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Lead 4 Success®

Leadership isn't just defined by the job title. It's about developing skills, personal style, and perspective to get results that matter. 

Human Resources has partnered with the renowned Center for Creative Leadership to deliver effective leadership development programs to Northwestern's staff audience of individual contributors. The Lead 4 Success® program gives individual contributors the necessary tools to excel in their current role and prepare for future roles at the University.  

The learning experience is focused on developing the Fundamental 4 skills that leaders at any level need to master for success. 

The Fundamental 4 Skills: 

  1. Self-Awareness: Understand your behavior’s impact on organizational outcomes 
  2. Learning Agility: Know when to change course, and help others to do so too 
  3. Influence: Be comfortable persuading, promoting, and delegating  
  4. Communication: Effectively communicate goals and inspire trust

The teaching model is built on the premise that leadership is not defined by one’s job title, that leadership is a process rather than a person, and that whether or not one is a formal leader, one is engaged in the process of leadership. 

Using the CCL’s time-tested approach to leadership development we incorporate: 

Participants will immerse themselves in development, adapt these skills to their own leadership contexts, participate with peers in learning, and share ideas to apply their leadership lessons to their real world.  

For more program information please review: Lead 4 Success® Program Overview (FY26)  

WAITLIST

Program Dates (Summer 2026)

Cohort 1: In-Person (Evanston Campus):
  • Wednesday, July 15, 2026, from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM CST
  • Thursday, July 16, 2026, from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM CST
Cohort 2: Virtual Sessions:
  • Monday, August 31, 2026, from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM CST
  • Tuesday, September 1, 2026, from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM CST
  • Wednesday, September 2, 2026, from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM CST
  • Thursday, September 3, 2026, from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM CST

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must: 

  • Be a regular staff employee (non-exempt, exempt) at any of Northwestern’s six campuses: Chicago, Evanston, Qatar, Miami, New York, and Washington, D.C. 
  • Be an Individual Contributor with no direct reports. (If you are managing temp or work-study students, you ARE ELIGIBLE for this program.) 
  • Commit to actively mentor other employees in future employee development programs. 
  • Participation is highly interactive and requires full attendance. 

Program selection

As of Friday, June 12, 2026, we are only accepting applications for the waitlist. 

Submit a completed program application and secure your manager’s endorsement. Upon submission, applications are automatically routed to supervisors for approval. 

Space is limited, and completed applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all spots are filled. Submit early to maximize your chances of enrollment.  

Application Deadline: Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 5 PM CST (or earlier if program capacity is reached) 

Learn more

The Lead 4 Success® program has historically run during the summer months pending university funding. We are ecstatic that we can once again offer the Lead 4 Success® program this fiscal year.  

For other questions, please email the Talent Development team at: workplace-learning@northwestern.edu.