03-02-2026
Purdue University’s Mitch Daniels School of Business is proud to announce the launch of Leadership With Impact in a Changing World, a new professional development program designed for leaders who must navigate rapid change, rising complexity and evolving expectations. The first cohort begins March 30, 2026, with programming offered each spring and fall through Daniels Executive Education and the Hayes Leadership Coaching Institute within the Center for Working Well.
Built for mid- to senior-level managers, high-potential leaders and professionals transitioning into broader leadership roles, this six-week, fully online program delivers research-informed, immediately applicable insights that help participants lead with clarity, confidence and impact. The experience includes a blend of synchronous and asynchronous learning, six faculty-led webinar sessions and a weekly Leadership Lab — a live, interactive 75-minute session that allows learners to put new ideas into practice alongside peers across industries.
Participants will earn a leadership certificate and a LinkedIn badge upon completion, signaling to employers and colleagues that they are prepared to lead in a business environment defined by constant transformation.
The curriculum brings together award-winning faculty from the Daniels School and the Center for Working Well, each offering deep expertise in the people-centered dimensions of modern leadership:
Each module equips participants with actionable strategies they can apply right away — improving communication, strengthening workplace relationships, navigating conflict, motivating high-performing teams and leading change with empathy and effectiveness.
“One of the biggest challenges I see leaders facing right now is relying too heavily on pay, bonuses and incentives to motivate employees doing increasingly complex work,” says Gabriel, the Thomas J. Howatt Chair in Management in the Department of Organizational Behavior and Human Resources and director of the Center for Working Well. “My module helps leaders understand how to design work and feedback in ways that spark intrinsic motivation to sustain employees long-term.”
Roberson, a clinical associate professor in the Department of Organizational Behavior and Human Resources and head of the Hayes Leadership Coaching Institute, says her module will address some of the most compelling issues facing leaders in the dawn of a new technological era. “Generative AI is rapidly changing workplace communication, and leaders who aren’t grounding their messages in audience analysis and emotional intelligence are struggling to sustain connection and trust,” she says. “My first piece of advice is to start with people-first audience analysis and emotional intelligence, then use AI to amplify, not replace, your authentic voice.”
The program’s design reflects the Daniels School’s commitment to leadership development at the intersection of data-driven business education and people-centered practice. Through the Center for Working Well, the curriculum is grounded in the science of what it means for employees and organizations to “work well” — and how leaders can create environments where individuals thrive.
Learners will benefit from a flexible structure that fits into demanding professional schedules while still offering highly engaged, high-touch experiences with faculty and peers. Whether participants come from STEM fields such as manufacturing, healthcare and finance, or non-STEM industries such as retail, CPG or logistics, the program ensures relevance by focusing on universal leadership challenges: communication, influence, motivation, conflict and change.
Leadership With Impact in a Changing World is an investment in leaders who want to grow, adapt and elevate their impact in an ever-changing workplace. For organizations, it is an opportunity to equip emerging and established leaders with the skills required to guide teams through uncertainty with integrity, authenticity and strategic insight.
Registration is now open. Take the next step toward leading with impact and secure spots for you and your team today.
