Leadership Essentials

Build the habits that help new managers lead well

Becoming a manager changes what success looks like. Your work now includes setting direction, developing others and creating the conditions for your team to deliver. Leadership Essentials gives new people managers practical tools and guided practice for making that transition with confidence.

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Program Information

Date

March 12 – April 16, 2027
Fridays from 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Format

Live Virtual via Zoom

Location

Terry Executive Education Center
3475 Lenox Road
Atlanta, GA 30326

Program Fees

$2,200(Includes meals, parking and all program materials)

Career Impact

Move from individual contribution to people leadership.

Learn to clarify expectations, delegate work, hold useful one-on-ones and address performance concerns before they grow. You’ll practice these skills using situations from your own workplace and build a plan for continuing to develop as a manager.

Program Overview

This virtual cohort program brings new managers together for six weekly live sessions, beginning with a welcome session. Each session pairs instruction with discussion and guided practice. Short assignments between sessions give you a chance to test what you learn on the job.

The experience closes with a 90-day people leadership action plan. An optional follow-up clinic offers time to discuss progress and work through challenges after the core program.

What You’ll Learn

Make the shift from doing the work yourself to leading work through others

Set clear expectations and lead more effective one-on-one meetings

Delegate with the right level of authority, support and follow-up

Give specific feedback and coach team members toward ownership

Address accountability concerns and early conflict with greater confidence

Establish communication habits that support trust, clarity and follow-through

Who Will Benefit

Leadership Essentials is designed for professionals who are new to managing people or preparing for their first people management role. It is also a fit for early career managers who want to strengthen their day-to-day approach to leading a team.

Takeaways

You’ll leave with tools you can use immediately, including an approach to one-on-ones and expectation setting, a plan for delegating current work and a framework for feedback and accountability conversations. Your 90-day action plan will help you focus on the management habits that matter most in your role.

Employer Support

Gaining support for professional development requires planning, research, and effective communication to demonstrate how it benefits both you and your company, addressing tough questions with clear value propositions.

Talk to us about a custom program for your organization.

Instructors

Stacy Campbell

Synovus Director and Principal Lecturer, Institute for Leadership Advancement

Stacy Campbell is the Director of the Institute for Leadership Advancement (ILA) at the University of Georgia in the Terry College of Business. After 16 years at Kennesaw State University, most of that as the Executive Director of the Coles College of Business Scholars Program, Stacy is excited to be returning to UGA and working with the ILA to develop our future leaders. She holds a PhD in organizational behavior from the University of Georgia, a M.A. in psychology from the UNC-Chapel Hill, and a BBA in economics/business and psychology from Lafayette College. Prior to her doctoral studies¸ Dr. Campbell worked as a management consultant for KPMG consulting and more recently, the Atlanta-based consulting firm, The North Highland Company, in their change management practice.

Thomas Beil

Lecturer, Department of Management

Thomas Beil is a Lecturer with the Management Faculty at the Terry College of Business and an Instructor in UGA’s Terry Executive Education Department. He is also the Founder and CEO of Perfect Planner LLC. His expertise encompasses manufacturing, supply chain, leadership, production planning and scheduling, continuous improvement, Lean Six Sigma methodologies, project management, cost reduction initiatives, Third Party Logistics (3PL), quality standards, customer service and program management, warehousing and inventory control, contract negotiation, supplier relationship management, procurement and logistics, World Class Manufacturing (WCM), and Plan for Every Part (PFEP).

Dennis Lanham

Executive Director of Executive and Professional Education, UGA Executive Education

Dennis Lanham brings more than 20 years of experience developing education programs for professionals and organizations. Before joining Terry, he served as senior assistant dean and executive director of Santa Clara University’s Leavey Executive Center, where he expanded its leadership, corporate governance and other nondegree programs. He began his career in professional development with Georgia State University’s Executive MBA and executive education programs. Lanham holds an MBA from Georgia State’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business. At Terry, he leads programs and partnerships that respond to the needs of working professionals.

Kachi Ekwerike

Lecturer, Institute for Leadership Advancement

Sharon Noble

Lecturer, Institute for Leadership Advancement

Sharon Noble is an instructor in the UGA Executive Education program and the founder of SKE Advisory where she channels her passion for coaching and empowering leaders into lasting change. She focuses on strengthening leadership capability, building healthy cultures, improving performance management, enabling courageous conversations, shaping HR strategy, and advancing the HR business partner role. Sharon recently retired as Senior Vice President for Global Human Resources at Huber Engineered Materials where she held a number of positions starting in 1996.

She has deep expertise in developing HR strategies, talent acquisition, employee relations, compensation and organizational design. She was responsible for driving significant progress in HEM’s culture and inclusion strategy—referred to as I Belong at Huber. In 2022, she assumed responsibility for HEM Communications.

She has significant HR experience leading Mergers & Acquisitions due diligence processes. During her tenure at HEM, she’s been pivotal to the integration of eight strategic acquisitions, as well as two substantial divestitures.

FAQs

Who should participate in the Leadership Essentials?

The Leadership Essentials is designed for early-career people managers who are transitioning from individual contributor roles into management. It is especially valuable for professionals who have strong technical or subject-matter expertise and want to build the practical skills needed to lead, develop, and support a team effectively.

What will I learn in the program?

The program focuses on the core skills managers need to succeed, including setting clear expectations, conducting effective one-on-one meetings, delegating work, prioritizing responsibilities, delivering feedback, coaching employees, navigating difficult conversations, and building trust and accountability across a team. Participants will also explore practical approaches to managing hybrid or distributed teams and incorporating AI into delegated work responsibly.

How is the program delivered, and what is the time commitment?

The academy is delivered virtually through six weekly live sessions, preceded by a welcome event. Sessions begin at 11am and run through 1pm ET. Participants should also plan time between sessions to complete short, applied assignments and practice new skills in their current management roles.

Will I be able to apply what I learn to my current role?

Absolutely. The academy is designed around practical application, not just theory. Participants bring real management challenges into the program, practice new approaches with peers, and apply tools and frameworks directly in their workplaces between sessions. Topics include real-world conversations, delegation decisions, team communication, and feedback. Participants also have access to AI coaching and tutoring between sessions to reinforce concepts and practice skills.

What will I take away from the Leadership Essentials?

You will leave with practical tools and resources you can use immediately, including a 30-day manager focus plan, a one-on-one and expectation-setting plan, a delegation and AI-aware work plan, a feedback and coaching conversation plan, and a team communication and hybrid rhythm plan. The program culminates in a personalized 90-day people leadership action plan to help you continue developing your management skills beyond the program. Participants also earn a certificate from the Terry College of Business, University of Georgia at the conclusion of the program.

Learn More

We’re here to answer any questions you may have about the Leadership Essentials program or other programs provided by the Terry College of Business Office of Executive Education.

Jordan King

jordanking@uga.edu (404) 467-5130

Director of Conferences & Open Enrollment Programs, Executive Education