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IDDBA Leadership Certificate Program

IDDBA Leadership Certificate Program

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uw school of business center for professional & executive development

IDDBA is excited to once again partner with The University of Wisconsin’s School of Business through the Center for Professional & Executive Development for the 2025 Leadership Program which is specifically tailored for mid-level leadership. With today’s ever-changing marketplace and competitive landscape, this program offers mid-level leaders a chance to engage with business leaders and experts throughout the interactive, in-person professional development seminar.

You will explore strategies to thrive in today’s business world and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow. Through hands-on sessions and expert insights, you will develop essential operational, interpersonal, and leadership skills to drive personal and organizational success, empowering you to lead with confidence and impact. Located on the lakefront campus of the University of Wisconsin, this program offers an engaging, hands-on learning experience led by industry practitioners turned skilled educators. You’ll take part in a variety of interactive activities, including pre-work, lively discussions, small group breakouts, case studies, and personal reflection exercises. These immersive methods will help you apply what you learn to your professional environment and organizational culture.

This agenda may be refined to meet participant needs based on final participant registration.

Testimonials

2025 Agenda

Day 1

Adam Bock headshot image

Strategic Innovation with Adam Bock
Achieving lasting growth requires more than short-term fixes—it demands innovation. This session equips leaders with the tools to identify opportunities, launch new products and services, enter new markets, and rethink critical processes. Guided by Adam Bock, you'll explore essential strategies for driving and sustaining innovation to create long-term value and competitive advantage.


Day 2

Deb Houden headshot image
Effective Negotiations with Deb Houden
Master the art of negotiation with tools and strategies to navigate even the most challenging situations. This interactive program combines role-playing, real-world scenarios, and peer discussions to sharpen your skills and build confidence at the negotiating table. Join is to enhance your negotiation techniques and achieve better outcomes.

Day 3 Morning

Vicki Kampmeier headshot image
Influence Without Direct Authority with Vicki Kampmeier
In today’s collaborative workplaces, achieving goals often requires influencing others who don’t report to you. This half-day program, paired with eLearning pre-work, equips you with a six-part framework to build and apply influence effectively, even without formal authority. Through case studies and real-world scenarios, you’ll explore strategies to strengthen partnerships, craft compelling messages, and navigate with confidence. Learn how to assess stakeholders, foster collaboration, and drive outcomes while building trust and accountability across your organization.

Day 3 Afternoon

Kate Schlesinger headshot image

The Power of Inclusion: Leading in a Modern Era with Kate Schlesinger
Success in today’s workplace requires leaders who embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion. Equip yourself with the tools to lead a diverse workforce and create a stronger, more inclusive organization. This session provides research-backed insights combined with interactive discussions and activities, to help participants build an inclusive culture that drives performance. Key takeaways include understanding core DEI concepts and the KIND framework for fostering inclusion, identify and address unconscious bias, generational differences, and microaggressions, learn strategies to lead and respond effectively to DEI challenges, and develop personal and team behaviors that enhance cultural competence and productivity.


4:00 End of program, graduation ceremony


Post Program Support and Follow-Up December 5, 2025 1-2 pm CST (Zoom)

To help ensure you can apply what you learned in the program, faculty member Adam Bock facilitates a 60-minute online discussion regarding the goals and application activities you developed during the online sessions. In this session, you will share your progress and obstacles and get input, feedback, and additional ideas on how to increase yours and your organization’s effectiveness.


Details

Mark your calendars! The 2025 IDDBA Leadership Certificate Program returns to Madison, Wisconsin, on October 28–30, 2025. This year’s program offers exciting opportunities to connect, learn, and grow*
  • Virtual Kick-off October 6, 2025 1-2 pm CST (Zoom)
  • Pre-Program Monday October 27 networking event 5:30-7:00 PM CST
  • October 28 Tuesday morning class followed by afternoon cheese tasting, lunch, and retail store bus tour
  • Wednesday and Thursday classes 8:00-4:30 CST
  • Mid-program networking opportunity
  • Tuition for IDDBA Members: $3295.00 per person
  • Tuition for Non-Members: $4295.00 per person
  • Sessions held at the UW-Madison campus at the Fluno Center
  • Hotel Block Information TBD
  • Interested but have questions and need more information - contact Michele Tietyen education@iddba.org.
*REFUND/CANCELLATION POLICY: If the program is cancelled for any reason, there will be full refunds. If the program is not cancelled, but an attendee chooses not to attend, there will be a refund minus a $49 admin fee IF another person is able to register for the seat. If the seat is not filled, it will be a forfeiture of the full tuition amount. Note: A paid tuition is allowed to be transferred to a colleague within the same company with the company's approval.