Advanced Executive Lab
Lab Outline
Embrace the challenges and opportunities of the executive director role. Feel empowered to excel in both your day-to-day responsibilities and the strategic leadership of your organization.
The intense cohort program includes seven virtual sessions. During the classroom sessions, faculty members bring theory and best practice to life through activities, discussion, and peer learning. The learning doesn’t stop in the classroom though! Applying and reflecting on the concepts explored in class is a key step in elevating your leadership practice.
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: 2 weeks before the start date
Bursary Application Deadline: 1 month 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 15, 2025 | 9am - 12pm
October 22, 2025 | 9am - 12pm
October 29, 2025 | 9am - 12pm
November 5, 2025 | 9am - 12pm
November 12, 2025 | 9am - 12pm
November 19, 2025 | 9am - 12pm
November 26, 2025 | 9am - 12pm
Meet Our Facilitators
Maria Turnbull
Maria Turnbull brings over 20 years of leadership experience in staff and director roles within the non-profit sector, both here in Canada and in the UK. With a BA in International Relations and MBA, Maria is a skilled facilitator and consultant in board governance, organizational development, and management. She has consulted for Foundations, the City of Vancouver, various colleges, and hundreds of other non-profit organizations.
Learn more about Maria on our team page.
Erin Leckie
Erin joins us with 20 years of experience facilitating environmental education and inclusivity work, often in non-profits. Erin has worked on educational program development and delivery through various non-profit leadership roles for the last 13 years, focusing on environmental behaviour change; project ideation and management; waste, climate action, and communication; team, leadership, and culture building; and relationship to land and stewardship practices.
Learn more about Erin on our team page.
Gretchen Ferguson
Gretchen is a dynamic leader with over 20 years of experience in the non-profit and higher education sectors in Canada and internationally. She specializes in program and curriculum development, strategic planning, and impact evaluation, with a strong focus on fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to drive systemic change. She has led impactful initiatives, including the development of a DEI assessment tool for Canadian financial institutions and an innovative training program to foster community-led economic development in Bolivia.
Learn more about Gretchen on our team page.
Lab Benefits
- Build relationships with other executive directors across BC in this cohort-driven program.
- Discover and foster the leadership strengths that will deepen your impact as a senior leader in the non-profit sector.
- Advanced Executive Lab is a transformational program with activities and practical tools to increase your confidence in the role.
- Learn best practices, tools and strategies that you can apply in different situations and contexts.
Lab Topics
Come away from this lab with a better understanding of the following topics: