CII Leadership Excellence Across Projects (LEAP) Program

Developed by CII’s NextGen Taskforce, LEAP (Leadership Excellence Across Projects) program is CII’s newest professional development offering, designed exclusively for CII members. This 18-month program is tailored to accelerate the growth of emerging project leaders at the project level, with an emphasis on leadership, “people skills,” and practical application of CII Best Practices.
 

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS – FOCUSED ON THREE CORE ELEMENTS

• CII Awareness - Gain exposure to CII Best Practices, tools, research, and engagement opportunities that support industry-leading project performance.
• Leadership and People Skills Development - Build leadership capabilities through cohort-based learning and hands-on practice, including:
  • Two customized trainings delivered by UT Austin’s Human Dimensions of Organizations (HDO) program.
  • A Capstone Project aligned with CII Best Practices to reinforce learning and impact.
• Stronger Industry Networks - Participants will attend two CII Annual Conferences, offering rich opportunities for professional networking and continued learning.

• are actively involved in project execution;
• demonstrate a strong interest in leadership development;
• seek to engage with CII research, tools, and communities;
• are willing to complete a Capstone Project delivering value to their organization; and
• are open to networking, cross-company collaboration, and supportive coaching.

Total enrollment is currently expected to be limited to approximately 30 participants in the inaugural 2026-2027 LEAP Program.

Each participant must be nominated and supported by a company sponsor, such as a CII Board Advisor or Alternate.
 

• Total program duration is 18 months (May 2026 to October 2027).
• Monthly virtual sessions beginning in May 2026.
• In-person participation at the 2026 and 2027 CII Annual Conferences.
• Completion of an individual Capstone Project designed to deliver value to the participant’s organization.

• Gain more knowledge of CII Best Practices.
• Further develop people skills in areas such as effective communication, presentations, change management, and conflict resolution.
• Build a strong peer and mentor network across the industry.
• Earn a program completion certificate.

The LEAP Program fee for a participant from a CII member organization is $8,500. This fee includes the LEAP Program participant’s registrations for the 2026 and 2027 CII Annual Conferences.