High-Performance Leadership: Building Teams That Win
Step into immersive, real-world leadership challenges alongside Vanderbilt coaches and Nashville organizations to build high-trust, high-performing teams.
Description
Leadership isn’t learned in theory— it’s forged in action.
This intensive two-day program is designed for leaders at every level who are ready to elevate how they lead people, influence culture, and drive measurable team performance. Unlike traditional programs, High-Performance Leadership: Building Teams that Win delivers an immersive, application-focused experience that strengthens the ability to lead with clarity, adaptability, and purpose under real-world pressure.
With Nashville as the backdrop, you will engage in high-stakes simulations and authentic leadership challenges that mirror the complexity, speed, and visibility of today's most demanding organizational environments.
What You Will Learn
Day One: Elite Performance Under Pressure
Step inside the university's athletics program alongside top coaches and teams. You will lead through constrained timelines, high-visibility performance pressures, and competing priorities — directly replicating the high-speed, high-stakes decisions that define modern leadership.
What You Will Practice
Building alignment, executing under scrutiny, and creating cultures of resilience when performance matters most.
EXCLUSIVE Evening Leadership Panel
Join athletics coaches from Vanderbilt University for an intimate networking reception focused on coaching high-performance teams. Learn firsthand how championship coaches develop talent, maintain team cohesion, and sustain excellence under pressure.
Day Two: Real-World Leadership Challenge
Working in cross-functional teams, you will tackle an active leadership challenge presented by a Nashville organization, which could range from initiatives involving healthcare innovation to music industry transformation to civic impact. This isn't a case study; it's live problem-solving where you must quickly build trust, clarify direction, and drive decisions through ambiguity.
What You Will Practice
Influencing without authority, navigating group dynamics, and leading change when the stakes are real.
You will build practical capabilities to lead high-performing teams and achieve tangible results, including how to:
Develop Emotional Intelligence
Read complex team dynamics and adapt your leadership style to enhance engagement and performance.
Foster Psychological Safety and Trust
Build a cohesive, high-trust environment that encourages open dialogue, collaboration, and innovation.
Navigate Conflict Effectively
Manage challenging conversations and provide constructive feedback to strengthen team alignment and results.
Lead Strategically
Connect team objectives, values, and accountability to organizational goals to drive sustained performance.
Enhance Coaching Capability
Develop and empower team members to expand their impact and create a culture of continuous growth.
Sustained Impact Beyond Two Days
Your development continues long after your time at Vanderbilt. You will reconvene virtually as a cohort 4–6 weeks after the program conclusion for a faculty-facilitated session to reinforce insights, share on-the-job successes, and strengthen your peer leadership network for ongoing support.
Ready to Lead with Confidence and Credibility?
Whether you are stepping into your first leadership role or scaling your impact across a complex organization, this program provides the experiential foundation and practical tools you need to lead others effectively from day one.
Who Should Attend
This program is ideal for leaders who are responsible for managing others and driving team performance, including:
- Mid-level managers transitioning from individual contributor roles to broader leadership responsibility
- Team leaders and functional leads seeking to strengthen their ability to influence, align, and inspire others
- High-potential professionals being developed for greater leadership scope or cross-functional oversight
- Leaders in fast-paced or high-growth environments who must lead through change, complexity, and ambiguity
- Cross-industry professionals — from business and healthcare to education, public service, and nonprofits — who want to enhance their effectiveness in motivating people and building high-trust, results-driven teams
Continuing Education Credits
1.4 CEUs
Learning Hours
14 hours