I am delighted to announce that we are launching a new Institute for Strategic Communications & Change in partnership with the University of Ottawa’s prestigious Centre for Continuing Education.
The certificate-based leadership program provides an opportunity for participants to be immersed in the latest best practices in strategic communications and change management.
What’s both exciting and different about the Institute is that it’s the first professional development program that aims squarely at the point of intersection between these two traditional disciplines. It provides a unique forum to explore and experiment with strategies for elevating communications by applying best practices in change management, as well as uncovering avenues for driving change through approaches that are fueled by communications.
The idea for the Institute arose from my experience over the last 15 years in the trenches of my consulting practice. It’s been a consistent observation that in our digital era of information overload, where change is now the new normal, a new set of abilities and tools is needed for practitioners to navigate and succeed in this landscape. As the worlds of strategic communications and change management are blurring, organizations need talent with fluency across both disciplines – communicators and change agents who can deliver integrated, imaginative and results-based solutions.
Until now, practitioners have had limited options for elevating their skills, knowledge and capabilities in strategic communications and change in an integrated way. From my extensive review of programs currently out there (and my own experience as a participant in a bunch of them), the common approach tends to be functionally siloed and delivered in a traditional instructor-led manner. The Institute, on the other hand, adopts a more experiential approach, offering learning through conversation, discovery, application and peer coaching.
As Institute Director, I’ve teamed up with uOttawa’s Centre for Continuing Education to design a truly cutting-edge leadership program for strategic communicators and agents of change.
The curriculum is anchored in our internationally-recognized Results Map methodology, and will feature live case studies, expert guest speakers, practical work assignments and action learning. Throughout the three-month program, participants will receive one-on-one coaching to help solidify the learning experience and bridge the gap to day-to-day application of new ideas, concepts and tools. The program is designed to be of particular relevance to participants in the public or para-public sectors (such as governments, associations, institutes, and not-for-profits). These types of organizations typically face similar unique challenges when trying to drive effective communications and transformation.
Upon completion of the program, participants will earn a University of Ottawa Professional Development Certificate in Strategic Communications & Change, and will be equipped to deliver measurable results in increased employee engagement, enhanced organizational alignment and improved relevance for their organizations.
If you are a mid- to senior- level communications or change practitioner wanting to raise your game, feel free to contact me to discuss whether the Institute might be a good fit for your career growth or professional development.
We’d love to have you be a part of it.