NFPA Executive Leadership Program: Second Cohort Discusses the Value – Sign up Now for Cohort Three

It’s a time of transition for the NFPA Executive Leadership Program (NELP), as the 2^nd cohort of industry-based students has completed the program, and a new cohort is set to begin this August with the first session taking place at the NFPA Industry & Economic Outlook Conference.  Time is running short for NFPA members to designate an individual to participate in this program. Contact Eric Lanke now at elanke@nfpa.com.

The NELP program is conducted in cooperation with the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, bringing world-class concepts and instruction.

“The content presented by the Northwestern staff was well structured and impactful. I feel that the knowledge and relationships gained through this program will sustain for many years.” David Stevenson, Bucher Hydraulics

The highly interactive instruction is conducted in a series of in person and online sessions built around the following curriculum areas:

• Executive judgment; leader as coach
• Strategic frameworks; operational excellence
• Strategic negotiation
• Presenting for impact; executive presence
• Cultivating culture, values and virtue
• Leading under pressure, in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) world

But, that’s not all.

“NELP is like the go-to starter pack of the soft skills which help make a successful professional. If an MBA is the course which teaches the skills of a business, NELP is the course which teaches the skills of leadership.”   Marcus Herrera, HYDAC

Participants have also consistently noted the value of relationships established.

“The NFPA Executive Leadership Program has been a fantastic program.  The connections and relationships that I have built during the program, will last me for years to come.  I found that it really opened my eyes to the various aspects of business and helped me to become a more well-rounded business individual.”  Adam Vogts, IFP Motion Solutions

Some of these relationships start with a portion of the program that is tailored to individuals, with each participant completing an AJIL assessment at program start, developing an individualized plan of action around a designated improvement area, and connecting with another participant periodically over the course to reflect on progress, difficulties and share ideas on how to proceed. 

“…without self-reflection, it is hard if not impossible to learn the lessons life is trying to teach us.  NELP helped reinforce the importance of self reflection, and the benefits of digging deeper into the root of things instead of pruning the surface.”   And then.. ”Find out what works, and do more of that.”  Marcus Herrera, HYDAC