Professional Development Programs

The Center for Leadership offers over 100 Professional Development programs each year for new and experienced supervisors, managers, and professionals at all levels of an organization looking to sharpen your leadership skills.

High-caliber, subject-matter experts from the Dayton Region and beyond are carefully chosen to present cutting-edge information and provide opportunities for you to practice new skills in a workshop format. You will gain thought-provoking leadership content that can be taken back to the workplace and applied, in order to make an immediate impact.



Program Benefits

  • These programs are developed based on the research we conduct from the business community and their top development needs.
  • You can develop an array of skills including utilizing AI tools, team building, communication skills, influencing others, process improvements, project management, and many others.
  • These programs are open-enrollment so you can maximize flexibility and participate only in those programs that fit your personal and organizational development needs.
  • During these programs you are able to practice leadership skills and utilize new tools in a low-stakes environment so you are immediately ready to apply them when you get back in the office.
  • You can establish a network with other managers, supervisors, and individual contributors.

Audience

Whether you are an experienced or new professional looking to make an impact or an organization looking to train and retain key talent, Professional Development programs help managers and professionals at all levels. These one and two day programs, led by local and regional thought leaders, enable you to acquire and practice new skills that you can immediately apply.

Upcoming Professional Development Programs

The instructional mode in which the Professional Development programs will be facilitated is a blended format. This is noted below next to each class.

  • Blended: Combined in-person/on-campus and streamed live via Zoom with the facilitator being in person.

 

2026

Programs with a key icon, are better suited for more experienced leaders at the first or second level.

January 14, 2026 - Coaching & Evaluating Performance (blended)

January 15, 2026 - ⚿ Coaching for Performance (in-person only)

January 20, 2026 - Communication Skills for Front-Line Leaders (blended)

January 21, 2026 - Effective Decision Making (blended)

January 28, 2026 - Time Management & Personal Productivity (blended)

January 29, 2026 - Navigating Difficult Conversations (blended)

January 29, 2026 - The Power of a Positive Team (in-person only)

February 4, 2026 - Assertive Communication Skills (blended)

February 4, 2026 - ⚿ Executive Presence: Leading with Authenticity (in-person only)

February 5, 2026 - Leading Change at the First Level (blended)

February 10, 2026 - Coaching & Evaluating Performance (blended)

February 11, 2026 - Essential Problem Solving for Team Members: Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt (blended)

February 17, 2026 - Leadership is Everyone's Business (blended)

February 19, 2026 - Effective Decision Making (blended)

February 19, 2026 - Expanding Your Personal Influence & Impact (blended)

February 24, 2026 - Going from Peer to Supervisor (blended)

February 24, 2026 - ⚿ Marketing Essentials (in-person only)

March 4, 2026 - ⚿ Achieving Greater Outcomes: Leading with Intention & Purpose (in-person only)

March 4, 2026 - Empowering Others Through Delegation (blended)

March 5, 2026 - Navigating Difficult Conversations (blended)

March 10, 2026 - ChatGPT for Beginners: Boosting Workplace Efficiency (blended)

March 10, 2026 - Leading Change at the First Level (blended)

March 11, 2026 - Advanced GenAI for Workplace Efficiency (blended)

March 12, 2026 - ⚿ The Art of Influence & Persuasion for the Effective Leader (in-person only)

March 18, 2026 - Time Management & Personal Productivity (blended)

March 18-19, 2026 - Project Management Essentials (blended)

March 24, 2026 - ⚿ Executive Effectiveness: Functioning at Your Full Capacity (in-person only)

March 26, 2026 - Communicating Across Cross-Functional Teams that Execute with Clarity & Confidence (blended)

March 31-April 1, 2026 - ⚿ The Leadership Challenge (in-person only)

April 1, 2026 - Using Micro-Improvements to Maximize Your Potential at Work: Individual Lean Six Sigma (blended)

April 7, 2026 - Team Leadership Toolkit: Strategies to boost Engagement, Innovation, & Trust (blended)

April 9, 2026 - Communication Skills for Front-Line Leaders (blended)

April 9, 2026 - ⚿ Coaching for Impact: Fostering Engagement, Ownership, & Results (in-person only)

April 15, 2026 - Selling Skills for the Non-Salesperson (blended)

April 16, 2026 - Building Trust: Increasing the Impact in Working with Others (blended)

April 16. 2026 - Going from Peer to Supervisor (in-person only)

April 21, 2026 - Navigating Difficult Conversations (blended)

April 23, 2026 - Career Reinvention for Women Leaders: Developing Your Personal Brand (blended)

April 23, 2026 - ⚿ Strategic Management (in-person only)

April 30, 2026 - Coaching & Evaluating Performance (blended)

May 12, 2026 - Time Management & Personal Productivity (in-person only)

May 13, 2026 - Mastering Workplace Politics: Enhancing Influence & Career Progression (blended)

May 14, 2026 - ⚿ Marketing Essentials (in-person only)

May 14, 2026 - Mental Health & Wellbeing in the Workplace: Strategies for Personal & Team Support (blended)

May 19, 2026 - Powerful Presentation Skills (blended)

May 19, 2026 - Effective Decision Making (blended)

May 20, 2026 - Communication Skills for Front-Line Leaders (in-person only)

May 20, 2026 - ⚿ The Art of Influence & Persuasion for the Effective Leader (in-person only)

May 21, 2026 - Essential Problem Solving for Team Members: Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt (blended)

May 27, 2026 - ⚿ Accounting Fundamentals (in-person only)

May 27-28, 2026 - Leadership Accelerator (in-person only)

May 28, 2026 - Going from Peer to Supervisor (blended)

June 2, 2026 - Leading Change at the First Level (blended)

June 3, 2026 - Principled Leadership & Artificial Intelligence (AI) (blended)

June 9, 2026 - ⚿ Executive Presence: Leading with Authority (in-person only)

June 10, 2026 - Inclusive Leadership (blended)

June 11, 2026 - ⚿ Finance for Non-Financial Managers (in-person only)

June 11, 2026 - Navigating Difficult Conversations (in-person only)

June 16, 2026 - Leadership is Everyone's Business (blended)

June 16, 2026 - Embracing Accountability (blended)

June 17, 2026 - Going from Peer to Supervisor (blended)

June 17, 2026 - Partnering with Your Manager: Building Stronger Working Relationships (blended)

June 23, 2026 - ⚿ Creating a Great Workplace Culture (in-person only)

June 23, 2026 - Coaching & Evaluating Performance (blended)

June 24-25, 2026 - Project Management Essentials (blended)

Investment

Professional Development programs are open to:

Partner organizations: $332 or 1 partner unit per day
Public: $415 per day
UD Alumni receive a $50 discount

One-unit programs are designed for individual contributors and first-level leaders.

Two-unit programs, indicated by a key icon ⚿, are better suited for more experienced leaders at the first or second level.


2025 Professional Development Schedule

Download the 2025 Professional Development program schedule.

2026 Professional Development Schedule

Download the 2026 Professional Development program schedule.