Elevate Leadership Certificate Program

Effective leaders continuously enhance their skill set to make an impact on the people and organizations they lead. The journey is defined by experience, self-awareness, and personal development. As leaders rise in organizations, they must elevate their skill sets to see the organization from a higher viewpoint, entrusting their colleagues and reports to manage everyday tasks.

This interactive learning experience enables participants to learn in a smaller, more intimate cohort. The program will explore the characteristics of great leaders from a human-centered and business acumen approach. Participants will learn new tools to help them grow into more senior roles, lead teams through change, inspire a workplace built on collaboration, and develop actionable plans to achieve long-term success.

Description

Program Components:

The journey begins with a virtual group introductory call to meet the program facilitators and cohort members. Participants will have reflective work in between each in-person session to encourage learning, skill development, and reflection outside of the in-person sessions.

Session 1: Engaging Strengths

  • Recognize existing leadership strengths and development opportunities
  • Identify what a good leader looks like and how to elevate oneself into a more senior role
  • Differentiate between micro- and macro-levels of management
  • Understand how self-awareness impacts relationships and an organization's overall success
  • Create a plan to build a board of advisors and network with other senior leaders

Session 2: Empowering People

  • Determine ways to coach, mentor, and develop others
  • Strengthen organizational trust
  • Implement best practices for effective delegation
  • Explore a leader’s role in decision-making

Session 3: Embracing Change

  • Develop a holistic perspective of an organization and realize the overall impact change can have
  • Become familiar with the phases of change
  • Explore strategies for leading oneself, individuals, teams, and organizations through ongoing change
  • Discover how to inspire a culture of adaptability

Session 4: Executing Forward

  • Create and communicate an organizational-level strategic plan
  • Implement and measure strategic initiatives
  • Establish succession plans

Virtual Group Reflection Calls

Following the in-person sessions, the cohort will meet for two virtual group check-in sessions to discuss how they have incorporated their learning into their lives and how they can continue to improve and sustain their new practices.

Audience

Upper-level managers preparing for the next level or those new to senior leadership roles who are responsible for a division or overall organization.

Outcomes

  • Shift from a task-oriented management mindset into a “big picture” perspective
  • Capitalize on prior leadership experience to develop an authentic leadership aspiration
  • Effectively interact with all levels of an organization for maximum impact
  • Develop strategic and long-term thinking
  • Guide an organization through change
  • Establish habits and behaviors for continued improvement to retain leadership skills

Venue

Cintas Center
1624 Musketeer Drive
Cincinnati, 45207 United States
+ Google Map
Phone
513-745-1094

Build Your Own Certificate

Business professionals need a variety of skills and tools to complement their diverse industries and achieve their unique success. Build a certificate from our large list of offerings to match your exact needs!

Description

XLC is proud to offer all working professionals the ability to build their own custom certificate programs by choosing four unique one-day programs that target their specific needs. Participants can focus on business acumen tools, communication skills, or any combination in between! No matter what the selected one-day programs are, professionals will learn and gain tools and skills that can be immediately incorporated into their professional and personal lives.

One-Day Program Options:
Participants select 4 one-day programs offered within the same semester.

Audience

Professionals at any level who want a customized solution for their challenges, obstacles, and areas of improvement.

Venue

Cintas Center
1624 Musketeer Drive
Cincinnati, 45207 United States
+ Google Map
Phone
513-745-1094

Effective Decision Making

In this fast-paced world, a person’s and their team’s effectiveness in getting things done at work depends on decision-making. How a person manages their time, what meetings they go to, and the work their team focuses on are all based on effective decision-making methods. And yet, according to a global McKinsey study from 2019, only 20% of respondents say their organizations excel at decision-making.

Description

In this one-day program, participants will explore various ways and methods to make decisions as both an individual and as a leader. Then, the program will focus on how to build a culture of effective decision-making within an organization. Real-world examples and interactive activities will guide discussions and showcase examples of great and not-so-great decision-making skills.

Audience

Professionals at all levels in any industry who want to develop their decision-making skills will benefit from this program.

Outcome

Participants will walk away with these skills:

  • Identify various methods to make decisions
  • Leading group decision-making processes by understanding how others make decisions
  • Learn strategies to make personal decisions more effectively
  • Discover how to be consistent and empowering as a decision-making leader
  • Balance autonomy and risk when creating an organizational culture

Venue

Cintas Center
1624 Musketeer Drive
Cincinnati, 45207 United States
+ Google Map
Phone
513-745-1094

Finance for Non-Financial Professionals

Whether you have the word “financial” in your job title, or not, every day you are involved in the world of finance, through business conversations, decisions, and the very work you do.

Description

In this one-day program, you’ll develop an understanding of what are key financial documents, how to interpret them, and why they are important. Financial terms and calculations will be explained in a way that makes sense for non-financial business professionals. Finally, you will also be challenged to apply what you learn in class by analyzing how your work and your decisions are related to the overall performance of the company.

Audience

Any professional interested in developing their understanding of business finances will benefit from this program.

Outcome

Participants will walk away with these skills:

  • Knowing financial concepts and terminology
  • Learning financial tools every professional should understand, and knowing how to use and interpret them
  • Understanding how the work you do impacts the bottom line and making appropriate choices based on this understanding
  • Understanding that gives the confidence to have informed conversations with your peers involving financial issues and decisions

Venue

Cintas Center
1624 Musketeer Drive
Cincinnati, 45207 United States
+ Google Map
Phone
513-745-1094

Influencing in a Cross-Functional Organization

A cross-functional organization is one where multiple reporting lines exist. This may involve direct line or indirect reporting to one or more individuals.

At their best, cross-functional structures can be creative and high-performing. At their worst, they can be a confusing labyrinth of changing players who lack accountability. The skills and behaviors needed to make management a success require a new emphasis on exceptional people skills and methods for influence.

Description

This one-day program will address:

  • Self-awareness and preparation
  • Establishing clear goals upfront
  • A cohesive narrative for persuasion
  • Anticipating or dealing with pushback
  • Systematic follow through to ensure positive outcomes

Audience

Employees at all levels who need to effectively influence others in order to achieve personal, team, and organizational goals will benefit from this program.

Outcome

Participants will walk away with these skills:

  • Identifying personal influencing style, testing out new tactics, and mapping out a territory and relationship blueprint
  • Defining clear outcomes and identifying objectives, obstacles, strategies, and tactics
  • Learning the art of emotional storytelling, elevator pitches, the hook, and how to avoid the curse of knowledge
  • Demonstrating how to test for alignment through listening and responding to concerns and neutralizing defensive and positional responses
  • Utilizing approaches for regular check-in to maintain commitment and anticipate obstacles

Testimonials

“I have never been so engaged in a training program! I am going to suggest this program to use at my agency’s retreat. The facilitators were fantastic! Everyone at all levels of my organization can benefit from this course.”


“With the negotiation techniques I learned in this program, I will be better equipped to handle conflicts. Overall, I think this program will definitely help me be a better manager, which will ultimately result in a stronger more effective team.”


“This is the best program—EVER. And I work in sales training. The facilitators were great and their experience and perspective from ‘outside’ the business world was new, refreshing, and I would even say, more valuable.”

— David, Cisco

Venue

Cintas Center
1624 Musketeer Drive
Cincinnati, 45207 United States
+ Google Map
Phone
513-745-1094

Metrics that Matter

Practically all organizations have metrics, but in most cases, they don’t provide the information we believe they provide, they are constructed improperly, and they are difficult to comprehend and manage.

This course will help you understand how to create metrics that truly matter and avoid the pitfalls of poorly conceived metrics.

Description

This highly-interactive, fun, and fast-paced session provides a framework for understanding and applying tools to meet real business needs. You will walk away from this session with increased confidence to generate creative ideas, techniques to recognize/replace unproductive thinking patterns, and a methodology to foster creative potential and innovation.

Participants are encouraged to think about real-life organizational problems and bring these situations to the program to discuss and brainstorm together. By walking through these problems together, participants will learn the steps to creatively solve problems.

Audience

Supervisors and managers at any level can benefit from a better understanding of metrics.

Outcomes

Participants will walk away with these skills:

  • Understanding the difference between measures and metrics, and how/when to manage each
  • Identifying bad metrics
  • Learning the basics of operational and financial performance, and what metrics to use for each
  • Learning to design key operational and financial metrics to provide managers insight and improve organizational performance
  • Creating examples of metrics that matter for your organization

Venue

Cintas Center
1624 Musketeer Drive
Cincinnati, 45207 United States
+ Google Map
Phone
513-745-1094

Women’s Business Leadership Certificate

Women offer unique skills and values in the workplace that create success in any organization. Having diverse organizational leadership increases innovation, creative thinking, and well-rounded decision-making.

To help organizations and individuals capitalize on developing women leaders, the certificate focuses on:

  • Personal Authentic Leadership
  • Business Acumen; Finance, Strategic Thinking, Negotiation Skills
  • Communication

This program provides an opportunity for mid-level managers to develop the necessary business acumen and leadership skills necessary for further advancement in organizations. Participants benefit from the cohort model by developing long-lasting personal and professional relationships. Sessions are facilitated by Xavier Leadership Center’s nationally recognized and experienced practitioners. These subject-matter experts integrate knowledge with experience to focus on real issues and create opportunities to apply the concepts immediately. The program is multi-layered and highly interactive.

Program Layers:

  • Immersive Experience: A fun, informal environment that fosters team building among the participants; a shared experience is important for developing the cohort.
  • Business Skills: Offering skills and concepts drawn from Xavier Leadership Center’s experienced professionals and subject-matter experts to increase knowledge in areas critical to the mission of businesses.
  • Personal and Authentic Leadership Development: Expanding organizational and personal leadership capabilities with a focus on bringing unique strengths and styles to work.
  • Assessment: The program includes an assessment to discover personal management styles; insight into directing, delegating, and motivating; and strategies to support long-term development.

Program Dates: Participants are expected to attend each session in order to complete the certificate. If participants have known scheduling conflicts, they are encouraged to let XLC know and an alternative can be planned, if necessary.

  • Sep 10, 2025 (5pm-8:30pm)
  • Sep 11, 2025 (8:30am-3:30pm)
  • Oct 9, 2025 (8:30am-3:30pm)
  • Nov 13, 2025 (8:30am-3:30pm)
  • Dec 11, 2025 (8:30am-2:30pm)
  • Jan 15, 2026 (8:30am-3:30pm)
  • Feb 12, 2026 (8:30am-3:30pm)
  • Mar 12, 2026 (8:30am-3:30pm)
  • Apr 9, 2026 (8:30am-3:30pm)
  • May 14, 2026 (8:30am-3:30pm)
  • Jun 11, 2026 (8:30am-3:30pm)

Description

Certificate Topics:

This certificate program will feature a different topic for each of the 10 program sessions. Topics are chosen using attendees' feedback, workplace trends, and various opportunities. Topics from previous cohorts include:

Kick-Off Event
The Women's Business Leadership Certificate program begins with an informal dinner event where participants can learn more about the program and their fellow cohort members. This kick-off event lays the foundation for relationship-building and networking throughout the program.

Personal Authentic Leadership
This program begins with a personal assessment of your innate combination of thinking and behavioral preferences that make you unique. This knowledge will allow you to understand the leadership styles that fit with who you are and how you are most valuable to your team and the organization. You will also develop an understanding of the key considerations that determine which leadership approaches will be most effective to accomplish your goals. Upon completion, you will create your own plan for applying insights from this transformative journey to becoming a more effective leader in your organization.

Finance for Leaders
As a leader, no matter what area of the organization in which you work, decisions need to be made with an understanding of the financial impact on the company. You'll develop an understanding of all of the key financial documents, how to interpret them, and why they are important. Financial terms and calculations will be explained in a way that makes sense for both financial and non-financial business professionals. Finally, you will also be challenged to apply what you learn in class by analyzing how your work and your decisions are related to the overall performance of the company.

Mastering the Unwritten Rules at Work
American business was designed centuries ago. Women are now fully participating in the workplace, yet only 10% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women. By mastering the unwritten rules and learning to negotiate, you will have new tools to help you be your successful best. This program discusses topics not covered during orientation including how decisions get made and how work really gets done in the office. You will leave with a number of concrete actions you can use immediately.

Leveraging Strengths
This fourth session of the Women’s Business Leadership Certificate program will use the CliftonStrengths Full 34 profile to guide participants to understand their strengths and how to use them effectively to lead others. Participants will also understand how they can identify other people’s strengths and collaborate with them effectively.

Critical Conversations
When we are stuck because we are avoiding a needed conversation, or having the same conversation more often than we want, it is a sign that we are talking but not really conversing. Learning the proven skills that help frame how, when, and what we say can yield amazing results. These tools improve relationships, reduce stress, minimize conflict, improve productivity, and best of all, increase our ability to be effective. This discussion-based program will feature interactive exercises that allow you to gain critical conversation tools such as: identifying roadblocks to managing relationships and conflict, learning to practice and apply specific skills geared toward effectiveness, recognizing and addressing individuals displaying disruptive behavior, focusing on interactions common to the corporate environment.

Coaching and Mentoring Others
The workplace has evolved drastically in many industries since the pandemic and the Great Resignation. Now, it is even more important for managers and team leaders to create a positive work environment where people want to belong. Clear communication, strong mentoring, and accurate expectations are needed to develop effective teams both virtually and in person. This session will discuss transparent expectations while addressing each employee’s personal needs. Effective communication will follow, focusing on delivering feedback in healthy and positive ways. Finally, participants will explore aligning individual and team performances to create a cohesive work environment.

Effective Decision Making
An organization’s success depends on its ability to make timely and informed decisions. And yet, according to a global McKinsey study from 2019, only 20% of respondents say their organizations excel at decision-making. Participants will explore various ways and methods to make decisions as both an individual and as a leader. Then, the program will focus on how to build a culture of effective decision-making within an organization. Real-world examples and interactive activities will guide discussions and showcase examples of great and not-so-great decision-making skills.

Managing Change
There are few guarantees in the workplace today. However, change is one of them. More than ever, organizations and their environments are in a state of flux as processes are streamlined, technologies are upgraded, new products are introduced, and organizations increasingly compete in a global market. In some cases, these changes are planned. In others, they are not. Sometimes the forces for change are internal to the organization, and sometimes they are caused by external conditions. Regardless of why change occurs, employees and organizations need to be competent in dealing with and managing change. Participants will walkway with tools and methodologies of leading through and managing change.

Strategic Thinking and Planning
While strategic thinking and planning are the roadmaps to success, implementation is the vehicle that gets you there. Leaders must decide the most important things that need to get done, execute the key to-dos, and know when to say “no” to achieve your organization’s strategic goals. Participants will leave energized and ready to be more strategic thinkers and implement their strategic plans. They will also discover ways to effectively communicate their strategies to colleagues at different levels of the organization.

Moving Forward as a Leader
This interactive, engaging, and thought-provoking session will help you understand yourself and others in order to build strong, productive relationships as a leader. Not every team member can be managed and developed in the same way, so leaders must understand how to be effective in many different situations, such as meetings and brainstorming sessions. You will learn how to connect better with colleagues and employees whose priorities and preferences differ from yours – saving you time, energy, and money.

Audience

Women in mid-level manager positions looking to develop the necessary business acumen and leadership skills to advance to organizational leadership positions.

Outcomes

Participants will walk away with these skills:

  • Utilizing a leadership style that is valuable to themselves, their teams, and their organization
  • Mastering the unwritten rules of work
  • Thinking and behaving strategically
  • Creating conditions for innovators to thrive
  • Communicating with clarity and confidence to achieve leadership goals
  • Practicing in a variety of communication styles that may be used in specific situations
  • Understanding key financial documents, how to interpret them, and knowing why they are important
  • Using the language of finance
  • Effectively negotiate with others
  • Demonstrating how to test for alignment through listening and responding
  • Leveraging the best decision-making tool for maximum impact
  • Mentor team members and direct reports on an individual level
  • Projecting a strong executive presence that builds trust and value in the minds of othe

Venue

Cintas Center
1624 Musketeer Drive
Cincinnati, 45207 United States
+ Google Map
Phone
513-745-1094

Business Acumen Certificate

XLC’s Business Acumen Certificate gives you skills to manage with a strategy that is understood and can be implemented at all levels, along with a strong foundation of how business operates, makes money, and sustains profitable growth.

You will learn tools to effectively manage and engage the workforce. You will gain knowledge in planning, organizing, directing, and controlling the activities of an organization in order to satisfy customers’ needs.

Participants must attend 4 of the following one-day programs within the same semester:

Description

Change Leadership:
Change Leadership includes more than just looking at what change is needed, but how the change will affect people. This program will provide participants with practical tools to assess and manage change, successfully identify the role and phases of change, and walk through how to create action plans to overcome challenges and reach desired outcomes.

Creative Problem Solving:
This highly-interactive, fun, and fast-paced session provides a framework for understanding and applying tools to meet real business needs. You will walk away from this session with increased confidence to generate creative ideas, techniques to recognize/replace unproductive thinking patterns, and a methodology to foster creative potential and innovation.

Effective Decision Making:
In this fast-paced world, a person’s and their team’s effectiveness in getting things done at work depends on decision-making. How a person manages their time, what meetings they go to, and the work their team focuses on are all based on effective decision-making methods. In this one-day program, participants will explore various ways and methods to make decisions as both an individual and as a leader. Then, the program will focus on how to build a culture of effective decision-making within an organization. Real-world examples and interactive activities will guide discussions and showcase examples of great and not-so-great decision-making skills.

Executing Business Strategy:
In this program, you will learn how to define a business strategy and communicate it to peers, supervisors, and reports. Once participants can capture the elements of a strategy, they will explore the strategy’s execution. Creating a cohesive and comprehensive strategic plan will be guided by the OGSM method while also referencing other approaches. Filled with small and large group exercises, case studies, and concrete examples, participants will be able to immediately identify and advance their organization’s strategy.

Finance for Non-Financial Professionals:
In this one-day program, you will develop an understanding of key financial documents, how to interpret them, and why they are important. Financial terms and calculations will be explained in a way that makes sense for non-financial business professionals. Finally, you will also be challenged to apply what you learn in class by analyzing how your work and your decisions are related to the overall performance of the company.

Storytelling with Data:
Data provides the foundation for making smart and appropriate choices in many contexts. However, it is not unusual for managers to be overwhelmed by the amount of available data within their organization and the marketplace. This session focuses on identifying the relevant business objective or question, assessing what data is needed, and understanding the target audience. Then, participants will discover how to utilize the most applicable data to tell a compelling story that positively impacts the right business choices and outcomes. Participants will also explore the interpretation of data and ensure that data is used accurately and completely.

Time Management and Accountability:
This program aims to provide practical tips, tools, and strategies to help individuals approach their use of time wisely and help managers lead their teams more effectively. Oftentimes, procrastination sets in because a certain task seems daunting or emotionally taxing. Participants will explore ways to manage their energy and mindsets to aid in their productivity. Finally, the program will discuss how accountability is created between managers and their teams, among colleagues, and within oneself.

Audience

Professionals at any level who want to increase their business acumen.

Venue

Cintas Center
1624 Musketeer Drive
Cincinnati, 45207 United States
+ Google Map
Phone
513-745-1094