• Robust leadership mindset as a governing principle;

• Connection with peers through a community of practice; 

• A focus on essential leadership skills in aerospace: adaptability, emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, risk-taking, interpersonal communication, and collaboration; 

• Actionable takeaways for development and growth.

The Aerospace Leadership Development Program will create a space for talented individuals in the aerospace industry to build a community of practice, emphasizing a peer learning model where participants grow and learn with and through others. The following learning objectives guide the program curriculum: 

• Self-Awareness and Personal Development

  • Develop a deeper understanding of and confidence in personal, authentic leadership style. 

  • Identify and articulate individual strengths and values and how they influence leadership practices.

• Networking and Relationship Building

  • Build a strong professional network of peers and mentors.

  • Learn strategies for cultivating and maintaining robust and reciprocal networks.

• Strategic Thinking and Decision-Making

  • Enhance strategic thinking skills to navigate complex challenges and know when and how to take smart risks.

  • Learn decision-making frameworks that promote intentional, informed, and innovative approaches.

• Communication and Influence

  • Strengthen key communication and listening skills to improve clarity and effectiveness.  

  • Develop confidence in openly and authentically engaging with a diverse range of audiences.

• Leading Effective Teams in an Ever-Changing Landscape

  • Understand the principles of change management, including effectiveness in leading change initiatives, ability to adapt to and drive innovation, and supporting teams through transitions.

  • Understand the principles of psychological safety and how to create a team culture that optimizes innovation and risk-taking. 

• Developing and Elevating Others: Mentorship and Sponsorship

  • Understand the roles of mentorship and sponsorship in career advancement.

  • Create actionable plans to seek and provide mentorship and sponsorship within and outside the organization.

• Goal Setting and Professional Development

  • Define a personal brand with corresponding mission statement and elevator pitch. 

  • Set clear, actionable career goals aligned with personal and organizational objectives.

  • Create a roadmap for professional development through the creation of a Development Action Plan, including advancement of personal brand.

Participants will be paired with an executive coach for one-on-one coaching to navigate challenges and support growth as a leader. This includes six one-hour sessions to test out strategies for change and receive feedback.

You will develop a customized Development Action Plan (DAP) during your time in the program. The DAP provides a roadmap for your growth across the program. This plan aims to identify current areas for improvement, enhance your leadership, hone job-related abilities, and focus on career direction. It makes space for the growth and development goals you identified coming into the program and those that might arise throughout the program.

You will be assigned to DAP groups who you will meet with on a weekly basis. In your meetings, you will share progress updates, exchange feedback, and problem-solve. These groups provide positive accountability for yourself and allow you to show up for your peers!

Hear from leaders to get critical, real-world insights into how the aerospace sector operates at the intersection of rapid technological advancement, complex global markets, and high-stakes safety and regulatory demands.

This cohort of the Aerospace Leadership Development Program is a small, curated program designed to support senior women leaders in the field by providing space for reflection, introspection, and deep discussion within a trusted, high-level peer community, helping them advance their leadership impact and expand their networks. 

Key Dates

• Virtual Launch: February 6, 2026 (12-2pm ET)

• First Retreat (in-person): February 18-20 in the Washington, D.C. area

• Virtual Sessions: 7 virtual sessions will take place throughout the program via Zoom. In an effort to maximize attendance at these sessions, program enrollees will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the times of the week that work best for them. All sessions will occur in between the two in-person retreats.

• Second Retreat (in-person): May 6-8 in Denver, Colorado

Participation in Cohort 2 of the Aerospace Leadership Development Program is open to all leaders across the field, regardless of gender. Leaders interested in participating in a cohort of women leaders in the field can select Cohort 1 as their preferred cohort in their application. 

This cohort of the Aerospace Leadership Development Program is a small, curated program designed to support senior leaders in the field by providing space for reflection, introspection, and deep discussion within a trusted, high-level peer community, helping them advance their leadership impact and expand their networks. 

Key Dates

• Virtual Launch: Thursday, September 10, 2026 (12-2pm ET)

• First Retreat (in-person): September 23-25, 2026

• Virtual Sessions: 7 virtual sessions will take place throughout the program via Zoom. In an effort to maximize attendance at these sessions, program enrollees will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the times of the week that work best for them. All sessions will occur in between the two in-person retreats.

• Second Retreat (in-person): December 2-4, 2026

Organizations interested in learning more about enrolling leaders in the Aerospace Leadership Development Program can reach out to aerospace@the-impact-center.org for more information.

• Deadline to finalize partnership agreements: December 19, 2025 at 5:30PM ET. By finalizing your partnership agreement, you reserve a space within the program for an agreed upon number of leaders from within your organization. 

• Invoices will be due 30 days following finalization of a partnership agreement, in full. 

• Deadline for Premier Partners to identify participating leaders: January 16, 2026 at 5:30PM ET. Note: If your organization prefers that The Impact Center interviews candidates from your organization to select participants, please ensure that you identify these individuals by no later than December 19, 2025 to ensure sufficient time for interviews.

The program fee is $9,500 per program seat. A discounted rate of $4,950 is available for academia and non-profit organizations.

For Individuals: We invite interested candidates to submit an application today. Strong applicants will be invited to interview with The Impact Center.

Deadlines

• Early Admission Deadline: November 7, 2025 at 5:30PM ET.

  • If admitted, candidates will have until December 5, 2025 to finalize their enrollment and program fees will be due by January 30, 2026. 

• Regular Admission Deadline: December 5, 2025 at 5:30PM ET.

  • If admitted, candidates will have until December 19, 2025 to finalize their enrollment and program fees will be due by January 30, 2026. 

The program fee for participation is $9,500. A discounted rate of $4,950 is available for participants from academia and non-profit organizations.

The Impact Center works with leaders in preeminent organizations to enhance their performance and strengthen interpersonal relationships through strategic planning, meeting facilitation, training, executive team and board retreats, and executive leadership development, including one-on-one coaching. Because of our experience with non-profit, private, and public institutions, we uniquely understand the challenges and needs that senior leaders and their staff face operating in challenging environments. 

View our other cohort-based executive leadership development programs here.