Women Lead conference

Certificate in Women’s Leadership

Develop skills and practices to empower women leaders

The Certificate in Women’s Leadership is a 3-month course designed for professionals who wish to advance women in the workplace and work towards gender equity. The course exposes students to research and studies regarding women in the workplace, as well as current readings and materials on the subject. Additionally, the course offers practical skills for overcoming common barriers facing women in the workplace.

Topics covered

  • Leadership and identity
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Gender and communication
  • Overcoming the confidence gap
  • Work-life integration
  • Compensation and negotiation
 
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“The program provided immeasurable benefits to my career and had a significant personal impact on my life… I now have an action plan to implement my full leadership potential to be a positive change in the world.” Karen Cash (’22) Natural Gas Manager, Avista Utilities

What you'll learn

  • Gain tools and skills to navigate the unique dilemmas that working women face, such as “double-binds” and “unconscious bias.”
  • Understand your individual, unique leadership identity and how it surfaces in teams.
  • Enhance your emotional intelligence for greater effectiveness in leadership roles.
  • Develop skills to communicate and negotiate authentically and confidently in various situations.
  • Identify practices and attitudes that contribute to healthy, fulfilling work-life integration.
Women Lead conference

Details

  • Cost: $3,200 per person
  • Payment Options: Payment plans, discounts, and scholarships
  • Duration: 14 weeks (start in September or January)
  • Credits: 8 CE credits, transferable as 3 graduate credits to select master's programs
  • Format: There are two format options offered each session
    • Fully virtual: live, interactive Zoom classes held once a week.
    • Hybrid: combination of online learning and in-person classes, including two 2-day immersions in Spokane. 
  • Time Commitment: Students tell us they typically spend 3-5 hours per week.
  • Instructors: Julie Kelsey, MBA | Jane Billbe, MBA, PHR
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Testimonials

Headshot of Amy Allen

Amy Allen

Learning & Development Supervisor, CHAS Health

"Where do I even begin? The Certificate in Women’s Leadership has been a transformative experience for both my professional and personal life, primarily because of the incredible community it fostered. Throughout this journey, I was embraced by a circle of intelligent, powerful, and dedicated women. The bonds we formed have only grown stronger as we continue to support each other in our leadership paths. I now have a cherished network of empowered women who I can always lean on and learn from, and for that, I am profoundly grateful."

Mike Gribner

Mike Gribner

Regional Administrator, WSDOT

"Gonzaga's Certificate in Women's Leadership program is a wonderful learning opportunity and not just for women leaders. As a male leader wanting to better understand what barriers and concerns women in our organization face, this training provided me the opportunity to spend some very personal time gaining understanding and texture around how best to become an ally in helping women succeed."

Headshot of Eimear McDonagh

Eimear McDonagh

Director, Agri Direct Australia Pty Ltd

"Being a participant in the CWL study program was a game changer for me in how I viewed myself and my career. Up to that point I had never participated in a program, formal or otherwise that talked about women in leadership. Being in a wholly male-dominated industry it was an anathema for me to even seek out this kind of interaction as I’d subconsciously put effort into fitting in to the expectations that were created from a male perspective of the business I’m in. There were many lightbulb moments but one of the most enlightening was learning about unconscious bias both in myself and others and once I understood this it changed the way I thought, understood and communicated with people in order to get the best outcomes. I continue to recommend [this program] to women and men wanting to learn more about diversity in leadership."