Public Sector Executive Leadership Institute
Powerful tools for facilitating meaningful personal and organizational change
For: Executive Directors, CEOs, Department Directors & Senior Leaders
Program Overview
The Public Sector Executive Leadership Institute provides participants with powerful tools for facilitating meaningful personal and organizational change.
By completing the Public Sector Executive Leadership Institute, leaders don't just gain new tools - they undergo a shift in how they see themselves and their role:
- Understanding Leadership as Personal and Organizational
- Confidence in Strategic Decision Making: Leaders move beyond gut instinct to decisions supported by evidence, frameworks, and proven models
- Grounded Leadership based on management research
- Greater self-awareness, Intentionality, and resilience
- Credibility and influence: Recognition as leaders who can articulate vision and strategy with authority, backed by knowledge
Transformational Leadership Development
Through expert speakers, academic leaders, hands-on projects, and the shared experience and knowledge of group members, participants don't just gain new tools - they undergo a shift in how they see themselves and their role.
Learning Architecture
The Public-Sector Executive Leadership Program offers many different experiential learning opportunities and challenges designed to lift participants out of their comfort zones.
Professors, guest speakers, case studies, and expert panel discussions are carefully chosen from both public and private sectors.
High-calibre speakers include:
- Deputy Ministers
- Assistant Deputy Ministers
- Agency CEOs
- Private sector CEOs
- Data experts
- Entrepreneurs
Key Course Elements
A key focus of the program is to ensure application of the course concepts
Organizational Improvement Project
Participants will design and implement a substantive change project to produce evidence-based change in their organization.
Co-Consulting Process
Small teams of participants from different public service departments and agencies act as peer mentors throughout the course - and by mutual agreement, beyond.
This co-consulting process is centred on the design and implementation of each participant's chosen personal leadership and organizational improvement project.
Trust & Confidentiality
Establishing a level of trust and ensuring confidentiality are primary objectives of all aspects of the program, and are emphasized throughout the course.
Reflection & Feedback
Feedback and reflection are integral to personal growth and effectiveness. After each module, participants submit a brief Self-Reflection paper based on the application of learnings. Feedback and guidance are provided by the Program Director and facilitators.
Course Themes
- Building Highly Effective Teams
- Organizational Design and Culture
- Modernization and Transformation - Strategy for Leading Change
- Governance and Finance
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
- Effective Communication Strategies
- Mindfulness for Leaders
- Developing Self and Others through coaching
- Personal and Organizational Resilience
Program Learning Strategy
- Designed for Executive Directors, CEOs, Department Directors & Senior Leaders
- Offered in a university management school context
- Using leadership/management frameworks & tools
- Broadened by multiple and diverse perspectives
- Anchored in a participant-led project
- Supported by peer consultants
- Scheduled over a period of months
- Opportunities to process the learning
- Post-module reflection reports
Participant Responsibilities
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Attendance | Be at all sessions. Each session is a building block. |
| Participation | Quality contribution to group discussion in plenary and work groups |
| Evaluation | Completion of module evaluations |
| Final Project | Personal leadership and organizational improvement project |
Certification
Graduates of the course receive an executive certificate from the Smith School of Business at Queen's University and Veronica Lacey and Associates.
Location
Queen's University Toronto Campus
30th Floor
200 Front Street West
Toronto
Investment
$17,500 + HST
Includes all course materials, sessions, meals, and certification
"This course was instrumental in helping me implement change. Each month when we learned new concepts and theories, they were immediately trialed at my team meetings. At times, I simply shared some of the concepts I had learned, and we discussed how they might be applied in each of their areas of practice; at other times, I practiced my leadership learnings unbeknownst to my team."
- PSELI Graduate
"Thank you for your feedback. It truly means a lot. This project has become such a passion for me that everyday I think of what more I can do. Regardless of who the speaker was in our course, each one intrinsically spoke to this improvement project. I have learned so much and I think this course reignited the inspiration and meaning in me that I had lost for awhile. I can't thank you enough for the opportunity."
- PSELI Graduate
"Specifically, I came to realize that my understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion was limited based on my experiences and the community where I live. It was quite challenging to be in the program with so many people having varied experiences and exposure to equity and inclusion issues. I realized that I had much to learn."
- PSELI Graduate
Inquire About PSELI
Ready to transform your leadership? Get in touch to learn more about the Public Sector Executive Leadership Institute.