Connected Leaders Academy

Enrollment

Find all the information you need to know about our programs, the enrollment process, cohort availability, what to expect before the start of the program, and more.

HOW ENROLLMENT WORKS

Step 1

Learn about the program

Step 2

Enroll your participant(s)

Step 3

Get your organization ready

CLA PC - Enrollment - Step 1

STEP 1

Learn about Connected Leaders Academy

Visit the Connected Leaders Academy site

Below is detailed information about our programs:

All programs are free of charge for participants and their organizations.

Cohorts are fully virtual and bring together participants from across multiple organizations.

You can also learn more about participant testimonials and impact to date on our CLA website (link below).

Visit the site

You can leverage the following materials to familiarize yourself with the programs and promote them internally

Brochure

Overview of Connected Leaders Academy

View

Deep dive

Leadership Essentials

Deep dive

Management Accelerator

Deep dive

Executive Leadership Program

View

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

CLA PC - Enrollment - Step 2

STEP 2

Enroll your participants

Please note: all enrollment requests are subject to an internal evaluation and availability. Participation is not guaranteed.

Identify the next available cohorts and enrollment deadlines

View cohort availability

Submit your registration request

After reviewing what cohorts we have available (above), fill out this form to request registration access to the cohort.
This is not a confirmed reservation, rather access to enroll your participants in the desired cohort. We now enroll participants on a first come first served basis, when participant names and details are fully submitted.
We open enrollment windows ~8 weeks ahead of our enrollment deadline. Enrollment windows can be found by clicking “View Cohort Availability” above. We recommend marking your calendar for these dates. Note: our enrollment deadlines are firm and due to our new enrollment format we are no longer able to make exceptions.

Submit your participants’ enrollment details

Once you have compiled your participant information, please ensure the following:

Offer your participants full transparency on the time and effort expected to be successful in the programs as well as ensuring the cohort timing is right on their end (2-3 hours per week over 3-4 months).
Once your registration has been processed, you will receive a separate email instructing you how to sign into our Enrollment Portal. The portal will walk you through executing our terms and conditions, as well as where to enter all your participant information.
Please make sure to submit all your participants into the Enrollment Portal prior to the enrollment deadline for that cohort and as soon as you can, as we are first come, first served. After EOD the day of the deadline, all details are locked in, and you will no longer be able to edit details.
We work on a first come first served basis based on fully completed participant information being submitted. Registration does not mean you have a guaranteed seat. The seat is only guaranteed once participant details are submitted.
After the enrollment deadline has passed, no participants can be added to the cohort (this includes swapping seats with an existing participant). However, participants can withdraw from the program after the deadline and reenroll in a future cohort by reaching out to Connected-Leaders-Academy@mckinsey.com.

Please also note the following as you enter participants into the Enrollment Portal:

Please be sure to submit all requested information into the Enrollment Portal. You will be prompted to submit the participant’s name, professional email address, title, and sponsor (executive cohorts only). All details are required prior to the enrollment deadline as we cannot guarantee enrollment for participants with missing details.
Please be sure you have entered participants into the desired cohort in the Enrollment Portal. After an enrollment deadline, we cannot guarantee enrollment in the intended cohort if a change is required.
Total number of participants entered cannot exceed the maximum per organization per cohort (40 participants for Management Accelerator and Leadership Essentials, 3 participants for the Executive Leadership Program).
While we appreciate your structure may lend itself to having multiple PCs involved in the enrollment and internal tracking of your participants, we can only have one single point of contact to liaise with our team. PCs will be granted an individual log-in and receive all general correspondence, event invitations, and enrollment confirmations.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

CLA PC - Enrollment - Step 3

STEP 3

Get your organization ready

Preparing your participants for their program experience

Both the Program Champion and the participants will receive a welcome communication by email ~4-6 weeks prior to program start. The email will include log-in access to a program portal, calendar of key dates and additional helpful information to get started.

You can access the expected cohort start dates here (please note: these are subject to change and final dates will be shared directly with participants in their welcome email).

Prior to joining their cohort kickoff, please ensure your participants log into the learning platform and are familiar with the platform prior to the start of the program. You can find the technical requirements for the platform here.

Have additional questions?

For additional enrollment questions, please consult the FAQs.

For program champion questions (including PC website and webinar), please contact Connected-Leaders-Academy@mckinsey.com

For program delivery questions (including communications, course progress, and more), kindly reach-out to the respective delivery team teams:

Executive Leadership Program:

Executive-Leadership-Program@mckinsey.com

Management Accelerator:

Management-Accelerator@mckinsey.com

Leadership Essentials:

Leadership-Essentials@mckinsey.com

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Frequently asked questions

If you don’t find what you’re looking for below or above, please email Connected Leaders Academy.

Context

Program information

Key organizational roles and support

Enrollment process

CLA PC - Enrollment - FAQs - Context

Why did you launch Connected Leaders Academy?

We launched Black Leadership Academy and later expanded the offering into the Connected Leaders Academy (CLA), an award-winning leadership development program.

CLA provides participants with an opportunity to connect identity, authenticity, and leadership. Programs provide spaces for deeper levels of discovery and discussion, some of which may be particularly relevant in the context of Black, Hispanic and Latino, and Asian identities. We welcome any participant who our clients select to participate in the CLA programs.
Who should participate in these programs?

We welcome any participant who our clients select to participate in the CLA programs.

CLA’s content focuses on early professionals, midcareer managers, and senior executives, and provides participants with an opportunity to connect identity, authenticity, and leadership. Programs provide spaces for deeper levels of discovery and discussion, some of which may be particularly relevant in the context of Black, Hispanic and Latino, and Asian identities.

The Executive Leadership Program is designed for professionals close to or in the C-suite. For example, in large organizations, this might include professionals three levels below the C-suite; in smaller organizations, this might include C-suite executives themselves.

The Management Accelerator program is designed for early-to mid-career professionals. This might include individuals with early management experience, individuals on a clear path to a management role, and functional experts seeking to gain understanding across their organization.

The Leadership Essentials program is designed for early careerists (<5 to 7 years of experience) and individual contributors who are looking to hone their business acumen and self-leadership skills in preparation for a future management role.

Your organization is best positioned to decide on your approach to selecting participants for particular CLA programs. McKinsey is not involved in the selection process for participants in the CLA program and cannot advise on the same.

CLA is typically included as a complement to an organization's existing leadership programs, with the end goal of providing effective and relevant content for participants. Your organization's own legal and HR advisors are best positioned to advise on the selection process, personnel-related decisions and compliance with applicable laws. Please be sure to consult with your own advisors as your organization is responsible for making such decisions.
What are the Executive Leadership Program, the Management Accelerator and the Leadership Essentials programs?

The Executive Leadership Program is a 3-month virtual journey of ~150 cross-organization leaders. Participants will have the opportunity to hone the core capabilities that distinguish successful executives and to cultivate a network of fellow executives through a series of expert-led workshops and facilitated small group leadership discussions. The program comprises topics including managing energy, driving innovation and creativity on teams, refining your personal brand, and tapping into sponsorship.

The Management Accelerator program is a 4-month virtual journey of ~1000 cross-organization managers. Participants hone core business acumen and leadership skills through a series of digital modules, expert webinars, and small group leadership discussions. The program curriculum comprises topics including business strategy, problem solving, and leading others.

The Leadership Essentials Program is a 3-month virtual journey of ~1000 cross-organization early careerists. Participants build a foundational business toolkit and early leadership capabilities through a series of digital modules, expert webinars, and small group discussions. The program curriculum comprises business fundamentals and personal leadership.

CLA PC - Enrollment - FAQs - Key organizational roles and support

What roles does my organization need to support participants?

We ask that you appoint a day-to-day contact person or Program Champion (PC) to work closely with the CLA team. PCs are typically in Talent, Leadership Development, or HR roles. The PC will be both the main point of contact with the CLA team to finalize your participant enrollment and provide participant information, as well as lead your internal organizational processes for nomination and communication.

For the Executive Leadership Program, each organization will also need to assign an Executive Sponsor (typically C-suite leader) for each participant. Each sponsor is expected to commit to supporting their nominated executive through the program journey as well as investing in their career progression and in achieving their professional goals.

Further details on the sponsor role are below.
What role does an Executive Sponsor play and what are their responsibilities?
Executive Sponsors play an important role in supporting participants on their journey in the Executive Leadership Program by serving as a sounding board in helping participants apply what they’ve learned in our programs in their career.

Executive sponsors are:
- Invited to attend a cohort wide fireside chat on sponsorship and the networking event that follows with the participant (1.5 hours total)
- Asked to do two 30-minute 1:1 discussions with participants, following a suggested agenda, during the program experience (1 hour total)
A sponsor can support more than one participant. Each additional participant will require an additional 1-2 hours of time commitment for 1:1 sessions.
What is the expected time commitment of a Program Champion?

The total time commitment for the Program Champion roles varies based on the level of support the Program Champion is providing and the number of participants in the program. On average, Program Champions estimate time commitment of approximately 2–4 hours per month, but this varies by organization and how they are managing the program. A higher time commitment can be expected during enrollment.
How do I change the Program Champion on record?

Email our team at Connected-Leaders-Academy@mckinsey.com  with the name and email address of the new Program Champion. Our team will update our records within 24–48 hours of your email.

CLA PC - Enrollment - FAQs - Enrollment process

How will I know how many seats are left?

If you visit Step 2, “View Cohort Availability” you will see how many seats are remaining. This is updated regularly.
How many participants can one organization enroll in Connected Leaders Academy programs?
You can enroll your leaders in all cohorts offered, pending availability. To enable a rich networking experience for all participants, we do ask that each organization limit the number of participants enrolled in a given cohort, pending availability:
- For the Executive Leadership Program: We ask each organization to send up to 3 participants per cohort
- For both Management Accelerator and Leadership Essentials: We ask each organization to send up to 40 participants per cohort.
Please reach out to us directly to confirm the number of participants you’d like to send to open cohorts.
What happens after participants are enrolled?

Executive Leadership Program participants and their Executive Sponsors receive onboarding information approximately 5–6 weeks before the program starts. Participants will receive an invite to a (virtual) coffee chat and their Executive Sponsors will receive invites to an (optional) Sponsor Orientation and the cohort Sponsorship fireside chat.

Management Accelerator and Leadership Essentials participants receive their onboarding material 3–4 weeks before the kickoff. They will also receive an invite to an (optional) participant orientation.
Can I submit participant names prior to the enrollment deadline if I am ready?

Yes – if you have names ready for cohorts where the enrollment window is not yet open, please email us at Connected-Leaders-Academy@mckinsey.com.

Disclaimer

Your organization is solely responsible for all decisions related to your personnel, including decisions regarding the McKinsey Academy offerings or the selection process you use for such offerings, as well as compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. You should consult with your own advisors for advice on legal, tax, personnel, or other regulatory matters. Participation or involvement in McKinsey Academy does not constitute, and should not be interpreted as, legal, tax, or other regulatory advice on personnel-related decisions, or serve as McKinsey’s agreement with, endorsement of, or confirmation of a decision taken by your organization regarding your personnel or otherwise with regards to your business. McKinsey does not supplant your organization’s management or other decision-making bodies and does not guarantee results. You agree that your organization will be responsible for any and all liability or consequences which may be assessed against your organization arising from your organization’s participation in the McKinsey Academy offerings, and you further agree to indemnify and hold McKinsey harmless against any and all costs and expenses owed by your organization, including, without limitation, liability, interest, penalties, and other costs and expenses assessed against McKinsey, with respect to the same. Your organization agrees to pay for any costs, including attorney fees, McKinsey incurs as a result of its participation as a non-party in any legal, regulatory, administrative or other proceeding relating to the Academy offerings.

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Enrollment

CLA PC - Enrollment - Step 1

CLA PC - Enrollment - Step 2

CLA PC - Enrollment - Step 3

CLA PC - Enrollment - FAQs - Context

CLA PC - Enrollment - FAQs - Program information

CLA PC - Enrollment - FAQs - Key organizational roles and support

CLA PC - Enrollment - FAQs - Enrollment process

Contact us