Classes & certificates

Studies are revealing that a large percentage of adults nationwide suffer from abusive childhoods, PTSD, grief from loss and/or other traumatizing events. The ability of individuals to recover from trauma varies widely, and the impacts often carry over into the workplace; affecting performance and reactions to stress. Right now, employees are also dealing with a "quademic" — the combined effects of the pandemic, widening social inequality and injustice, the polarization of political discourse and the rise of global warming. As a result, the prevalence of workers experiencing genuine trauma is surging. This class will focus on what individual managers can do to recognize and respond to members of their team who are struggling. We will navigate through how to be compassionate without running afoul of employment laws or abandoning work standards and job descriptions. Participants will learn how to deal with worker trauma in ways that go beyond simple expressions of empathy while protecting confidentiality. Specific how-to approaches and what to avoid will be explored. Leaders themselves may need to recognize their own trauma and find ways to strengthen their resilience and find resources for support. The two class instructors are an expert in organizational well-being, and an employment law attorney. They will be your guides to navigate effectively in this important new area.

Join us for this free webinar, which previews our online Leading for Racial Equity Certificate course coming up March 13, April 10 and May 8, 2024. If this webinar piques your interest, we hope you'll register for the full three-day course. What you'll learn Individuals who value and care about equity and justice often interact with and within systems that constrain progress. In our Leading for Racial Equity certificate, learners engage in a deep exploration of strengths, barriers, and practical tools for advancing equity and justice in organizations. This free preview webinar introduces some of these concepts, laying the groundwork for the more intensive transformational work ahead for those ready to commit to influencing change. The webinar will be led by ananda mirilli, Director of the nINA Collective, Courtney Reed Jenkins, Associate Member of the nINA Collective and program staff. Who can attend The webinar is free and open to leaders, managers and other professionals interested in learning more about this topic and registering for the Leading for Racial Equity Certificate course.

New Course! Through intentional and strategic mentoring and sponsorship, organizations can be transformed towards greater belonging and employee engagement. This course is designed to empower mentors — and potential mentors — to create greater possibilities for those whose talents are often under-represented in formal leadership roles. Through exposure to basic research findings, storytelling and the community built within the virtual learning space, participants will learn about the fundamentals of being good mentors, receiving mentoring, and creating a culture of mentoring that supports equity and belonging.

To earn this certificate, participants must attend all three days. The classes are offered in a highly participatory live-online format. Whether you already serve in a leadership role or aspire to, you have an opportunity to transform your team and organization by making the commitment to racial equity. This intensive on leading for racial equity will equip learners with the knowledge base, tools, and strategies key to yielding meaningful outcomes. Learners take a deep dive into what it means to be a racially equitable organization, evaluate their own organization’s readiness and strategize on the steps needed to embark on the path of anti-racism. Moreover, learners develop a comprehensive awareness of racial equity decision tools and how to utilize them to produce equitable budget allocation, program implementation and policy determination. In addition to the engaging and highly participatory full- and small-group live online training structure, learners have the opportunity to apply an equity-focused analysis to their own ongoing work projects. This approach empowers learners to see and assess the real-world potential for actualizing efforts toward equity.

This inclusive leadership training certificate consists of coursework designed for leaders and aspiring leaders committed to building effective and engaged teams through the recognition and encouragement of their members' individuality. The certificate consists of seven core required programs. Total class hours for the certificate are 45-50, depending on the electives chosen.

This class will focus on the proactive approaches and tools for creating an EI culture that enables respectful, effective and creative collaboration even when the going gets tough. For this class, it will be assumed that participants are familiar with EI and want to lead or influence a team to become an extraordinary one. Participants will have the advantage of completing the EQi 2.0 self-assessment in advance of the class. The cost is included in the class fee.

Communication across cultures often breaks down due to basic cultural differences that are misunderstood and frequently invisible. We introduce you to tools that enable you to identify and understand cultural differences and lay a foundation for strong cultural competency, domestically and globally.

Examine the core aspects of servant leadership. Topics for the five-day program are: Servant Leadership Foundations, Personal and Organizational Challenges of Servant Leadership, Serving Customers/Clients/Citizens, Servant Leadership at the Team and Organizational Level and Connecting Servant Leadership to Community and the World.

This highly interactive class will be held on two mornings separated by a week with some prework. Great workplace teams don't just happen. Leaders build them. A helpful tool for team leaders is Gallup's CliftonStrengths™. This well-researched and established assessment instrument enables individuals and groups to identify and explore 34 themes that describe the diverse talents we all have. Discover the strongest talents within yourself and your team members. Gain important insights and leverage potential that could go untapped. Use knowledge of team member strengths to assign tasks or projects, facilitate collaboration, improve decision-making, and more. Build your strategic awareness so you can leverage your team's talents and lead with authenticity and confidence.

Diversity drives innovative thinking and creative solutions in the workplace. Neurodiversity reflects the natural variation in human minds and how people interact with the world differently as a result. Companies that embrace neurodiversity, gain competitive advantages and facilitate an inclusive workplace allowing all talent to thrive. Improving systems and spaces to be more flexible and inclusive is key to maintaining an engaged and successful workforce. Before an organization can embrace neurodiversity, it must first understand how neurodivergence appears within it, and examine the workplace culture around it. Create a culture of appreciation, accountability, and trust by addressing some of the most common recruitment, selection and career development obstacles for neurodivergent employees. Leverage the talents of all employees through greater sensitivity to individual needs. Although there is no one-size-fits-all approach to neurodiversity, simple adjustments and accommodations (often at little cost to the employer) allow every team member to feel safe, supported and able to showcase their unique talents.