Executive Development
Executive development at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign encompasses a comprehensive suite of resources designed to equip administrative executives with the necessary skills, knowledge, and strategies to excel in their roles.
Orientation for New Executive Leaders (ONEL)
The Orientation for New Executive Leaders (ONEL) is a leadership development program series for all newly appointed senior-level leaders from across our campus that is jointly hosted by the Office of the Provost and the Office of the Chancellor. ONEL focuses on what it means to lead at Illinois. Participants are introduced to campus policies, processes, and initiatives. Throughout the program, participants have the opportunity to meet campus-level administrators and other members of our campus community who can support their development as a leader at Illinois.
Executive Onboarding
Our Executive Onboarding program is designed to seamlessly integrate new executives into our organization. It focuses on achieving rapid proficiency, building strong partnerships, fostering sustained resilience, and ensuring long-term retention and leadership agility. The program also offers social connections and support to help new leaders become productive team members, laying a solid foundation for their long-term success.
Administrative Leadership Seminar Series
The Administrative Leadership Seminar Series are 75-minute sessions designed for new and experienced campus leaders who wish to engage in dialogue and share best practices. This series aims to parallel the established Academic Leadership Seminars and covers a range of topics relevant to administrative leadership, structured around the Illinois brand pillars: Innovation, Community, Momentum, and Discovery.
Target Audience: This short series is designed for executive administrative leaders across campus who are seeking insights and strategies to enhance their impact. It places particular emphasis on individuals who have entered their roles within the past three years.
Fall & Spring Seminars
Building a Supportive Network in a Decentralized Culture
October 29, 2025
This session explores how building strong support networks can help navigate the complexities of decentralized culture in higher education, including its impact on decision-making, partnerships, and organizational structure.
Leveraging Adaptive Leadership in Times of Change
December 4, 2025
In this session, we’ll dive into the essentials of change management, exploring strategies for adaptive leadership in dynamic environments. We’ll tackle key topics such as pushing boundaries and managing resistance.
Understanding the Latest Campus Budget: Insights for Unit EOs (Combined)
February 6, 2026
Join us for an overview of the 2025-2026 campus budget and its implications for academic and administrative units. In this session, unit leaders will gain essential context and guidance to support informed decision-making for their departments.
Leading with a Coaching Mindset
February 12, 2026
This session is designed to equip leaders with the tools and techniques to effectively guide their teams towards success. Participants will explore strategies for fostering a supportive and empowering environment, enhancing team performance, and maximizing individual potential through effective coaching and leadership practices.
Utilizing Disruptive Technologies
March 11, 2026
This session delves into the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in learning and organizational contexts, while also addressing critical ethical considerations. We’ll explore how AI is reshaping learning methodologies, optimizing organizational processes, and driving innovation.
When the Unexpected Happens: Navigating Crises in Your Unit (Combined)
April 1, 2026
In this session, participants will learn about practical tools and insights for navigating unexpected challenges in academic units, with real-life scenarios and shared strategies for responding to crises with clarity and confidence. This session is for new EOs and those seeking a refresher!
One-on-One Coaching
Our One-on-One Coaching program offers executive coaching with a focus on key pivotal areas for support. We provide virtual solutions for accessibility, development programs, and structured learning journeys tailored to specific career stages, such as the first 100 days and managing conflict.
New Leader Acclimation
New Leader Acclimation is an industry best practice to help a new executive onboard more effectively and efficiently. The design enhances the learning of the new executive and facilitates early bonding and engagement amongst the participants.
Leadership Assessments
360 Assessments
A 360-review assessment is a comprehensive service designed to provide employees with valuable feedback from multiple perspectives. This process involves collecting input from an individual’s peers, subordinates, and supervisors to gain a well-rounded view of their performance, strengths, and areas for improvement. By leveraging this holistic feedback, employees can develop a deeper understanding of their impact within the organization and create targeted development plans to enhance their skills and effectiveness.
Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Assessments
The CQ Pro Assessment measures an individual’s capability for working and relating across cultures by evaluating skills in four distinct areas:
- CQ Drive, which assesses the level of interest, persistence, and confidence during multicultural interactions;
- CQ Knowledge, which gauges understanding about how cultures are similar and different;
- CQ Strategy, which measures awareness and the ability to plan for multicultural interactions;
- CQ Action, which evaluates the ability to adapt when relating and working in multicultural contexts.
The Personal Feedback Report includes self-ratings and norms for the four CQ capabilities, self-ratings and norms for the thirteen CQ sub-dimensions, a development and action plan, and personal cultural value preferences.
Hogan Development Assessments
The Hogan development assessments are based on the concept that identity is the personal narrative we create about ourselves, often leading to inflated or overly critical self-perceptions. In contrast, reputation reflects how others perceive us based on our behaviors and social interactions, which is crucial for workplace success. Assessing personality reveals both the “bright side,” where individuals excel in collaboration and leadership, and the “dark side,” which may emerge under stress and hinder relationships and performance. Additionally, understanding the internal aspects of personality—such as values and motivations—provides insight into what drives individuals to succeed in specific roles and environments.