Certificate in Entrepreneurial Education
Leadership development program, co-sponsored by the Institute for Leadership and
Entrepreneurship in Education (ILEE) and DePaul University


Program Overview
This leadership development program, co-sponsored by the Institute for Leadership and
Entrepreneurship in Education (ILEE) and DePaul University, prepares leaders for managing people and
organizations at the strategic level. It equips participants with tools and mindsets to navigate
challenges, foster innovation, and drive transformative change. Key elements of the program are:
- Cohort-Based: 25 participants annually.
- Hybrid Implementation: Three online courses and two in-person summer sessions.
- 75 Hours: Learning and development.
- 36 hours of in-person learning led by DePaul Executive Education.
- 36 hours of virtual live-online learning led by ILEE.
- Three 1-hour capstone virtual check-ins with facilitators from ILEE & DePaul.
- Professional Assessments: Two assessments with feedback and debriefs.
Learning Objectives
- Time Management: Understand principles and impact on productivity.
- Managerial Skills: Build foundational skills and the importance of continuous feedback.
- Innovator’s DNA: Develop an entrepreneurial mindset.
- Build, Measure, Learn: Describe the feedback loop and apply it to real innovation.
- Innovation: Identify key concepts and components of effective business models.
- Project Management: Describe foundational concepts and application.
- Customer-Centric Approach: Discuss its importance in sustaining effectiveness.
- Organizational Change: Describe barriers to change and create a plan to overcome.
- Self-Awareness: Diagnose awareness gaps; use transformational leader behaviors to drive change.
- Development Plan: Create an individual plan to strengthen leadership capabilities.
- Organizational Improvement: Formulate actionable ideas and lead change initiatives.
- Business Model Design: Align with a school’s value proposition and establish strategic goals.
I'm interested
Preferred Candidate Qualifications
- Demonstrated success in a school leadership position.
- Current or aspiring leadership position in education.
- Reflective, ethical, growth-oriented disposition, and a desire to learn with and from other leaders.
Application Process
- Resume highlighting professional experience, leadership qualities, and entrepreneurial spirit.
- Letter of nomination from a professional reference.
Summer 1 Dates
- June 16 – 20, 2025.
Program Cost
- Includes accommodation during the in-person sessions at DePaul University, daily lunch during these sessions, a welcome reception, and all teaching and instructional materials.
- Total Price: $6000 per person. Deposit of $1000 and two payments of $2500 annually in April.
Facilitators
Rob Birdsell | Dr. Lori Cook | Dr. Zafar Iqbal |
Dr. James Bort | Dr. Erich Dierdorff | Bruce Leech |
Dr. Erin Barisano | Kent Hickey | Dr. Robert S. Rubin |
Program Calendar
Formal Learning Modules | Hrs. | |
---|---|---|
Summer Session 1 (June 16-19, 2025) | ||
Module 1: Developing Leadership Self Awareness | 3 | |
Module 2: Building Personal Effectiveness | 3 | |
Module 3: Navigating Innovation when Facing Uncertainty | 3 | |
Module 4: Using the Lean Startup to Innovate Your Organization | 3 | |
Module 5: Capstone Project Sprint: Putting Your Idea to Work | 6 | |
Virtual Intersessions (September 2025-May 2026) | ||
Module 6: U.S. Schools: History, Challenges, and Opportunities | 12 | |
Module 7: Operational Vitality | 12 | |
Module 8: Transformational Executive Leadership | 12 | |
Summer Session 2 (June 15-18, 2026) | ||
Capstone Presentations, Discussion and Celebration | ||
Module 9: Sustaining Competitive Advantage: Value Proposition Strategies for Non-Profits | 6 | |
Module 10: Project Management for Implementation | 6 | |
Module 11: Leading Vision and Strategic Alignment | 3 | |
Module 12: Leading People Through Change | 3 |

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