Whether you're already a people leader, have recently become a people leader, or wish to move into a role leading people at Cornell, we offer a broad range of training opportunities to advance and hone your skills.
A year-long learning experience that builds confident, capable, human‑centered leaders at Cornell.
Lead Forward is Cornell’s signature development program for people leaders—a 12‑month, cohort‑based journey that equips managers with the clarity, confidence, and practical tools needed to lead thriving teams in a complex, evolving university environment. Through a blend of interactive workshops, applied learning labs, peer coaching, and monthly “mini missions,” managers learn how to lead with purpose, communicate with impact, and create the conditions where people can do their best work.
Across the year, participants deepen their understanding of their role as a Cornell leader, strengthen their ability to navigate real‑world challenges, and build a leadership practice rooted in clarity, equity, and care. Each month focuses on a core leadership capability—from inclusive communication to performance management, conflict navigation, wellbeing, and strategic influence—supported by hands‑on practice and guidance from campus experts.
By the end of the program, managers will be able to:
Lead with clarity and confidence by understanding their role, responsibilities, and personal leadership style.
Build a respectful, supportive team environment where communication is open, constructive, and grounded in belonging.
Use Cornell’s policies and guidelines effectively to make fair, consistent decisions in everyday situations.
Help their team grow through practical coaching tools and feedback that strengthens performance and engagement.
Support a healthy, motivated team culture by noticing early signs of strain, encouraging connection, and reinforcing healthy work habits.
Work through challenges with steadiness, using clear communication and problem‑solving skills to navigate tough moments.
Connect their team’s work to the bigger picture by setting direction, aligning priorities, and adapting as needs change.
Ready to Lead Forward? Get started by filling out the pre-registration survey!
As a leader, it is vital to understand the ever-changing landscape of where and how we work. In this three-course track, people leaders will explore relationships, strategies for effective communications, coaching for performance and development, and how to tap into employee strengths and passions.
Courses that can be taken individually or receive a certificate by completing the track. There is no required end date for completing any track – take classes at your convenience and complete in your own time!
Course 1: Establishing and Maintaining Trust in Work-Groups
Course 2: The Value of Trust for Creating and Maintaining Belonging
As a leader, it is your responsibility to establish trust and motivate the team to create an environment that encourages collaboration and partnership between colleagues. As a member of the team, what are you doing to foster an environment where trust is co-created? In this program, we will explore:
How to establish trust within onsite, hybrid and remote work-groups
What actions in work lead to trust and which disrupt trust
How teams with high levels of trust can support employee engagement and a sense of belonging
The capacity to be aware of, control, guide, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. In this 7-part track, we explore the role of emotions in our daily lives. The series will begin by exploring our own self-perception and expression and move through how it affects our interpersonal relationships, decision making, and stress management.
Objectives:
Understand what emotional intelligence is, how it works, and how we talk about it
Explore emotions and their roles in our daily lives at work and beyond
Evaluate the importance of emotional intelligence in navigating current events
Develop a toolkit to help navigate interpersonal relationships, and decision making
Utilize tools to help manage stress and maintain personal wellbeing
Engaged employees fully invest their best selves in the work they do. But what is employee engagement and how is it created? Employees and leaders intuitively know that when we find a place where we can throw our hearts, spirits, minds, and hands into our work, we are happier, healthier, and produce better results. Yet, most of us struggle to understand exactly why we engage in some environments and don’t in others. As a result of attending this workshop, you will:
Understand what employee engagement is and isn’t
Learn the 3 types of employees and how to locate yourself among them
Develop strategies to remain committed to workplace mission and vision while maintaining and enhancing your own wellbeing
Explore the pillars of intrinsic motivation and how to work with your organization to ask for what you need
Develop strategies for cultivating a collaborative and empowering environment that fosters pride, creativity, and commitment amongst our employees
