People Leadership Program

November 4, 2025 - April 10, 2026

This program is designed for those with 0-5 years of people management experience. If space allows, we will consider those with more senior level experience. Please note - an Emerging Executives Program designed specifically for more experienced leaders is scheduled to be developed in 2025 for a 2026 launch.

Priority will be given to those with current or near-term (i.e. upcoming promotion) people management duties that take place over the course of at least a season versus those who manage others for the duration of a course only.

We have space for 12 participants.

The program will be run entirely online with both synchronous and asynchronous content. There will not be any in-person components.

Free – the cost of the pilot program will be covered by OBUSA, a $1,500 value. Schools will be responsible for compensating participants from their school for the time spent attending program events and doing work for the program.

On average, participants will spend 4-5 hours per month on program-related work. These hours will include:

• Virtual Program Kick-Off: Wednesday, November 12 from 11am-12pm MST/1-2pm EST

• The one day, 6-hour Managing to Change the World Training delivered by The Management Center

• 2 hours to complete the Gallup CliftonStrengths Assessment and attend a group coaching session led by a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach

• Bi-monthly Management Workouts - facilitated calls (one 90-minute call and one 60-minute call per month) with the cohort to work on real-world application of the program curriculum. These calls will take place the first and third Wednesday of each month starting in December 2025 and ending in March 2026.

• Virtual Graduation Ceremony: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 from 11am-12pm MST/1-2pm EST

The curriculum has six components:

1. The Management Center's Managing to Change the World Foundations course

2. Virtual Kick-Off and Graduation events

3. The CliftonStrengths self-assessment & a group debrief on how strengths support managers

4. Management Workouts: Monthly facilitated calls to reflect on and apply learnings from the Foundations course

5. Micro-Topics: Monthly facilitated calls on timely leadership topics such as burnout/wellbeing, managing in the OB context, performance management, etc.

6. Final: Presentation to the participant's supervisor or school leadership on what they learned in the program

At the end of the program, participants will have the tools and knowledge to:

• Effectively delegate tasks to manage workloads, play to team members' strengths, and maintain accountability

• Establish and communicate clear expectations and goals, aligning individual responsibilities with organizational priorities and ensuring role clarity

• Recognize and address unconscious bias in their management

• Utilize feedback, 1-on-1s, and performance evaluation techniques to support employee growth, address performance gaps, and achieve organizational objectives

• Apply conflict resolution and team-building strategies to create a cohesive and productive work environment

• Build trust and autonomy within the team by empowering employees to take ownership of their work while maintaining oversight

• Communicate effectively with other teams and leaders by anticipating needs, providing solutions, and advocating for team and organizational priorities

• Utilize time management strategies to optimize productivity and balance competing demands while maintaining well-being

• Understand their unique strengths and values and how they inform, shape, and influence their unique management style and support them in achieving organizational objectives

• Recognize and appreciate the unique opportunities and challenges of holding a management role in the Outward Bound ecosystem

Complete the application form here. Applications for the November 2025-April 2026 cohort are due by EOD on Wednesday, September 30.

Things we'll be looking at to determine who is part of the cohort:

• Alignment between what participant is looking for and what the curriculum offers

• Background/lived experience: we encourage BIPOC, LGTBQ+, GNC staff and those from other historically underrepresented identities to apply. The Management Center's curriculum is focused on equity and the Managing to Change the World facilitators represent diverse backgrounds.

• School: we want a variety of schools represented in the cohort

• Years of experience: we will prioritize those with 0-5 years of experience. If space allows, we will consider those with more senior level experience

Yes, there are a few eligibility requirements:

• Must have supervisor buy-in/approval

• Must be able to commit to attending ALL program events and completing ALL program assignments

• Must have current or near-term people manager duties

Application decisions will be made by October 8, 2025

Wednesday, September 30, 2025