Founded in 2005, The Cynefin Company is renowned for the Cynefin Framework, a tool that aids leaders in identifying decision-making contexts and guiding their actions. Over time, The Cynefin Company has expanded its offerings to include additional tools and frameworks that facilitate sensemaking in complex situations. The organization’s services extend to the nonprofit, government, and education sectors through the Cynefin Centre.

CCL’s partnership with The Cynefin Company seeks to integrate the Cynefin Framework with our leadership development solutions, creating a unique offering that fully addresses the needs of leaders across the globe. The collaboration will focus on leadership challenges such as:

• Making effective decisions in complex and uncertain environments
• Asking the right questions to understand decision-making contexts
• Gauging the timing of decisions and actions
• Managing complexity during action-taking
• Avoiding biases from prior decision-making approaches

The Cynefin Framework has also been incorporated into Decision Dynamics, a 1-day program offering that equips leaders with the tools needed to tackle today’s complex challenges, take decisive action, and communicate a compelling rationale.

“In today’s increasingly complex world, leaders need more than traditional tools — they need frameworks that help them make sense of and even embrace uncertainty. Our partnership with The Cynefin Company brings powerful new capabilities to our leadership development products and offerings, enabling leaders to navigate complex decision making with greater clarity and confidence,” said Elisa Mallis, Global Vice President, Research, Innovation, and New Content Creation at CCL.

Through a shared commitment to leadership impact and aligned values, the partnership aims to combine the value of The Cynefin Framework with our world-class approach to leadership development, reinforcing our dedication to our mission of advancing the understanding and practice of leadership for the benefit of society worldwide.

The post CCL Partners With The Cynefin Company to Strengthen Leadership Decision-Making in Complex Environments appeared first on CCL.

Together, they’re helping local nonprofit leaders grow and achieving results none could reach alone, demonstrating the power of a unified approach.

“The nonprofit work in our community is very rich, and as we look to expand its scale and sustainability, we recognize that it starts with the leaders,” says Ashley Douglas, Vice President of Southern Dallas Thrives, an initiative led by the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “This partnership is investing not only financially but also in the success of nonprofit leaders, their organizations, and the lasting impact they create.”

Building Leadership Capacity To Strengthen Impact

Southern Dallas faces challenges like limited access to quality education, economic opportunity, and healthcare — barriers shared by cities across the country and felt acutely here. Southern Dallas Thrives addresses these issues by delivering new programs, resources, capacity building, and partnerships to create real community impact.

Their Southern Dallas Roundtable brings together about 35 foundations from corporate, community, and family sectors to promote strategic, collaborative investment. Organizers help the roundtable focus on what to fund, how to fund it, and why it matters for both immediate and long-term results.

In recent years, Southern Dallas Thrives has also been asking local nonprofit executives about their challenges and examining existing capacity-building programs to look for gaps. An important theme emerged — community changemakers need more support for leadership development to keep making strong, lasting changes.

“Everything came back to giving our leaders the skills to be effective with funders and build relationships with other nonprofits,” Douglas says. “If leaders don’t feel confident in their skills to sustain and grow their work, that says a lot about the organization’s direction and potential to grow.”

Says Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew, a consultant who has worked in Southern Dallas for decades: “We wanted a program that could help leaders on the front lines do the work that they do even better.”

Although nonprofits recognized the need for leadership development, most lacked the budget to support it. That’s where a funder from the roundtable suggested the Center for Creative Leadership. We’re a nonprofit too — and as part of our mission, we provide leadership development opportunities that strengthen community and nonprofit leaders worldwide.

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Foundations & Philanthropic Leadership

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Leadership for Social Change

We strive to strengthen education, community, and nonprofit leadership. Learn more about our work to advance leadership and social change.

A Data-Driven Response to Leadership Needs

CCL joined a Southern Dallas Roundtable meeting where we discussed how to collaboratively identify the community’s leadership strengths and gaps, and how this would help us create a program tailored to those needs.

From these talks, we initiated a Leadership Explorer for the Nonprofit Sector (LENS) report focused on Southern Dallas. LENS is a free tool that helps funders and corporate social responsibility teams make data-based decisions about leadership development needs for their grantees or staff.  We received 49 anonymous responses from Southern Dallas nonprofit leaders, revealing which skills, competencies, and capabilities matter most  for success.

The report confirmed what funders and organizers had heard — nonprofit leaders want leadership development that closes capability gaps in areas such as data-driven decision making and change management, and helps them put skills into practice. It clarified the program’s vision by highlighting the specific growth priorities and preferred formats for learning.

“The report helped us make the case for why a leadership program mattered here,” Douglas says. “The LENS report’s data and detailed insights from so many organizations made CCL’s approach stand out.”

Discussions with funders emphasized how leadership development for nonprofit executive directors creates a ripple effect — strengthening organizations, residents, neighborhoods, and the broader community — and how funders can link this impact to their investments when presenting to their boards.

Importantly, 4 funders in the Southern Dallas Roundtable came together to pool their resources and get the program started.

A Custom Leadership Program Takes Shape

Working with the partner foundations and Southern Dallas Thrives, CCL developed the Southern Dallas Executive Leadership Institute — a 9-month journey shaped by the LENS report and tailored to the needs of nonprofit leaders from many different backgrounds.

The first cohort includes 8 participants representing a range of nonprofits — from large organizations with multimillion-dollar budgets to smaller grassroots groups. This diversity was intentional to encourage sharing and learning among participants beyond the formal lessons. Douglas and Booker-Drew aimed for a more intimate experience than the traditional capacity-building programs in the area, which often included 50 or more people.

“Participants found a space, made specifically for them, where they could be vulnerable much earlier than expected,” Douglas says.

The journey combines assessments and 1:1 executive coaching with in-person learning sessions on topics such as Direction – Alignment – Commitment (DAC), influential leadership, Better Conversations Every Day, decision making, strategic thinking, and collaboration in funding.

There are leadership circles for honest reflection and sessions with funders and participants to share the program’s impact. These moments are helping to deepen learning and relationships, and to strengthen the work being done across Southern Dallas.

“Participants are gaining a supportive community that will help them sustain transformation after the program,” Booker-Drew says. “Funders are given an opportunity to walk alongside us during the program. Even funders who didn’t pay for this cohort have been showing up to hear first-hand about its impact.”

Douglas praises CCL’s authentic and flexible approach, which allowed the program to be tailored for Southern Dallas.

“Together, we curated a program specific to this community and moment,” she says. “There’s magic in that.”

Organizers Say

The post How Philanthropic Partnerships Are Strengthening Nonprofit Leadership in Southern Dallas appeared first on CCL.

Amplify: Heighten Your Impact

Based on over 50 years of leadership research and experience, Amplify is a flexible online nonprofit leadership program that positions participants to learn new skills to advance their missions and apply insights within their organizations — improving outcomes, increasing sustainability, and heightening impact. It offers engaging online learning, frameworks, and tools tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities faced by nonprofit professionals.

Amplify participants learn to navigate complex challenges, inspire teams, and adapt to an ever-evolving social sector landscape. The learning journey equips nonprofit professionals with the mindsets and skillsets needed to elevate their impact, cultivate resources to build momentum, and achieve outcomes aligned with their purpose.

The program focuses on expanding vital leadership and evaluation capabilities, including:

• Learning Agility: Developing an evaluative mindset
• Theory of Change: Staying focused and evaluating the programs in service of the mission
• Direction – Alignment – Commitment (DAC): Approaching leadership as a social process and engaging all stakeholders
• Social Identity & Emotional Intelligence: Understanding yourself to help inform strategic decisions
• Evaluation Design & Data Collection: Measuring impact and alignment to organizational mission
• Storytelling & Influence: Communicating your story for greater impact

It also features practical applications that participants can develop into actionable insights in real time, applying learnings directly to their work and throughout their organizations.

“Amplify is more than a course — it’s a catalyst for transformation,” said Marie Leonard, Digital Learning Product Manager at CCL. “We’re helping nonprofit leaders build the skills and confidence to lead with purpose, measure their impact, and create lasting change.”

The Amplify initiative was made possible through generous support from the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, whose grant and PropelNext program design has enabled CCL to expand access to high-impact leadership development for mission-driven organizations.

The program has also been shaped by our philanthropic partners such as the Scattergood Foundation, which played a vital role in developing its evaluation framework. Their collaboration has helped to ensure Amplify is grounded in real-world impact measurement and aligned with the needs of nonprofit leaders working in behavioral health and social services.

“We believe in Amplify … because this nonprofit professional development program will better equip leaders to evaluate and improve their work and ultimately deliver on their missions,” said Joe Pyle, President of the Scattergood Foundation.

Early program participants are reporting increased confidence in leading teams, evaluating programs, and communicating their missions effectively.

The Amplify program may be offered as part of a larger leadership journey or as a custom program for social sector organizations. Learn more about our nonprofit leadership development expertise or the Amplify nonprofit leadership online course.

The post CCL Launches Online Professional Development for Nonprofits — Amplify: Heighten Your Impact™ appeared first on CCL.

Our programs recognized this year were centered around building strategic, value-driven leadership across organizations, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and using real-world experiential learning to support leadership development.

CCL and Securitas, a security services company, were awarded a coveted Gold Award for excellence in the “Best Leadership Development Program” category. The Accelerate program was developed in partnership with us and was aimed at cultivating strong leaders and high-performing teams through collaboration, strengthening talent retention, and promoting an enterprise-wide innovation mindset. The 6-month immersive program involved our 360 assessments, immersion learning, executive coaching, and interactive virtual learning sessions.

First Citizens Bank and CCL were recognized with a Silver Award for excellence in the “Best Executive Development Program” category for our partnership in developing the Elevate program. This initiative was a multi-phase executive development journey designed to reinforce a strong leadership pipeline, improve alignment, and help leaders effectively manage cultural integration and change management at the organization. The program focused on both horizontal and vertical development and followed our 70/20/10 model.

Our partnership with Jerónimo Martins, a specialized retail and food distribution company, was awarded a Bronze Award for excellence in the “Best Leadership Development Program” category, recognizing the impact of its Leadership Academy. The “Be a Leader” programs are one of several initiatives within a growing learning ecosystem designed to elevate leadership across the organization. This ecosystem fosters self-awareness, strategic thinking, a culture of feedback, and readiness for future leadership challenges. Each learning journey combines formal assessments, leadership coaching, experiential learning, and peer-to-peer accountability.

A panel of independent senior industry experts, Brandon Hall analysts, and executives evaluated award entries for fit, design, functionality, innovation, and measurable benefits. Winners will be recognized at Brandon Hall Group’s HCM Excellence Conference later this year.

We are proud to partner with these clients on award-winning programs that are contributing to the important work of advancing leadership in workplaces around the world.

These client partnerships are among the many awards and accolades we’ve received from the Brandon Hall Group and others in recent years.

The post CCL Client Partnerships Earn 3 Brandon Hall Excellence Awards appeared first on CCL.

There is a significant lack of women, particularly women of color, in management positions. For every 100 men promoted to manager, only 81 women achieve the same, and this disparity is even greater for Black women, with only 54 promoted for every 100 men, according to the Women in the Workplace report by LeanIn.org and McKinsey & Company.

Women face the “broken rung” phenomenon, where men at entry-level are promoted to managerial roles at much higher rates than women.

This early career setback puts women at a lasting disadvantage. Rachel Thomas, co-founder and CEO of LeanIn.org, emphasizes that this “broken rung” restricts women’s career progress. Despite some progress at higher levels, these advancements often come with caveats.

The Sandberg Goldberg Bernthal Family Foundation (SGB) is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting equality and resilience through 4 initiatives: LeanIn.org, Lean In Girls, OptionB.org, and the Dave Goldberg Scholarship Program. Launched in 2013, LeanIn.org supports Lean In Circles, small groups of women who meet regularly to empower each other personally and professionally. These Circles help women build confidence, develop leadership skills, and achieve their goals. Over 100,000 women in 183 countries have started Circles, with 85% of members reporting positive changes within 6 months of joining.

To enhance the leadership skills of regional Lean In Network Leaders, SGB partnered with the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL). “We chose CCL for their exceptional reputation and expertise in leadership development,” said Nikki Pawsey, Director of the Global Network Leader Program. “Their global reach and commitment to co-creating a tailored leadership course for women aligned perfectly with our vision of empowering more women leaders in the workplace.”

Solution

CCL and SGB collaborated to create the Network Leadership Development Program (NLDP). This program is designed for mid-career women leaders, focusing on immediate and practical application to build confidence and navigate strategic leadership challenges. According to Pawsey, “Our primary goal was to offer our global network of volunteers the opportunity to develop their leadership skills in a way that would empower them both personally and professionally. We wanted to raise their level of self-awareness and provide tools for them to strengthen their ability to lead, inspire, and make a difference in their communities worldwide.”

The NLDP is a 3-month, multi-modal learning experience that includes:

• Asynchronous preparatory learning in a custom online course
• Offline peer discussions managed by participants
• Live online sessions every other week to engage on topics
• Pre-work including the WorkPlace Big Five Profile, a senior leader interview, and defining a Key Leadership Challenge

Featured Solutions

Foundations & Philanthropic Leadership

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Women’s Leadership Development

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The program elements designed to boost engagement and learning include:

• Amplifying the collective power of broad, diverse networks
• Strengthening and leveraging authenticity and credibility to gain trust
• Developing leadership skills and preparing for career acceleration
• Leveraging peer support to work through critical leadership challenges
• Driving conversations and practices promoting belonging
• Building a network of ambassadors to retain and advance women in organizations

CCL has completed 10 successful cohorts globally with more than 250 participants from diverse backgrounds and locations finding common ground in their volunteer leadership role with Lean In.

Results

Following the NLDP, participants have committed to applying their new insights and skills. They plan to:

• Share knowledge with their teams
• Foster resilient work cultures
• Engage in networking and mentoring
• Support other women in their professional journeys

By the Numbers

The program has inspired participants to enhance their leadership skills, promote inclusivity, and focus on personal and professional growth. They are also eager to expand their professional networks and become more active in the Lean In community.

Participants have reported:

• Increased assertiveness
• Improved decision-making
• Enhanced leadership presence
• Greater focus on creating inclusive and diverse environments
• Efforts toward equality

Many participants plan to use their new skills to advance their careers, start businesses, or take on new roles. Pawsey emphasized, “The impact of this partnership has been profound. Through CCL’s programs, our volunteers have not only grown as leaders but also built stronger connections within the network, fostering a sense of shared purpose and collaboration. We’ve seen enhanced confidence, creativity, and problem-solving skills amongst our community. Many of our leaders would not have the opportunity in their country to access such high-quality training.”

Participants Say

The post Advancing Women’s Leadership With Lean In & The Sandberg Goldberg Bernthal Foundation appeared first on CCL.