The deadline to register is May 1.
Pricing:
Impact Partners and/or Organizations that Have Achieved COA Accreditation: $4750
Other Organizations: $5250
Social Current is excited to offer financial assistance to individuals interested in attending the 2025 Executive Leadership Institute. Ten people will each receive $2,500 to use toward the cost of their registration fees. This financial assistance is made possible through the generous contribution of an anonymous sponsor.
Express interest in receiving financial assistance by completing this online form.
The Executive Leadership Institute (ELI), offered in partnership with Loyola University Chicago’s Quinlan School of Business, equips senior-level managers and executives with the knowledge and skills to oversee day-to-day operations, and prepare for the future and greater systems change. Transactional meets transformational for this influential experience.
In addition to the weeklong in-person event, students participate in a full year of online learning, which includes interactive presentations, small-group discussions, experiential learning tours of community-based organizations, personal reflection and journaling, and more. To help students reinforce and apply their learning, they also complete self-designed projects that addresses an organizational challenge. The presentations are given before the assembly of participants and faculty.
ELI assembles a wide variety of faculty from the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, as well as academia. Social Current’s partnership with Quinlan means access to first-class faculty and specialized expertise, as well as the flexibility to create a program to transform students’ leadership skills. The curriculum will not only challenge, but offers a rare opportunity to focus on excellence, impact, and systems change.
An additional benefit of the program is that students receive mentoring from ELI alumni. Mentors and mentees are matched according to personal and professional leadership attributes. Hundreds of human and social services leaders have graduated from the institute and they continue to engage through alumni opportunities.
In this video, Dr. Cha-Tanya Lankford, director of Delaware programs at Pressley Ridge shares how the ELI curriculum continues to shape her as a professional and leader.
All cancellation requests must be made in writing and are subject to a $500 processing fee. Cancellation requests received after May 1 will not be refunded. Credit toward future Social Current events is not currently possible. Notice of written cancellation must be emailed directly to Trudy Gregory, lead operations associate at Social Current.
Networking Happy Hour
8-8:30 a.m. – Morning Motivations
8:30-10:30 a.m. – Session 1: ELI Project Presentations
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Session 2: Introduction to Adaptive Leadership
1:30-3 p.m. – Session 3: Brain Science and Workforce Well-being (Part 1)
3:30-5:30 p.m. – Session 4: Brain Science and Workforce Well-being (Part 2)
8-8:30 a.m. – Morning Motivations
8:30-10 a.m. – Session 1: AI in the Social Services Part 1 – Tools for Resilient Organizations
10:30 a.m.-Noon – Session 2: AI in the Social Services Part 2 – Panel Discussion
1-6 p.m. – Organizational Visit and Panel Discussion
7-9: p.m. – Networking Dinners (Offsite)
8-8:30am – Morning Motivations
8:30-10 a.m. – Session 1: Human Centered Design Thinking
10:30 a.m.-Noon – Session 2: Leveraging Generative Partnerships for Next Generation Leadership
Noon-1:30 p.m.
1:30-3 p.m. – Session 3: Using Data to Implement Strategy
3:30-5 p.m. – Session 4: Advancing a New Leadership Paradigm
8-8:30 a.m. – Morning Motivations
8:30-10 a.m. – Session 1: ELI Projects – Overview and Q&A
10:30 a.m.-Noon – Session 2: Individual SWOT Reflections with Brandon Pendleton
Noon-2 p.m. – Farewell Lunch & Town Hall
This session will provide an overview of adaptive leadership. This practical leadership framework is designed to help individuals and organizations adapt and thrive in challenging environments and was originally developed by Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky at Harvard University. In thinking how they can apply the concepts to their work, participants will explore ways to break ranks with old systems, recast their work as leaders to mobilize change, and bring forth new possibilities as a leader and for overall organizational health.
Presenter: Robena Spangler, senior director of leadership and organizational development, Social Current
Workforce trends clearly show that leaders are more effective when they move beyond top-down, employee recognition and self-care initiatives and meaningfully partner with staff. However, it is difficult to know where to start, especially given the many expectations placed on leaders. Luckily, there is a foundational framework to guide our actions. We can use knowledge about how our brains function to improve engagement, retention, communication, and organizational culture.
This session will explore concepts and strategies for building brain-friendly workplaces to enhance cognitive flexibility, emotional regulation, and sound decision making. Participants will gain practical, research-backed strategies to foster executive functioning, psychological safety, and self-regulation, all while setting healthy expectations that promote adaptability, collaboration, and well-being. By aligning workplaces with how the brain thrives, organizations can cultivate a culture where employees more easily plan, adapt, and innovate.
Presenters: Karen Johnson, senior director of Change in Mind, and Kelly Martin, director of practice excellence, Social Current
This session will provide an executive-level overview of how artificial intelligence (AI) can be strategically leveraged to strengthen organizational resilience and effectiveness. Participants will explore key AI tools and how they can be applied to in streamline operations, enhance service delivery, and address critical challenges faced by human and social services organizations.
Presenter: Jonathan Singer, professor, Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work
For this session a panel of experts and executives will discuss the strategic integration of AI into human and social services organizations. The session will address opportunities for innovation, potential risks, and long-term implications of AI adoption in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Executives frequently face ethical dilemmas that require them to balance organizational goals, stakeholder interests, and social responsibility. This session will provide a strategic framework for making ethical decisions under pressure and use real-world case studies to illustrate how leaders can navigate complexity while maintaining integrity.
Presenter: Jeanne Sokolec, BSW Director and clinical associate professor, Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work
This session will focus on building and leveraging generative partnerships by using a collaborative process model and applying leadership competencies for the next generation of social sector leaders.
Presenter: Robena Spangler, senior director of leadership and organizational development, Social Current
This session will focus on the strategic use of data to inform decision-making, prioritize resources, and implement transformative organizational strategies. Participants will examine practical methods for aligning data insights with mission-driven objectives.
Presenter: Katelyn Jones, vice president of impact insights and analytics, YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago
This session will focus on inclusive, collaborative, and community-driven leadership that highlights influence over control, collaborative impact, addressing structural barriers and shared power.
Presenter: Robena Spangler, senior director of leadership and organizational development, Social Current
This reflective session will guide participants through a structured analysis of their personal leadership strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). Leaders will identify strategic areas for growth and development to enhance their impact within their organizations.
Presenter: Brandon Pendleton, adjunct professor, Loyola University Chicago Quinlan School of Business
Quinlan School of Business
Loyola University Chicago
820 N Michigan Ave.
Chicago IL, 60611
The Executive Leadership Institute takes place on Loyola’s Water Tower Campus.
The Drake Hotel
140 East Walton Place
Chicago, IL 60611
Learn more about our special discounted rates.
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