:30pm
Develop your career vision and goals for the program. Learn how to align your goals with your organization. Examine how input from others and a 360 degree evaluation can help you achieve your goals.

Navigating Conflict
December 10, 2019 – 9:30am-4:30pm
In this highly interactive workshop, participants will identify regular systems for communication that facilitate difficult conversations happening early as emergent issues and are more easily and mutually completed. Participants will explore barriers to open exchange and ways to mitigate them.
Guest Speaker: Margie Gozdiff, Edgework Consulting

Mid-Program Check-In
January 2020
Scheduled 60 Minute Phone Meeting
Cohorts will check on their progress and receive coaching on current issues. Format for this session will be a conference call.

Team Essentials
February 13, 2020 – 9:30am-4:30pm
Utilize the dynamic Team Ready Model for an accessible and applicable framework to understand team roles and performance. Learn how to lead a positive and productive team process and help the team to communicate and solve problems.
Guest Speaker: Lou Bergholz, Founder, Edgework Consulting

Strategic Thinking
March 26, 2020 – 9:30am-4:30pm
This session will help participants shift from a focus on operational details to making a connection with the big picture. Cohort members will learn specific techniques that managers can employ to shift their perspectives and build their personal strategic network.

Live Case Study and Debrief
April 16, 2020 – 9:30am-4:30pm
Use the skills and tools learned in The Academy to work on a live case study. Cohort will be split in teams, analyze the problem, develop a solution and present results to senior leadership of the organization.

Moving Forward
May 21, 2020 – 9:30am-2:30pm
Reflect on what you learned across the year. Refine your goals and plans to further integrate your skills and increase your impact. Work with cohort and the Dean to identify potential challenges and opportunities moving forward. Celebrate!

LeadingAge Massachusetts Annual Conference
Expand your thinking and your network at the LeadingAge Massachusetts Annual Conference attended by top leaders in the aging services field. Meet up with fellow Leadership Academy Alumni!

Please note: Locations are “to be determined” and will be selected based on the make up of the cohort.