Leadership Development Program
The Leadership Development Program (LDP) is a 9.5 month, cohort-based development experience designed to strengthen enterprise-minded leadership across the Outward Bound Network.
It equips emerging senior leaders, staff who are one-to-two years away from being ready to join a senior leadership team, with the business, financial, communication, decision-making, and change leadership capabilities needed to align organizational sustainability with mission impact, ensuring we can continue to spark lifelong growth through challenge outside long into the future.
The program will launch in October 2026.
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Visit our FAQ page for all the details on time commitment, program schedule, and applicant eligibility
Curriculum Overview
Six, month-long courses serve as the backbone of the program and will be taught by subject matter experts including Dana Band, Prosci Change Management, Springboard Leadership, among several others.
Course 1: Business Essentials for
Mission-Driven Organizations
Leading a successful OB school requires more than passion for the mission—it requires operational discipline, sound business practices, and a clear understanding of the systems that support long-term sustainability. This course will teach leaders how effective school operations, business models, and nonprofit administration practices work together to support both mission integrity and organizational health.
Course 2: Finance for Non-Financial Managers
Financial literacy is an essential leadership capability—not just a technical skill reserved for finance teams. Financial Foundations for Organizational Leaders equips leaders with the knowledge and practical tools to understand the financial health of their organization and use financial information to make informed, strategic decisions.
Course 3: Communicating with Impact
Led by strategic communications expert, Dana Band, this course equips you to tailor strategic messaging and presentations to diverse stakeholders (think: boards, funders, executive teams, peers) and communicate clearly, persuasively, and with purpose across a variety of settings.
Course 4: Decisive Leadership: Making Critical Calls When the Path Isn’t Clear
In leadership, the most important decisions rarely come with complete information, clear answers, or unlimited time. This course equips leaders with the mindset, frameworks, and practical tools to make sound decisions in high-stakes, ambiguous situations—while balancing competing priorities, navigating uncertainty, and maintaining trust with stakeholders.
Course 5: Leading Human-Centered Change
Change succeeds or fails based on leadership. Whether the change is small or big, leaders play a critical role in helping people understand the why, embrace the how, and stay aligned through uncertainty. This course equips leaders with the mindset, as well as frameworks and practical tools from the Prosci Change Model to guide teams through change.
Course 6: Strategy in Action: Aligning Vision, Resources, and Execution
A strategic plan should be more than an aspirational document—it should serve as the decision-making framework that guides what an organization chooses to prioritize, invest in, and, just as importantly, what it chooses not to pursue. This course equips leaders with the tools and knowledge to understand what makes a strategy truly strategic and how to translate vision into focused, actionable execution.
Curriculum Components
In addition to the six core courses, the program incorporates a variety of learning tools to support participants in building valuable knowledge and practical tools.
Program Primer: Management Training
Led by The Management Center, this six-hour training provides participants with essential people management tools and skills to support them in leading teams equitably, sustainably, and with a drive toward results.
Core Coursework
Six, month-long courses led by subject matter experts. Each module will include 3-6 synchronous, virtual classroom hours and 1.5-3 hours of asynchronous learning activations
CliftonStrengths
A foundational piece of our curriculum, the CliftonStrengths/StrengthsFinder Assessment and a cohort debrief, led by a Certified Strengths Coach will support participants in developing critical self-awareness.
Learning Activations
Because 70% of learning happens on the job, each Core Course will include a topic-specific case study, practice exercise, shadowing or interview assignment to solidify and apply new tools and knowledge to our real-world work environment.
Leadership Conversations
Five, hour-long, deep-dive fireside chats, panel discussions, or guest lectures focused on core OB business functions including: Risk & Safety, Fundraising & Partnerships, Sales, People & Culture, and Access & Belonging.