Leadership isn’t learned in theory—it’s forged in action.

This intensive two-day program is designed for leaders at every level who are ready to elevate how they lead people, influence culture, and drive measurable team performance. Unlike traditional programs, High-Performance Leadership: Building Teams that Win delivers an immersive, application-focused experience that strengthens the ability to lead with clarity, adaptability, and purpose under real-world pressure.

With Nashville as the backdrop, you will engage in high-stakes simulations and authentic leadership challenges that mirror the complexity, speed, and visibility of today's most demanding organizational environments.

What You Will Learn

Experiential Learning that Transforms

Day One—Elite Performance Under Pressure

Step inside the university's athletics program alongside top coaches and teams. You will lead through constrained timelines, high-visibility performance pressures, and competing priorities—directly replicating the high-speed, high-stakes decisions that define modern leadership.

What You Will Practice: Building alignment, executing under scrutiny, and creating cultures of resilience when performance matters most.

EXCLUSIVE Evening Leadership Panel: Join athletics coaches from Vanderbilt University for an intimate networking reception focused on coaching high-performance teams. Learn firsthand how championship coaches develop talent, maintain team cohesion, and sustain excellence under pressure.

Day Two—Real-World Leadership Challenge

Working in cross-functional teams, you will tackle an active leadership challenge presented by a Nashville organization, which could range from initiatives involving healthcare innovation to music industry transformation to civic impact. This isn't a case study; it's live problem-solving where you must quickly build trust, clarify direction, and drive decisions through ambiguity.

What You Will Practice: Influencing without authority, navigating group dynamics, and leading change when the stakes are real.

Rather than theoretical concepts, you will build practical capabilities, including:

• Emotional Intelligence. Reading situations and adapting your leadership style in real-time
• Psychological Safety and Trust. Creating psychological safety and team cohesion quickly
• Conflict Navigation. Managing difficult conversations and feedback with confidence.
• Strategic Leadership. Connecting team goals, values, and accountability to drive results.
• Coaching Capability. Developing others to multiply your leadership impact.

Sustained Impact Beyond Two Days

Your development continues long after your time at Vanderbilt. You will reconvene virtually as a cohort 4–6 weeks after the program conclusion for a faculty-facilitated session to reinforce insights, share on-the-job successes, and strengthen your peer leadership network for ongoing support.

Ready to Lead with Confidence and Credibility?

Whether you are stepping into your first leadership role or scaling your impact across a complex organization, this program provides the experiential foundation and practical tools you need to lead others effectively from day one.

Who Should Attend

This program is ideal for leaders who are responsible for managing others and driving team performance, including:

• Mid-level managers transitioning from individual contributor roles to broader leadership responsibility
• Team leaders and functional leads seeking to strengthen their ability to influence, align, and inspire others
• High-potential professionals being developed for greater leadership scope or cross-functional oversight
• Leaders in fast-paced or high-growth environments who must lead through change, complexity, and ambiguity
• Cross-industry professionals — from business and healthcare to education, public service, and nonprofits — who want to enhance their effectiveness in motivating people and building high-trust, results-driven teams

Continuing Education Credits

1.4 CEUs

Learning Hours

14 hour(s)

NOTE:
This program has limited seats so please register early. If the program session becomes full, you will be notified if you must be placed on the wait list.