Learning Opportunities

Leadership Advancement Series

 Advanced Leadership Development for USF’s Emerging Executives

The Leadership Advancement Series is the natural next step for USF employees who have completed Leadership Foundations or who bring demonstrated leadership experience and are ready to grow their impact at a higher level. This cohort-based program challenges participants to think strategically, lead organizational change, develop their people, and operate with greater ethical clarity and organizational influence.

Program Overview

Designed for mid-career leaders, seasoned supervisors, and high-potential professionals at USF, the Leadership Advancement Series blends advanced leadership theory with applied practice. Each 90-minute session builds progressively on participants’ experience and the foundational concepts introduced in Leadership Foundations.

The Advancement Series helps you:
  • Expand your sphere of influence beyond your immediate team
  • Develop strategic thinking and complex decision-making skills
  • Build a coaching culture that grows the next generation of USF leaders
  • Lead organizational change with confidence and stakeholder alignment
  • Apply ethical frameworks and equity-minded practices to real leadership decisions
  • Create a personalized leadership strategy grounded in your strengths and context

key features

Strategic Focus
Moves beyond foundational skills to develop systems thinking, organizational influence, and long-range leadership capacity

Applied Learning
 Every session connects directly to real challenges participants face in their USF roles, not abstract theory without application

Cohort Mode
 Build lasting peer relationships with a diverse group of advancing USF leaders who bring rich and varied organizational perspectives
 

Capstone Project
Develop a personalized Leadership Strategy and present a real organizational challenge, receiving structured feedback from peers and facilitators

Who Should Participate

 The Leadership Advancement Series is designed for:
  • USF employees who have successfully completed Leadership Foundations
  • Current leaders (supervisors, managers, directors) with 2+ years of demonstrated leadership experience
  • High-potential professionals identified by their leaders as ready for expanded organizational responsibility
  • Leaders who have completed the Hogan Leadership Assessment and are ready to translate insights into intentional growth
  • Participants come from across USF’s colleges, divisions, and administrative units, creating a rich cross-functional learning community
Over seven highly interactive sessions, participants will explore:
What You'll Learn
Session Topic & Description
Session 1 From Manager to Leader: Expanding Your Sphere of Influence
Transition from tactical management to strategic leadership; influence without authority; leading across functions
Session 2 Strategic Thinking & Decision-Making Under Complexity
Frameworks for complex problem-solving, scenario planning, and high-stakes decisions with incomplete information
Session 3 Coaching & Developing Your People
Shift from directing to developing. Coaching conversations, developmental feedback, identifying high-potential talent, and creating IDP
Session 4   Shaping Culture Through Leadership
How leaders shape, reinforce, and shift culture. Connecting psychological safety to broader cultural ownership at the department level
Session 5 Leading Organizational Change (Advanced)
Change management models (ADKAR, Kotter), stakeholder alignment, resistance management, and leading large-scale transitions
Session 6  Data-Informed Leadership
Using data to drive decisions, understanding key performance metrics, interpreting assessment results, and telling a compelling leadership story
Session 7 Capstone: Your Leadership Strategy
Develop a personal Leadership Development Plan and present a real organizational challenge with structured peer and facilitator feedback

schedule

 Each session will be facilitated via Teams from 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM, with the final session held in person to allow participants to showcase their capstone projects.

10/14/2026 | SESSION 1 | From Manager to Leader: Expanding Your Sphere of Influence

10/21/2026 | SESSION 2 | Strategic Thinking & Decision-Making Under Complexity

10/28/2026 |SESSION 3 | Coaching & Developing Your People

11/4/2026  | SESSION 4 | Shaping Culture Through Leadership

11/12/2026 | SESSION 5 |Leading Organizational Change (Advanced)

11/18/2026 | SESSION 6 | Data-Informed Leadership

12/9/2026 | SESSION 7 | Capstone: Your Leadership Strategy

📋 Hogan Leadership Assessment Enhancement

Participants who completed the Hogan Leadership Assessment through Leadership Foundations are encouraged to bring their results to the Advancement Series, where insights will be woven into coaching conversations, culture sessions, and the capstone project. For those who have not yet completed the Hogan, the assessment and a 1:1 certified coaching session are available for an additional $250.

Eligibility Requirements & Selection Process

Applicants must:

  • Have completed USF’s Leadership Foundations program or demonstrate 2+ years of supervisory/leadership experience
  • Have the approval of their immediate supervisor or manager
  • Commit to attending all eight sessions and actively participating in all assignments and the capstone presentation
  • Secure program cost payable by the participant’s college/department via chartfield

Selection Process:

  • Applicants meeting the requirements will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until all seats are filled
  • Class size is capped at 25 participants to ensure a high-quality cohort experience

Registration

 To participate, please complete both steps below:

Leadership Advancement Series Registration Form


Register in Oracle HR
After submitting the Interest and Pre-Registration Form, applicants selected for the program will receive additional information, including instructions for completing their official registration in Oracle HR.

Program Details & Contact Information

Program Cost

$200 payable by the participant’s college/department via chartfield

Session Format 7 sessions × 90 minutes  |  Facilitated via Teams with the final session held in person to allow participants to showcase their capstone projects.  |  3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Cohort Size Maximum 25 participants
Contact training@usf.edu