Inaugural Cohort • 2026
The Executive Leader Fellowship
Developed in collaboration with the NYU Lab for Transformative Leadership, this six-month cohort-based program is designed for senior event leaders who seek to strengthen their boardroom-level capabilities through executive coaching, applied learning, and a high-caliber peer network.
Month program duration
Senior leaders per cohort
NYU Certificate of completion
The Program
Built for the Boardroom. Designed for the Business of Events.
The Executive Leader Fellowship (ELF) elevates senior event professionals into enterprise-level leaders through three integrated pillars.
Strategic Business Acumen
Translate event expertise into boardroom influence — finance, strategy, enterprise risk, and stakeholder leadership at the C-suite level.
Applied Learning
NYU-Driven Academic Rigor
Curriculum developed and delivered through the NYU School of Professional Studies' Lab for Transformative Leadership, featuring faculty-led sessions, executive coaching, and a Certificate of completion from New York University that reinforces both academic depth and market credibility.
Developed with the NYU Lab for Transformative Leadership
High-Caliber Peer Network
A curated cohort of 25 senior leaders — VPs, SVPs, and C-suite executives — who become long-term professional advisors, sponsors, and collaborators.
Cohort-Based
What You Gain
Outcomes That Compound Across Your Career
The ELF is a focused, high-impact educational experience designed for senior leaders, delivering practical and immediately applicable insights while allowing participants to continue in their roles.
Executive Capability
Frameworks and tools for leading at the enterprise level — from P&L stewardship to board-level communication.
Executive Coaching
Personalized coaching from senior executive coaches to refine leadership presence, decisions, and trajectory.
NYU Credential
A Certificate of completion from New York University, awarded through the NYU Lab for Transformative Leadership.
Lifetime Peer Network
Ongoing access to your cohort and to the broader Fellowship alumni community as it grows year over year.
Who Should Apply
Designed for Proven Senior Leaders
The Fellowship is selective and intentionally small. Use the criteria below to assess fit before requesting an application.
Yes This Is For You If…
- You hold a VP+ or Senior Director title in corporate events, meetings, or experiential, with 10+ years of professional experience and a track record of progressive leadership responsibility.
- You lead teams, budgets, and enterprise-level programs with measurable business impact.
- You are a C-suite or senior-level executive with substantial business experience seeking to further refine your capabilities and expand your leadership toolkit to not only navigate but excel in a volatile and rapidly evolving environment.
- You can commit to a six-month cohort experience, including required in-person residencies.
No This Isn't a Fit If…
- You are early- or mid-career and primarily seeking tactical or operational training.
- You are looking for a short workshop or one-off conference experience.
- You are unable to participate in the required in-person sessions in July and January.
- You are seeking certification in event production or planning fundamentals.
Academic Collaboration
Developed with the NYU Lab for Transformative Leadership
The ELF curriculum is developed and delivered through the NYU School of Professional Studies' Lab for Transformative Leadership — bringing world-class faculty, evidence-based executive education frameworks, and a Certificate of completion from New York University to the business events profession for the first time.
NYU Faculty-Led Curriculum
Sessions led by NYU Lab for Transformative Leadership faculty with deep expertise in executive leadership, strategy, and enterprise management.
Certificate of Completion
Fellows who successfully complete the program receive a Certificate from New York University, recognizing both the academic rigor and the executive-level standard of the experience.
Executive Coaching
1:1 coaching engagements paired with cohort learning to translate frameworks into immediate business application.
In-Person Residencies Required
Participation in the in-person sessions (two days in July and one day in January) is required to successfully complete the program and receive the certificate.
Faculty & Coaches
Taught by Practitioners and Scholars
Fellows learn from NYU faculty and senior industry executives who bring both academic depth and operating experience at the highest levels.
NYU Lab Faculty
Professors and program leads from the NYU SPS Lab for Transformative Leadership.
Executive Coaches
Senior coaches with experience advising Fortune 500 leaders and C-suite executives.
Industry Executives
CEOs, CMOs, and Chief Experience Officers contributing applied case discussions.
Program Timeline
A Six-Month Journey
The Fellowship blends in-person residencies with virtual sessions, applied projects, and 1:1 coaching across six months.
-
Month 1
Onboarding & Orientation
Cohort kickoff, executive assessments, and coaching pair-ups.
-
July
In-Person Residency · 2 Days
Required NYU residency featuring faculty-led sessions and cohort immersion.
-
Months 2–5
Virtual Sessions & Applied Learning
Live faculty sessions, peer working groups, and ongoing 1:1 executive coaching.
-
January
In-Person Residency · 1 Day
Required closing residency, capstone presentations, and certificate conferral.
-
Beyond
Lifetime Network
Ongoing access to cohort and Fellowship alumni community.
FAQs
Application
Apply for the Executive Leadership Fellowship
Thanks to Our Sponsors for Their Generous Support
