Leaders Institute

CEN Leaders Institute

The CEN Leaders Institute, held annually, is an eight-month-long (October to May), intensive leadership development opportunity for nonprofit executive directors/chief executive officers. Each year, guided by our deeply held commitment to IDEAL principles, we strive to recruit a diverse group of participants that serve in a variety of organizations and missions. Leaders are then brought together on a monthly basis to share experiences and participate in full-day, high-impact professional development sessions. This established program was built on tested curriculum that can easily be put into practice at any nonprofit organization. Participants graduate with a strong peer support network and a more robust toolkit of techniques and resources to help them sustain an effective organization.

Meet Cohort XV

Recruitment for Class XVI will begin in Spring 2022!
Please email our CEO, Shana Peete, to learn more and apply for the next Leaders Institute cohort at shana@cen.org.

Leaders Institute XIII & XIV
Graduation Event

Our virtual celebration took place on June 24th, 2021! This incredible event was a reminder of our sector’s powerful collective impact and it was heartwarming to hear from the leaders of our last two Leaders Institute cohorts.

Learn More

"Even if you don't think you need this, you need it. After 21 years of nonprofit work, I found this program to be a phenomenal capstone and would rival any program I would engage in at Stanford or Harvard. This is an incredibly special opportunity to invest in yourself and go there. The time I invested in this program has been a worthy and valuable investment and I am grateful for the support, kinship, training, and coaching I received."

-Graduate of Leaders Institute Class 13

Leaders Institute Program Snapshot

Sustainability - The program kicks off with a two day retreat (offered virtually in 2020) that focuses on how to sustain yourself as a leader so that you can lead your organization for years to come.
Leadership Development - Participants will take a deep dive into leadership style and will receive a “360 Leadership Practices Inventory” lead by an expert in the Leadership Challenge developed by Jim Kouzes & Barry Posner.
Peer Networks - Leaders Institute forges strong bonds between the cohorts. In each session, we practice peer counseling and also strengthen ties through an effective buddy system. This format creates a valuable long term support network.
Amazing Speakers - Participants will hear the leadership journeys from some of Silicon Valley’s most prestigious leaders in a unique and intimate setting. Some previous speakers: Rick Williams, Carol Larson, Ned Barnholt, Chuck Geschke, Joe Simitian, & more!
Personal Coaching - Each participant is also paired with a personal leadership coach for eight “1 on 1” sessions. The coaches mirror what is taught through the institute to further support the participants leadership development.

Next Class Begins October 2021

Tuition: $6,500
Significant scholarships are available for all leaders, with a focus on supporting BAIPOC leaders and organizations serving BAIPOC communities. Thank you to our sponsors for making this possible!

Tuition includes: monthly facilitation, leadership assessment, & coaching sessions. Participants also receive a year of CEN Membership.

Past Program Sponsors

A special thank you to our 2018 Lead Program Sponsor, The Sobrato Family Foundation. This support allows us to provide significant scholarship funding and will be made available to program participants on a needs basis.

Eustace-Kwan Family Foundation

Thanks to the generosity of the Eustace-Kwan Family Foundation, executive coaching will be provided, at no extra tuition cost, for each participant in the 2018 cohort.

Video Testimonials

Thandiwe Lyons
Executive Director
Onyxx Village Connection

Vinney Arora
Executive Director
My Digital TAT2

"This entire class has been one of the most important, uplifting, and special experiences of my professional life and I am without words to thank you, my teachers, for all you have done through this institute for me personally and for our nonprofit community ... what you are doing through this work and the way you all lead in the sector is so important and so necessary.''