Home Articles Articles Fall Preview: What Executive Education Workshops Are Coming Up?

Fall Preview: What Executive Education Workshops Are Coming Up?

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Read more about what's coming up this fall in Wake SPS's Executive Education department.

The most successful and influential leaders within any organization usually share a common trait – a commitment to continuous learning.

In a rapidly changing world, staying ahead and investing in your own growth is essential to being an effective leader and reaching your highest potential.

The Executive Education team at Wake Forest University is here to help you learn, adapt, and excel with our non-credit and non-degree academic professional development programs taught by world-class faculty.

Here is a preview of what workshops are offered this upcoming fall.

Project Management Essentials for Working Professionals

Date: September 30th, 2024, 8:00 am – 4:15 pm
Location: In-person at Wake Downtown in Winston-Salem, NC
Facilitator: Denis Maier, Ph.D.

Registration deadline: September 20th, 2024

This one-day workshop will help participants plan, set up, and execute a successful project, which is a critical skill in today’s work environment.

Denis Maier is faculty for the online master's degree in project management — Denis Maier

“Due to higher complexity and overall business challenges, there is an increased demand for conducting projects,” explained Denis Maier. “At some point, most working professionals will be involved in projects. Understanding the essentials of project management will support the successful completion of projects on a large scale.”

Key takeaways from this workshop include:

Best practices in project set up, planning, and execution
Tools for monitoring and supporting projects throughout the project lifecycle
How to acquire and develop the right project team
Strategies for managing stakeholder expectations
How to control change and close the project

Finance for Healthcare Professionals

Date: 8 sessions (October 3rd, October 8th, October 10th, October 17th, October 24th, November 5th, November 7th, November 14th; all sessions are held at 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm ET)
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Facilitator: Kyre Lahtinen

Registration deadline: September 19th, 2024

Both clinical and administrative healthcare leaders need financial acumen in order to better serve their organization and ultimately, better serve patients. In this virtual short course, Visiting Associate Professor of Finance Kyre Lahtinen equips participants with the financial literacy to make sound decisions, manage resources efficiently, maximize revenue, ensure compliance, and contribute to the overall financial health of their organization.

Key takeaways include:

An understanding of fundamental financial principles and practices of healthcare systems.
How to navigate and interpret the financial statements of healthcare organizations and related institutions.
How to use capital budgeting tools to evaluate projects and investments within the healthcare sector.
Proficiency in assessing the financial metrics commonly employed by healthcare stakeholders to gauge the financial health of healthcare organizations and the broader economy.
Insights into how clinics, practice groups, departments, and healthcare organizations generate value within the unique context of the healthcare industry.

Leading People Who Are Different From You

Date: October 18th, 2024; 8:00 am – 4:15 pm
Location: In-person at Wake Forest Charlotte Center in Charlotte, NC
Facilitator: Patrick Sweeney, Ph.D

Registration deadline: October 10th, 2024.

In today’s global economy, organizations continue to diversify – and leaders must diversify with them. Effective leaders need to know how to bring together individuals from different backgrounds to build cohesive teams that are aligned with common goals and values to gain a competitive edge. This 1-day program equips participants with the tools to lead diverse teams and shape a culture that fosters authenticity and brings out the best in everyone.

Key takeaways include:

The importance of emotional intelligence in leading others who are different
How to use social perception to accurately access others while reducing potential biases
How to reduce prejudice in teams
Various leadership styles to effectively lead people who are different from you
Deeper understanding of the nature of the various areas of diversity (culture, gender, sexual orientation, and age)

This workshop is one of seven open enrollment leadership programs. When participants complete four programs, they earn a Certificate in Leadership from Wake Forest Executive Education and the School of Business’ Allegacy Center for Leadership and Character.

“The courses broadened my thinking and exposed me to different methods and thought processes of how I could engage with my team in this new environment,” said J oElla VanderDoes, who received her Certificate in Leadership in 2022.

Executive Presentations and Data Storytelling

Date: November 8th, 2025; 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Location: In person at Wake Forest Charlotte Center in Charlotte, NC
Facilitator: Elizabeth Ricks

Registration deadline: October 25th, 2024.

Being able to communicate information through compelling visual stories is a crucial skill across all fields. This 1-day program prepares participants to turn data into impactful visuals and narratives with a focus on simplicity and clarity. Visiting Associate Professor of the Practice Elizabeth Ricks models how to distill complex data into engaging visualizations that effectively communicate a message.

At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

Analyze the audience and the business context for their message
Visualize data in a way that speaks to their audience and creates memorable impact
Design graphs and slides that bring a story to life
Prioritize efforts under deadlines and time constraints
Implement best practices for delivering presentations to a variety of audiences

Executive Decision Making and Leadership

Date: November 14th, 2024, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: In-person at Wake Downtown in Winston-Salem, NC
Facilitator: Sherry Moss, Ph.D.

Registration deadline: November 4th, 2024

Making decisions in a fast-paced business environment can be challenging, which is why leaders need to have a developed system for decision-making to guide their teams through uncertainty. This 1-day program focuses on the Vroom model for decision-making.

Sherry Moss, Ph.D., the Benson-Pruitt Professor of Organizational Behavior in the School of Business at Wake Forest University, will lead participants in selecting the decision-making process that yields the best possible outcome, considering factors such as time, decision quality, implementation, and employee development.

In this program, current and emerging leaders will takeaway:

Guidance and actionable tools on how to evaluate decision making contexts
A deeper understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of participative decision making
Insight into the five forms of leader decision making
How to apply the normative leader decision making model to case studies
Opportunity to evaluate one’s own decision making style
Empirically-based advice on how to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of one’s decisions.

Authentic and Effective Leadership

Date: December 13th, 2024, 8:00 am – 4:15 pm
Location: In-person at Wake Downtown in Winston-Salem, NC
Facilitator: Patrick Sweeney, Ph.D

Registration deadline: December 3rd, 2024

The key to high team performance and engagement lies in authentic and effective leadership. In this 1-day program, participants will be equipped with the foundation of authentic leadership.

Facilitator Patrick Sweeney, Ph.D. is a Professor of the Practice of Management and the Executive Director of Wake Forest School of Business’ Allegacy Center for Leadership and Character. He will encourage participants to explore their personal identity as leaders. Understanding the factors driving their behavior enhances leadership authenticity, builds trust, increases effectiveness, and contributes to both personal fulfillment and team success.

Participants will develop a personal leadership plan, resulting in:

Increased self-awareness regarding how purpose, values, and mindset influence leader behavior
Clarity and understanding of a unique leadership style
The ability to effectively manage oneself and connect with others
Enhanced authenticity and effectiveness through the creation of a leadership philosophy
The application of various forms of leadership behavior to achieve optimal personal and professional performance

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