Leadership and Management Development Programs
Grand Valley State University offers practical, non-credit leadership and management development programs for working professionals, emerging leaders, and experienced managers. Our programs focus on strengthening leadership capabilities, communication, decision-making, and the skills needed to lead effectively in today's workplace.
Leadership and Management Programs
Explore leadership and management development opportunities designed for professionals at different stages of their careers. Whether you are preparing for a leadership role, managing a team, or seeking to strengthen your influence and effectiveness, our programs provide practical learning relevant to workplace challenges.
Managing from the Middle
Number of weeks TBD, hybrid with live sessions
Managing from the Middle is a workforce leadership program designed for mid-level managers navigating the competing demands of leading from the center of an organization. Offered by GVSU Professional and Continuing Education in partnership with Southwest Michigan First, the program focuses on the distinctive challenges of managing up, down, and laterally while developing others, maintaining performance, and preparing for continued professional growth.
Women in Leadership
7 sessions, hybrid cohort-based with live sessions
Women in Leadership: The Authentic and Resilient Woman Leader is an intensive seven-session leadership program for women leaders who want to define success on their own terms. The program focuses on authentic leadership, resilience, inclusive leadership, strategic communication, sponsorship, professional alliances, and sustainable long-term leadership practices.
What Is Leadership Training?
Leadership and management development programs help professionals strengthen the knowledge and skills needed to lead people, manage teams, communicate effectively, and navigate workplace challenges.
Unlike traditional academic degree programs, GVSU's non-credit leadership offerings focus on practical professional development and do not ordinarily award academic credit toward a degree. Programs may vary in duration, format, and learning outcomes.
|
Type |
What It Means |
|---|---|
|
Non-credit leadership program |
Builds a specific leadership skill in weeks. No admissions process, no transcript, and it doesn't count toward a degree. This is what GVSU's leadership programs are. |
|
Graduate certificate |
Earned as an admitted student, often alongside or ahead of a master's degree. Appears on a transcript. |
|
MBA |
A full graduate degree that covers leadership alongside finance, strategy, and operations. See GVSU's degree programs at gvsu.edu/online. |
How Much Does Leadership Training Cost?
Program fees, schedules, and registration details vary by offering. Visit the individual program pages for current information.
Employers interested in enrolling multiple employees or exploring organizational training opportunities are encouraged to contact GVSU Professional and Continuing Education to discuss available options.
Leadership Training for Your Managers
GVSU Professional and Continuing Education works with employers and organizations to explore leadership and management development opportunities for their teams. Depending on organizational needs and available resources, options may include group enrollment, private cohorts, and customized training focused on practical workplace challenges.
Common Questions
A short, non-credit program that builds the specific skills of managing people. It's not a degree, and it's not quite the same as management training, which leans more toward process and operations than people.
Pricing and upcoming session details will be listed on each program page once confirmed.
Both programs are built for people managing a team now, though Managing from the Middle is designed for anyone stepping into that middle layer, even recently.
No. These are leadership development programs, separate from GVSU's continuing education and licensing programs. If you need CE hours or SCECHs alongside leadership skills, see License Renewal & CEUs.
Questions About our Leadership Programs?
Not sure which leadership program is right for you or your organization? Our Professional and Continuing Education team can help you explore available options, understand program requirements, and identify potential employer training opportunities.