# Experienced Leader Certificate Program Elevate Your Leadership with Advanced Change Management, Strategic Planning, and Organizational Development Skills Canonical URL: ## Overview This program is designed for professionals who have been in formal positions of authority for five years or more. Get ready to elevate your leadership skills. The program provides a comprehensive exploration of change concepts from an organizational perspective, equipping participants with the skills to create effective plans for organizational change, apply strategies for leading and managing change, and utilize best practices for evaluating the outcomes of change initiatives. Additionally, the program focuses on promoting a positive workplace culture through strategies for building trust, influence, and relationships, analyzing and managing organizational conflict, and creating comprehensive plans for developing others and building teams. Participants will also gain insights into strategic planning on an organization-wide level, aligning unit goals to the strategic plan, conducting performance reviews, and making necessary adjustments. The program covers efficient financial management, human capital management systems, and the utilization of technology to enhance management practices. Finally, participants will learn to analyze the significance of external stakeholders, cultivate effective interagency working relationships, and understand the impact of communication with the public and customers. By completing this certificate program, experienced leaders will be well-equipped to lead their organizations through complex challenges and drive strategic initiatives. Participants should expect to complete the program within one (1) year. ## What you'll learn - Plan and lead agency-wide change initiatives. - Foster high-performing teams and manage conflict effectively. - Communicate with influence across diverse stakeholders. - Align leadership decisions with HR, financial, and IT systems. - Strengthen interagency coordination and strategic planning. ## Curriculum 1. **Leading Strategic Change Course** 2. **Cultivating an Engaging Workplace Course** 3. **Achieving Organization-Wide Results Course** 4. **Managing Money, People, and Technology Course** 5. **The Impact of Relationships and Coalitions Course** 6. **Adapting to an AI-Driven Workforce Course** ## Instructors ### Heather Murphy Capps — Curriculum Program Manager Heather is an education and media professional with more than 30 years of experience in teaching, professional skills training, broadcast news, and public relations. She’s been with Graduate School USA since 2008, as the program manager for the Executive Leadership Program, as well as an instructor and course content developer for the Center for Leadership and Management. Her education career began with a teaching stint in a Western Kenya high school. After she returned to the States, she earned a Master’s degree in journalism. Heather then built a dual-track career for herself as a television and radio journalist who also taught both high school and university students, focusing on writing, politics, and journalism. In the early 2000s, Heather stepped aside from her news career to serve as press secretary to the Mayor of Jacksonville and the Special Projects Director for the Jacksonville Super Bowl Host Committee. While holding those positions, she led multiple public relations and media outreach projects to improve the city’s recognition, image, and public hospitality prior to Super Bowl 39. Heather has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Bryn Mawr College and an M.S. in journalism from Boston University. ### Bascom Destrehan “Dit” Talley — Instructor Bascom Destrehan “Dit” Talley, III is a seasoned educator and consultant with more than four decades of experience in leadership development, executive training, and organizational consulting. Since 1993, he has been an instructor with Graduate School USA, designing and delivering courses in leadership, management, and executive development for federal and international clients. He also teaches Global Leadership in the International Teaching and Global Learning Program at Johns Hopkins University and has instructed in the Police Executive Leadership Program, supporting both undergraduate and graduate cohorts, including law enforcement professionals from the U.S. Secret Service and ICE. In addition to his teaching career, Dit founded and led Corporate and Government Consulting, a Washington, DC–based firm that specialized in leadership development, team building, strategic planning, and organizational assessments. His work has supported federal agencies, state offices, and private-sector organizations across the United States and internationally. He has coordinated national conferences, authored training manuals and guides, and published on workplace issues such as team building and preventing sexual harassment. Dit holds degrees from the University of the South, St. Paul School of Theology, and Boston University, with advanced studies in social ethics and public policy. ### Robin Fortner — Instructor Robin Fortner is a Marine Corps Veteran, Strategic Executive Advisor, and Leadership Strategist known for elevating leaders and organizations operating in high-stakes environments. With over three decades of military leadership including service as Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary of the Navy, Robin has guided senior decision-makers through complex challenges requiring clarity, readiness, and bold strategic alignment. As a combat veteran deployed to both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, she brings an extensive and hard-won operational knowledge set that informs every dimension of her leadership practice. As President of R.C. Fortner Enterprises, Robin works with senior leaders and organizations to accelerate mission-focused growth, strengthen executive leadership capability, and navigate complex organizational dynamics with confidence and precision. As an instructor and facilitator, Robin translates decades of real-world leadership experience into high-impact learning environments. She is known for bridging rigorous strategic frameworks with human-centered leadership development. Her instructional approach draws from operational experience, making complex leadership concepts immediately applicable and actionable. Robin holds dual Master's degrees in Leadership and Management and Human Resource Management, a Bachelor's degree in Intelligence Studies, and is pursuing her Doctorate in Strategic Leadership at Liberty University. ## Pricing **Tuition:** $2999