Women in Leadership/Management Course

A woman leads a meeting with Halifax Harbour in the background.

Strengthen Influence, Decision-Making, Feedback, and Conflict Navigation Skills

Cost

Full Program | $765 

Foundation Online Self-paced | $325

Format

Online, In-person
* Full Program (Online Self-pace course & Instructor-led Lab) | Foundations Course Only (Online Self-paced course)

Next course date

Continuous Enrollment 

This 12-hour leadership experience is designed for women, women-identifying leaders, aspiring leaders, and allies who want to build practical, modern leadership capability. 

Participants strengthen influence, decision-making, feedback, and conflict navigation skills while developing the confidence to lead authentically in complex, real-world environments. 

While leadership skills are universal, women often navigate workplace dynamics that others may never have to consider. This program acknowledges those realities without centering them as barriers. Instead, participants learn how to recognize them, make sense of them, and move forward with strategies that work. 

Full Women in Leadership Program | $765 

Our recommended learning experience. 
The full program combines self-paced learning with live application and practice. 

Foundations (Online, Self-Paced | 5 Hours)

Build your leadership foundation through flexible, on-demand learning. 

Leadership Practice Lab (Online, Instructor-Led | 7 Hours) 

Apply your learning through facilitated discussions, real-world scenarios, peer coaching, and practical leadership exercises. Together, these two components provide a complete leadership development experience that moves participants from insight to action. 

Investment: $765 

Foundations Only | $325 

For those looking for a flexible introduction to the program, the Foundations course may be taken as a standalone offering. Participants receive access to approximately five hours of self-paced learning covering the key concepts and frameworks explored throughout the program. 

Investment: $325 

Decide later that you'd like to join a Leadership Practice Lab? No problem. Simply email epd@smu.ca and we'll help you register for an upcoming session. 

Register Now

Foundations (Self-Paced)

The online course focuses on conceptual grounding, reflection, and preparation for action.

Modern Leadership Realities for Women

  • The double bind, glass cliff, and visibility gaps
  • Hybrid work and informal power dynamics

Leadership Identity and Values

  • Leading authentically with strategy—not just instinct
  • Clarifying non-negotiables and leadership anchors

Influence Fundamentals

  • Understanding power, decision-making, and informal influence
  • Knowing when to adapt—and when not to over-function

Psychological Safety Through a Leadership Lens

  • Micro-practices that enable voice and trust
  • Why kind leadership still requires clarity and boundaries

Preparing for Action

  • Framing leadership challenges intentionally
  • Building awareness before practicing responses

Leadership Practice Lab (Instructor-Led)

This is where the concepts become practical application. Participants will engage in:

  • Real-world case work and discussion
  • Scenario-based learning
  • Peer coaching and shared insight
  • Creation of a personalized 90-day leadership action plan

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

  • Diagnose leadership dynamics and respond in ways that strengthen credibility and results
  • Influence effectively using stakeholder awareness and clear communication
  • Lead hybrid teams with clarity, fairness, and accountability
  • Navigate feedback and conflict with confidence and structure
  • Apply psychological safety practices that support trust and performance
  • Advocate for role scope, resources, and career progression
  • Build visibility and sponsorship strategies
  • Identify and mitigate bias in workplace decisions
  • Women and women-identifying leaders 
  • Emerging and aspiring leaders
  • People managers and team leads
  • Allies committed to inclusive leadership 

Upcoming Leadership Practice Lab Dates 

Choose from one of two cohorts: 

  • November 27 & December 4 
  • March 5 & 12 

Format: Two live online sessions from 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

Certificate Pathways

 

Make Executive & Professional Development part of your learning journey.

This 12-hour course counts toward both the Applied Certificate in People-Centred Leadership (36 hours) and the Professional Certificate in Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness (60 hours), allowing you to stack courses toward a broader leadership credential.

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