ASU Leadership Academy Welcomes 13th Cohort
36 leaders from across the ASU Enterprise join the next chapter of the distinguished program
By Nathan Lyon | Content & Communications Assistant
A new journey for 36 faculty and staff leaders join the 13th cohort of the ASU Leadership Academy. Part of the University Design Institute’s suite of leadership development programs, Leadership Academy has supported the growth of more than 377 leaders across ASU since launch, over a decade ago.
Designed to prepare leaders to drive innovative collaborations in support of the New American University, the program immerses participants in three two-day, off-site workshops exploring leadership at the individual, team, and enterprise levels. Cohort XIII, each nominated by their Dean or Director, began their journey in early August with an introspective deep dive — assessing their personal leadership strengths, clarifying their aspirations, and crafting actionable game plans to achieve them.
The first workshop set the stage for an impactful year ahead. Participants dove deep into ASU’s Charter and Design Aspirations, exploring how these values intersect with their own and how to bring them to life in their daily work. They examined ASU’s nine dimensions of leadership, identified opportunities to grow in each area, and received thoughtful 360-degree feedback from peers, direct reports, and supervisors. In small peer coaching groups, tight-knit circles of three to four members, they began building the support networks that will guide them throughout the program and formalizing their leadership activity. The activity puts learning into action, is tailored to each cohort members’ aspirations, and aligns with institutional goals. The workshop concluded with each participant crafting an individualized leadership game plan, complete with action sprints for the months ahead.
Looking forward, the second workshop in January will shift the focus to team leadership — navigating change, overcoming challenges, and creating environments where teams can thrive. In May, the final workshop will broaden the lens to enterprise leadership, equipping participants to map and leverage their own networks across ASU, further amplifying their impact across the organization. Throughout the year, each leader will apply what they learn as they develop their leadership activity, co-designed with their supervisors and unit leadership. Many of these activities have sparked meaningful change across the university.
ASU Leadership Academy — alongside the Advanced Leadership Initiative and Launching Leaders Program — are three senior-level leadership development programs, part of the University Design Institute, preparing ASU’s next generation of leaders.