Professional Development Academy
The Professional Development Academy offers innovative, fully online programs designed to equip frontline professionals with practical leadership skills that drive results for their organizations and communities.
Built around interactivity and community, the courses combine the convenience of self-paced learning with the support of expert moderators who help participants stay on track. A world-class faculty of leaders from the public, private, and academic sectors deliver engaging, thought-provoking sessions, while industry leading executives provide mentorship and real-world insights.
The program emphasizes best practices in leadership, organizational development and change management, negotiation and collaboration, effective business communication, and delivering value within high performance management environments.
Best of all, you’ll complete these courses alongside fellow procurement professionals. Dedicated PPA cohorts and breakout groups allow you to share your expertise, expand your network, and learn from the experience of your peers.
Leadership Programs Designed to Strengthen Your Leadership Skills & Results
Meet The Academy Faculty
Learn from the most accomplished leaders. The curriculum content is proven know-how based on the experiences of our world-class faculty of prominent public, private and academic sector leaders, the most accomplished executives, coaches, and thought leaders. The result is relevant, relatable, and immediately actionable material that serves as a leadership field guide.
What to Expect
Unlike other distance learning programs that emphasize solo work, the Professional Development Academy’s courses are built around interactivity and community. They’re intentionally flexible to accommodate busy work schedules with self-paced learning on a virtual platform accessible from anywhere.
Each course is broken into weekly modules that consist of independent activities, a 1-hour breakout group discussion, and a 30 minute live webinar event facilitated by a Ph.D. leadership coach. All webinars are recorded, so don’t worry if you miss one.
High Performance Leadership Academy
A mentorship-based program with content provided by industry leading executives. This program provides best practices in leadership, organizational development and change management, negotiation and collaboration, effective business communication, and delivering value within high performance management. The program is made up of ten weekly modules structured in three high-level courses:
Course 1: Leadership Mindset & Positive Engagement
Module 1: Your Leadership Mindset
Module 2: Your Potential as a Positive Leader
Module 3: Positive Leadership and Your Team: Empowerment & Engagement
Module 4: Leadership Rules and Your Oath
Course 2: Leading Effective Change
Module 1: The Process of Change: Planning
Module 2: The Process of Change: Executing
Module 3: The Process of Change: Sustaining
Course 3: Communication and Collaboration
Module 1: Speaking the Language of Business
Module 2: Mutual Gains Approach
Module 3: It’s All About People
Graduation
“The Professional Development Academy is having a profound impact on the business communication skills and leadership capabilities of those participating – must for anyone looking to maximize their potential and effectiveness as a leader in their organization.”
Dave Kotch, CIO, FMC
AI Leadership Academy
This fully online and facilitated program provides the comprehensive detail that leaders need to navigate the challenges of government work relative to available technologies and human needs of our society. The leadership coaches facilitating this program will demystify AI with practical, relevant, and immediately actionable use cases, frameworks, and tools for existing and emerging leaders. This program addresses the challenge head-on and provides participants with engaging content that will increase confidence to lead with AI. The program is made up of six weekly modules:
Module 1: An Introduction To AI
Module 2: The Promise & Peril Of AI
Module 3: Your AI Roadmap
Module 4: Leading People & AI
Module 5: AI Optimization, Meaning, & Purpose
Module 6: What’s Next – Three Horizons
“There is no question that we are experiencing a digital transformation. AI and other emerging technologies are influencing change in our communities, businesses, and government. This Academy provides clarity of what’s possible and how to implement the best solutions in the best way.”
Rita Reynolds, NACo CIO
What Our Members Are Saying
Very Helpful Program
This program was helpful in several ways. In some instances, it affirmed aspects of my leadership style and in other ways it provided me with new ideas and resources. The combination of both improved my confidence as a leader and has prepared me for the next phase of my career. This program has given me new perspectives and tools to help me build my capacity as a leader, while also reinforcing my sense of those elements of leadership that are the best components of that toolbox.
Related with Lessons
I personally related with many of the lessons and 13 Rules of Leadership from General Powell. He is a no nonsense individual who applied what he teaches in the real world. Some of the business leaders who are with big corporations were so insightful and when they shared their experiences and what they had learned, it was just so powerful. I definitely could envision how fortunate some individuals are to have them as their leaders and mentors. I was fortunate to share this class with other leaders in my City and it has created a camaraderie that has already resulted in more effective and impactful cross departmental cooperation.
Elevating the Industry. Unifying the Profession.
We bring Collaboration to Procurement.
Advancing procurement with shared knowledge, trusted partnerships, and forward-thinking leadership —
helping professionals and organizations work smarter, faster, and together.
