Leadership Academy
The Special Olympics Leadership Academy, established in 2014, is an award-winning program dedicated to developing inclusive and future-ready leaders of the Special Olympics Movement. With a focus on developing inclusive mindsets, providing skillsets, and practical tools, the Academy aims to build capacity and strengthen leaders' abilities to achieve inclusion globally. Leadership Academy forms part of the Special Olympics Learning and Development Strategy Pillar “Advancing” and directly supports Special Olympics Strategic Plan 2021 – 2030 Enabler 4 “Drive Excellence.”
ACADEMY GOALS
FUTURE READY Leaders
To develop FUTURE READY leaders by equipping them with mindsets, skillsets, and practical tools to ensure growth and sustainability of our Movement.
INCLUSIVE Leaders
To support Program leaders and SOI staff with and without IDD on their inclusive leadership journey guided by UNIFIED LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES.
6 Unified Leadership Competencies
The Leadership Academy focuses on building six Unified Leadership competencies:
- EMPATHY
- OPENNESS
- BRAVERY
- GRIT
- ACCOUNTABILITY
- INNOVATION
4-Module Leadership Academy Structure
Leader 1
Leading
Yourself
Yourself
GRIT
ACCOUNTABILITY
Leader II
Leading
Others
Others
EMPATHY
OPENNESS
Leader III
Leading
Organization
Organization
INNOVATION
BRAVERY
Leader IV:
Leading Community (In Development)
ACCOUNTABILITY
GRIT
LEADERSHIP ACADEMY DELIVERY MODEL
Face-to-Face Workshops
interactive, experiential learning workshops for cohorts of up to 30 leaders led by leadership expert facilitators.
Webinar Workshops
live facilitated virtual webinars and learning labs
Continuous Learning
access to Pericpio platform for cutting-edge leadership content available on-demand for self-paced learning
Leadership Coaching
Individual and group leadership coaching tailored to the participant’s learning goals provided by ICF certified leadership coaches. Action plan coaching during workshops to assist participants with developing SMART goals for implementing the learning.
Leadership Academy Features
Blended Learning Approaches
A combination of online and in-person learning methods.
Cutting-edge Curriculum
Access to high-quality materials developed by industry experts and backed by research.
Interactive Experiential Learning
Interactive activities and discussion-based learning experiences for deeper understanding and skill development.
Application via Action Planning
Application of new knowledge and skills by developing personalized practical action plans.
Guest Facilitators and Presenters
Learning from diverse experienced leaders and experts in the field of leadership development.
Peer Learning
Learning from peer leaders and their experiences
Leadership Academy Key Focus Areas
Leadership Foundations
Build a strong foundation with principles and values of self-leadership
Influencing Others
Learn how to influence and inspire others towards a shared vision.
Team Leadership
Develop the skills to lead and motivate diverse teams.
Inclusive Leadership
Cultivate a culture of inclusion and embrace diversity.
Sustainability
Ensure long-term success and growth for your organization.
Strategy Development
Master the skills of strategy development and setting SMART goals for strategy execution.
Leadership Academy Global Impact
New Partnerships
New Reach
New Resources ($ and VIK)
New Roles
The Special Olympics Leadership Academy
The Special Olympics Leadership Academy, established in 2014, is an award-winning program dedicated to developing inclusive and future-ready leaders of the Special Olympics Movement. With a focus on developing inclusive mindsets, providing skillsets, and practical tools, the Academy aims to build capacity and strengthen leaders’ abilities to achieve inclusion globally.
437
Total Participants
90+
Total Countries Represented
117
Total Programs Represented
39
Total Cohorts
700+ Special Olympics Leaders Trained
Since its establishment, the Leadership Academy has trained over 700 Special Olympics leaders with and without ID from around the globe, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to drive inclusive change in their communities.
30+ Workshops Delivered
Since 2014, over 30 in-person and virtual workshops have been delivered in 23 countries around the world.
EXAMPLES OF PREVIOUS LEADERSHIP ACADEMIES
What People Have Said
59%
of eligible participants received new responsibilities or promotions after the Academy
84%
of participants developed new roles or responsibilities for the athletes in their program/region
$6M+
In total new resources generated by Academy participants
76%
of participants reported generating new partnerships as a result of the Academy
Program Academy Highlights
On Now
On Now
On Now
On Now
On Now
On Now
WHAT TO EXPECT AS AN ACADEMY PARTICIPANT
Learning Modules
The Academy offers continuous learning through Leader I, II, and III modules typically delivered at 1-year intervals. Each module consists of a 3-day workshop, post-workshop virtual facilitated learning, and self-paced on-demand learning opportunities. Some modules include mentorship or leadership coaching elements. The participants are grouped into Special Olympics Regional cohorts of up to 30 people. The workshop content slightly varies by Region to accommodate cultural and language differences.
3-Year Commitment
The Leadership Academy encourages participants to make a minimum 3-year commitment to complete all stages of the program. This commitment ensures participants get the most out of the opportunity and can apply their learning effectively in their leadership roles.
Learning for Impact
Each participant is expected to develop a personal Action Plan applying the learning, to provide annual update on the Action Plan delivery and to report on the Academy impact upon completion of three modules.
OUR VALUED PATNERS
Join the Special Olympics Leadership Academy
Are you keen on joining our Leadership Academy? Connect with one of our seven Special Olympics Regional Offices globally, or our Headquarters office. They are responsible for selecting and nominating leaders for the Academy.
For detailed information on the Special Olympics Leadership Academy, please contact:
For detailed information on the Special Olympics Leadership Academy, please contact:
Svetlana Fenichel
Director of Leadership & Organizational Development, Special Olympics
Awards
SPECIAL OLYMPICS ACADEMY FOR ALL
Academy for All is a series of regular (typically quarterly) virtual learning webinars for staff and Program leaders across all levels of Special Olympics. Academy for All content is structured around Unified Leadership competencies and delivered by experts on the topics.
Academy for All is part of Special Olympics Learning and Development Plan pillar “Advancing” and directly supports Special Olympics 2021-2030 Strategic Plan Goal B "Remove barriers to inclusion and expand reach through digital technology."
Join us on this journey of continuous learning and development with our Academy for All! Contact avilardo@specialolympics.org to be added to the email list for the Academy for All.
Academy for All is part of Special Olympics Learning and Development Plan pillar “Advancing” and directly supports Special Olympics 2021-2030 Strategic Plan Goal B "Remove barriers to inclusion and expand reach through digital technology."
Join us on this journey of continuous learning and development with our Academy for All! Contact avilardo@specialolympics.org to be added to the email list for the Academy for All.