Introducing the NLC High Performance Leadership Academy!
Professional Development Academy (PDA) is proud to partner with the National League of Cities. Together, we provide local government leaders with unparalleled access to expert training through the NLC High Performance Leadership Academy.
Designed to make existing leaders better and emerging leaders ready to address the most pressing issues of our day, the NLC High Performance Leadership Academy has been expertly designed to equip local government leaders with the skills necessary to navigate the complexity of change, align competing priorities to provide the greatest value possible, and leverage the mutual gains approach to negotiation and collaboration to do more with less – all relevant challenges in local government today.
As one local government leader and graduate from the program said:
“The material was highly relevant. As I worked through each week’s course material, I generally had a matter in front of me in my daily work to which I could immediately apply the lessons I learned. The material is also effective. When I applied the tools and skills I learned, it yielded positive results.”
City of Vancouver, Washington Graduate
What to Expect
NLC’s High Performance Leadership Academy provides relevant, practical and immediately actionable material that serves as a leadership field guide for existing and emerging leaders alike. 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.
Each course in the 12-week program is divided into weekly modules consisting of independent activities, a one-hour breakout group discussion, and a 30-minute live webinar event facilitated by your Ph.D. leadership coach. The curriculum has been expertly designed to accommodate busy schedules, requiring approximately an hour a day to fully engage in the casework, assessments, peer-based collaboration and live events.
Curriculum highlights include:
- Facilitation by a Leadership Coach who balances synchronous and asynchronous activities, efficiently using time and optimizing learning.
- Online modules that offer self-paced learning on a virtual platform accessible from anywhere.
- Flexibility to accommodate busy government work schedules. All webinars are recorded, so if you miss one, there’s no need to worry.
- Built with interactivity and community in mind, allowing local leaders to learn alongside peers.
- Expertly designed for efficiency and effectiveness.
Learn from the most accomplished leaders.
Meet the Faculty
“This is the best program I have ever attended. This has changed my life both personally and professionally.”
City of Talladega, Alabama
NLC High Performance Leadership Academy Interest Form
Complete the contact form to enroll or to connect with a team member to learn more about the NLC High Performance Leadership Academy.
Details You Need to Know
The retail cost of the 12-week program is $2,995.
However, leaders from all NLC member cities have access to available scholarships, which can reduce the cost to as low as $1,000 per person for the first five leaders enrolled.
The first session begins in April 2025.
Partnership Background
Every executive in government wants to increase engagement across their organization. They want to increase the retention of key personnel across their organization. They want to more efficiently and effectively navigate the complexity (and speed) of change across their organization. They want to align competing priorities to the greatest possible outcomes for those they serve. They want to balance constrained resources to the greatest possible outcomes for those they serve. They want to improve the efficiency of their organization. They need great leaders across their organization and a great leadership development program to make existing leaders better and emerging leaders ready to address the complexity of work today and the expectations of tomorrow. But how?
Well, what if everyone in government had access to leadership training content vetted by over 3,000 executives who have collaborated with the express intent to make existing leaders better and emerging leaders ready to address the complexity of work today? What if the late General Colin Powell engaged with the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies along with prominent leaders from government agencies, the mayors and managers from large urban cities and small rural cities across the U.S., as well as faculty members from the most prestigious universities in our land, and executive coaches and subject matter experts to design and develop a leadership training program that accessible to everyone, with content that is immediately applicable and relevant and is non-disruptive to the already busy schedules of frontline leaders, mid-level managers and executives?
Everyone does have access to this leadership training. These 3,000+ executives did come together, and the result of their work is the NLC High Performance Leadership Academy, which graduates have described as “Unprecedented!” and “not your run-of-the-mill training program.”
City of Vancouver, WA
“The material was highly relevant. As I worked through each week’s course material, I generally had a matter in front of me in my daily work to which I could immediately apply the lessons I learned. The material is also effective. When I applied the tools and skills I learned, it yielded positive results.”
City of Toledo, OH
“This program provided great insight into the minds of effective leaders and gave me the opportunity to improve my leadership skills. Some of the modules reaffirmed what I am currently doing as a leader, while others provided good perspective into how I can improve as a leader. I would recommend this program to any new or existing leader.”
City of Austin, TX
“This course was a gift. It was perfectly timed and provided a wonderful platform to really think about what it takes to be a great leader and what that means.”
City of Long Beach, CA
“This program has given me a new perspective and new 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 helping me build my leadership toolbox.”
Vancouver, WA
“The material was highly relevant. As I worked through each week’s course material, I generally had a matter in front of me in my daily work to which I could immediately apply the lessons I learned. The material is also effective. When I applied the tools and skills I learned, it yielded positive results.”
Toledo, OH
“This program provided great insight into the minds of effective leaders and gave me the opportunity to improve my leadership skills. Some of the modules reaffirmed what I am currently doing as a leader, while others provided good perspective into how I can improve as a leader. I would recommend this program to any new or existing leader.”
Austin, TX
“This course was a gift. It was perfectly timed and provided a wonderful platform to really think about what it takes to be a great leader and what that means.”
Long Beach, CA
“This program has given me a new perspective and new 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 helping me build my leadership toolbox.”