2026 Public Sector HR Executive Leadership Certificate Program - Starting on 10/20/2026
Includes Multiple Live Events. The next is on 10/21/2026 at 2:30 PM (EDT)
Public Sector HR Executive Leadership Certificate Program Syllabus
Meet Your Instructor: Dr. Bernadette Costello
Please let us know if you run into any problems or have questions as soon as possible. We want to make sure you have the best possible learning experience.
Course Materials (All you need is your dashboard):
- Executive Leadership Certificate Program Workbook (PDF and Word Versions)
- HR20/20 Report
Meetings and Discussions:
- Course Cohort Meetings take place in Zoom Events – You will access them through your course "Content Tab."
- Course Discussion Board take place in Your Course’s Engage Community – You will access the Engage Community through your course "Content Tab."
Course Design:
The course spans six weeks with 4 cohort meetings and follows a specific timeline with a sequence of lessons and cohort sessions.
Time Commitment:
Plan for 2 hours for each online lesson to read, complete activities, and prepare for cohort sessions. Individuals have varying learning paces, so it might take more or less time for each person. We recommend completing lessons a day or two before the cohort sessions to allow time for reflection on what you've learned and the development of your plans. All course materials are included on your course dashboard (no textbook is required).
Course Cohort Session Schedule (Subject to Change):
Course Start: 8/18/2026
Course End: 10/2/2026
Cohort #1 – 8/21/2026 - 11:30 pm - 1:00 pm ET (Updated)
Cohort #2 – 8/28/2026 - 2:30 - 4:00 pm ET (Updated)
Cohort #3 - 9/18/2026 - 1:00 - 2:30 pm ET
Cohort #4 - 10/2/2026 - 1:00 - 2:30 pm ET
Course Schedule:
Week 1:
Online Lesson (self-paced)
Lesson 1: Introduction
Course Introduction.
Week 2:
Online Lesson (self-paced)
Lesson 2: Assess Your Skills Through the Critical Lenses
Learn more about business acumen; innovation; strategic orientation; and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
Cohort Session (virtual)
Session 1: Introduction and Assess Your Skill Set
Reviewing and discussing the content from the first two lessons.
Week 3:
Online Lesson (self-paced)
Lesson 3: Assess Your Skills Through the Areas of Focus
Learn more about leadership, culture, talent, technology, and communication.
Week 4:
Online Lesson (self-paced)
Lesson 4: Your Role as a Trusted Advisor
Learn about executive presence, leading with empathy, and how to build trust to drive collaboration.
Cohort Session (virtual)
Session 2: Area of Focus Skills and Being a Trusted Advisor
Reviewing and discussing the content from the third and fourth lesson.
Week 5:
Online Lesson (self-paced)
Lesson 5: Creating a Personal Development Plan
Take all that you've learned in the online lessons and cohort sessions and create a personal development plan.
Online Lesson (self-paced)
Lesson 6: Leveraging Your Skills
Create a plan to influence agency strategy and short-term projects based upon the skills learned in this course.
Cohort Session (virtual)
Session 3: Personal Development Plan and Leveraging Your Skills
Reviewing and discussing the content from the fifth and sixth lessons.
Week 6:
Cohort Session (virtual)
Session 4: Course Wrap-up
Review of course and opportunity to ask final questions.
Certificate of Attendance earned upon course completion.
Making public sector work better®.