Leader-as-a-Coach Program

Leader-as-a-Coach Program

The Ryan College of Business (RCoB) Leader-as-Coach program is a highly-experiential, executive-level business program focused on core competencies for agile, multi-dimensional leaders who guide and empower teams capable of navigating uncertainty and producing sustainable results. The program will help participants to build coaching skills to add to their collection of competencies needed for effective leadership and assessment skills to recognize when coaching has the best application.

Successful completion of the program leads to a Ryan College of Business Certificate in Leadership Coaching and the prestigious, globally recognized World-wide Association of Business Coach (WABC) – Certified Leader as Coach (CLAC)™ credential. Within the structure of the program, both credentials can be secured upon completion of the program.

Program Content

The Leader as Coach framework leverages research-supported concepts that are grounded in multidisciplined theory and robust practice that enhance leadership effectiveness and produce evidence-based results. Throughout the four-month executive program participants will develop core competencies of coaching, equipped with tools to build collaborative, trusting relationships, and to help those the leader-as-coach serves to maximize their professional potential.

Throughout the program, conceptual frameworks, case discussions, and skill-oriented activities are applied to various organizational topics, including organizational culture, motivation, leadership, dynamics of power, perception and attribution, communication, performance, developmental assessments, and emotional intelligence. The course will utilize a mixture of practical applications, theoretical concepts, and experiential learning. Discussions, activities, and assignments are intended to help participants acquire knowledge and skills that enable improved performance, organizational relationships, and value creation.

Who Should Attend?

This program is designed for business professionals who lead and manage others and want to strengthen their leadership capabilities—especially in the area of coaching.
Ideal participants include:

• Experienced leaders
• High-potential executives
• Mid-career managers
• Emerging leaders
• Entrepreneurs
• HR and talent development professionals

Enrollment Criteria

Application guidelines to this competitive program call for five years professional experience, including recent leadership responsibilities, for degreed applicants and a minimum of eight years of professional experience, including recent leadership responsibilities, for nondegree applicants. 

Applications for the program will be accepted from January 2026 for the first cohort starting in August 2026.

Program Structure

This is a hybrid program, featuring required in-person workshop sessions on Saturdays twice per month and online engagement via Canvas between in-person sessions. Each in-person session is four hours and includes lunch.  Thirty documented coaching hours are also required within the timeframe of the coaching program to earn the WABC – Level II Certified Leader as Coach (CLAC)™ credential.  The Ryan College of Business Certificate in Leadership Coaching and a WABC – Level I Leader as Coach certificate of participation can be earn by completion the course work without the fulfilling documented coaching time requirements.

Leader-as-Coach Program Faculty