UNICON Leadership Academy

Information Webinar: March 20th

Would you like to learn more about the UNICON Leadership Academy? Register for our information webinar

Applications are now open for the 10th Cohort of the Leadership Academy.
Applications that meet all requirements are accepted on a first come first served basis and will no longer be accepted once the cohort is filled. Seats fill quickly so we urge you to apply as soon as possible.

About the Academy

The UNICON Leadership Academy is an eight-month development program designed specifically for university-based executive education professionals seeking to transition into leadership roles within member schools. The Academy is designed for individuals seeking T-shaped leadership development within the Executive Education industry and Director-level leaders, with two years of University experience.

The Academy is geared towards analyzing the Business Model proposition and is fully integrated into the Team Development Conference. The program includes teamwork, projects, webinars, mentoring, individual development planning, peer coaching, and an in-person session to coincide with the annual team conference on November 4th. The 2025 Team Development Conference will be hosted by Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C. November 5-7. The Leadership Academy registration fee is $2,250.

Please note that the above fee does not include the Team Development Conference fee. You must register/pay for the Team Development Conference separately.

The in-person portion of the Leadership Academy has been the highlight so far. Being able to see each other in person after a couple of Zoom sessions really brought the cohort to life. We were able to work on a hands-on project in real time (many post-it sticky notes were used!), and the energy that I felt connecting face to face, in addition to seeing each other after the Team Development Conference, was a delight.

I really enjoyed the in-person component that we participated in before the UNICON Team Conference. It’s so nice to meet people, and it gave an opportunity to continue those conversations during the conference. I also really liked the session on January 10th regarding the assessment.

The topics are very relevant and contemporary and the highlight for me is the interaction with the participants. It is really interesting to engage in discussions around these topics and share opinions and experiences.

The highlight of the academy so far has been the in-person experience at the UNICON Conference. The all-day session was very impactful. In groups, we were tasked with developing a program for a potential participant. It was so awesome to hear everyone’s varied approaches at the end of the day.

The in-person session has been a highlight of the Academy so far. I enjoyed meeting colleagues from across the industry and globe who shared a common interest in executive education. Working together on the design thinking exercise was truly energizing. I also enjoyed the more recent session where we learned the results of our Belbin assessment. Learning more about how my team sees me as a leader was insightful and will help me design future projects around their strengths as well.

My manager suggested this, as she always looks for professional development opportunities. She also went through the ULA herself and had nothing but good things to say about it. My experience with UNICON has been very positive, as I appreciate this consortium because it is so connected to executive education. I rarely find conferences or professional development opportunities so closely aligned with the business I am working in. I was excited to join the ULA to meet people in a similar spot in their career who I can share ideas and learn from. We all have similar challenges and opportunities, and I find that interesting ideas and collaborations can come from them. At this point in my career, I have no plans to leave Executive Education. I am interested in enhancing my leadership skills in the lens of ExecEd. The ULA learnings can span across different fields, but the focus on ExecEd is another thing that interested me about the program.

Being in Portugal and meeting everyone face-to-face has been my highlight so far! There is nothing that can replace that connection and relationship building, and it has enhanced our virtual experience and conversation since.

I chose to join ULA to get a broader perspective of Executive Education worldwide and understand common opportunities and challenges that we might have together, and to strengthen my leadership capabilities. It is also a great way to expand my network within this field.

The highlight of the Academy has been the in-person session prior to the TDC conference. It was an incredible opportunity to interact face-to-face with other participants, exchange ideas, and learn from each other’s experiences. The session was not only thought-provoking but also allowed for deeper connections. The energy and camaraderie during the in-person session made it a truly memorable experience.

The highlight of the Academy so far has been the collaborative learning environment. Engaging in discussions with peers from diverse backgrounds, sharing real-world challenges, and exchanging ideas has been incredibly enriching. The workshops and case studies have also provided practical insights that I can immediately apply in my role. Above all, the sense of community and support among participants and faculty has been truly inspiring—it’s empowering to be part of a group so dedicated to advancing leadership in executive education.

Networking

Build new relationships with other executive education professionals and industry giants.

Industry Knowledge

Gain new insight, skills, and approaches to burning topics.

Career Mentorship

Mentorship for career advancement.

Expectations for Leadership Academy:

Leverage an expanded network of colleagues facing similar challenges and opportunities within the Executive Education industry, creating a platform for peer learning and knowledge sharing to further support individual, team, and industry growth.

Analyze and navigate competing stakeholder expectations to successfully position Executive Education as a key player for business schools as well as clients.

Innovate more effectively, applying newly acquired frameworks and best practices to increasingly complex industry challenges.

Utilize more advanced problem solving, decision making, and critical thinking skills for personal and professional development within the context of the Executive Education industry.

Program Structure Example

October

The Ever-Changing Landscape and Its Challenges - 2 hours
Revaluing Executive Education - 2.5 Hours

November/December

In-person program at Team Development Conference:

Navigating Current Trends & Challenges in Exec Ed through Advanced Analytics
Creating a Value Proposition and a Business Model

Online session:

Delivering Value to Our Customers - 2 Hours

January/February

Reaching Out - 2 Hours
Leading Self in ExecEd - 2 Hours
Operational Excellence and Organizational Structures - 2 Hours

March/April

Leveraging Technology and Partnerships - 2 Hours
TBD - 2 Hours

May/June

Financial Strategy - 2 Hours
Reflective Process/A Career in Exec Ed - 2 Hours
Making the Most of Your Skillscope and Mentorship Process (optional)

Hear from a Program Director

Monica Sacristan Fanjul, Dean

University Extension and Executive Development at ITAM
UNICON Leadership Academy Program Director

Hear from a Program Director

Monica Sacristan Fanjul, Dean

University Extension and Executive Development at ITAM
UNICON Leadership Academy Program Director

Hear from Our Participants

David Deegan, Director of Practice Development

Cranfield Executive Development, Cranfield University
Leadership Academy Participant 2020-2021

Connect with the Leadership Academy

Interested parties can contact Taryn Streed directly with any questions or concerns. To learn more, visit the UNICON YouTube channel and view recent Leadership Academy informational webinars.

Information Webinar: March 20th

Applications are now open for the 10th Cohort of the Leadership Academy.
Applications that meet all requirements are accepted on a first come first served basis and will no longer be accepted once the cohort is filled. Seats fill quickly so we urge you to apply as soon as possible.

About the Academy

Networking

Industry Knowledge

Career Mentorship

Expectations for Leadership Academy:

Program Structure Example

October

November/December

January/February

March/April

May/June

Hear from a Program Director

Monica Sacristan Fanjul, Dean

Hear from a Program Director

Monica Sacristan Fanjul, Dean

Hear from Our Participants

David Deegan, Director of Practice Development

Connect with the Leadership Academy

Quick Links

Stay in the Loop

Information Webinar: March 20th

Applications are now open for the 10th Cohort of the Leadership Academy. Applications that meet all requirements are accepted on a first come first served basis and will no longer be accepted once the cohort is filled. Seats fill quickly so we urge you to apply as soon as possible.

About the Academy

Networking

Industry Knowledge

Career Mentorship

Expectations for Leadership Academy:

Program Structure Example

October

November/December

January/February

March/April

May/June

Hear from a Program Director

Monica Sacristan Fanjul, Dean

Hear from a Program Director

Monica Sacristan Fanjul, Dean

Hear from Our Participants

David Deegan, Director of Practice Development

Connect with the Leadership Academy

Quick Links

Stay in the Loop

Applications are now open for the 10th Cohort of the Leadership Academy.
Applications that meet all requirements are accepted on a first come first served basis and will no longer be accepted once the cohort is filled. Seats fill quickly so we urge you to apply as soon as possible.