Advanced Executive Lab
Lab Outline
Leading a non-profit today requires courage, clarity, and the ability to inspire others through constant change.
The Advanced Executive Lab is a seven-session intensive designed for experienced Executive Directors and senior leaders who want to deepen their strategic influence, strengthen team culture, and lead with confidence in complex environments. Across this immersive program, you’ll refine your personal leadership approach, sharpen your strategic decision-making, and build practical skills to foster a healthy, equitable, and high-performing workplace.
Through reflection, real-world scenarios, peer exchange, and coaching practice, you will leave with renewed direction, powerful tools, and a clearer sense of the leader you want to be. This lab goes beyond theory—it’s a dedicated space to step back from the day-to-day, focus on your leadership impact, and build a stronger, more resilient organization.
Suggested participants: Executive directors and roles of a similar nature that are responsible for leading a non-profit organization and have been in the role for at least 1 year.
Important note! If you are a new executive director, our Executive Director 101 lab may be a better fit for you.
Lab Outcomes
By the end of this lab, you will be able to:
- Leverage your personal strengths to effectively lead your organization.
- Work & collaborate successfully with your board.
- Apply tools to develop, articulate, & implement your strategic vision.
- Establish frameworks to ensure legal & financial accountability & manage risk.
- Explore techniques for developing a desired work culture.
- Support & foster diversity amongst your team & board.
- Enhance team performance at your organization.
- Apply a coaching lens.
- Build stronger relationships amongst your team, board, & community.
Registration Details
Join Advanced Executive Lab to experience 21 hours of learning over seven weeks.
Application Deadline: 1 week before the start date
Bursary Application Deadline: 1 week before the start date
Location: Online/Virtual
Cost: $2169 Non-Member | $1969 Member (includes $175 SDI 2.0 assessment)
Lab Schedule
To get the most from this program, please plan so that you can dedicate one day per week to the course.
October 8, 2026 | 9am - 12pm
October 15, 2026 | 9am - 12pm
October 22, 2026 | 9am - 12pm
October 29, 2026 | 9am - 12pm
November 5, 2026 | 9am - 12pm
November 12, 2026 | 9am - 12pm
November 19, 2026 | 9am - 12pm
Lab Benefits
- Clarify your leadership strengths, values, and impact.
- Strengthen your ability to lead with vision through change.
- Build a healthy, values-driven culture and engaged team.
- Support wellbeing through decent work and psychological safety.
- Improve team cohesion and navigate challenging conversations.
- Strengthen board relationships and governance practices.
- Connect with peers and chart your next steps as a leader.
Lab Topics
Come away from this lab with a better understanding of the following topics:
Personal Leadership
Authenticity, strengths, values, and SDI 2.0 insights
Team Cohesion
Behaviours of cohesive teams, productive conflict, and tough conversations.
Culture and Engagement
Values, culture-shaping, diversity, and team engagement.
Strategic and Visionary Leadership
Long-term vision, people planning, and leading change.
Decent Work and Wellbeing
Psychological safety and foundational coaching practice.
Governance
Board/ED roles, fiduciary responsibilities, and strategic board engagement.
Bringing it All Together
ED guest panel insights, leadership next steps