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Leadership Expert
Get guidance on how to build a stronger institution by investing in leadership.
For over two decades, we have been on a mission to cultivate the next generation of higher education leaders who are equipped with the vision, skills, and adaptability needed to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.
We recognize that leading in higher education is not the same as leading in other sectors, so we have developed two decades’ worth of experience, frameworks, and tools that are proven to work in the post-secondary sector—where everyone has more responsibility than authority, and leadership must happen through relationships.
It’s common practice in higher education to put people in roles where they are not provided proper training—this happens equally with department chairs as it does with directors on the staff/admin side of the house. And their success (or lack of it) is almost never driven by how smart they are or how well they know the work. It’s always the human skills of convening people, giving feedback, dealing with difficult situations, navigating change and more.
Leadership is an action, not a position and so we offer resources to support all higher ed faculty and staff from individual contributors to VPs and the President. Our solutions can be flexible and tailored from a single seminar to reshaping organizational cultures that are more change-ready.
Our mission is to build capacity, not dependency. We know the value of partnering with a credible outside group like Academic Impressions but we also know that for these investments to endure, they have to be sustainable, which means building internal capacity. Leadership also must emanate from your institution’s values and culture so all of our campus-based work is highly customized to your unique context.
How We Help
Individuals
Leaders at all levels, whether formal or informal, require a strong foundational leadership skillset, including self-awareness, interpersonal communication, and understanding how their role connects to the institution. We provide leadership development options for all experience levels, including self-guided and in-person workshops tailored to various job roles, identities, and skills such as navigating change and leading inclusively. For additional support, consider leadership coaching for expert guidance during periods of complexity and change.
Groups
Are you looking to enhance your leadership development programs? We regularly partner with offices leading internal leadership programs such as faculty affairs, HR or the president’s office. Whether you’re tasked with developing and managing a leadership development program, a team retreat, a professional development day, or a new faculty orientation, we will bring our unique approach to prioritize collaboration and outcomes.
Teams
If your team is struggling to function effectively, we can help you rebuild trust and relationships within your group, leading to a deeper understanding of interpersonal dynamics. Through guided sessions, your team will take ownership of their actions, both as a collective and as individuals, allowing them to create a strategic action plan for future success. Let us help your team operate at its best.
Build Your Own Capacity
Many institutions miss out on the benefits of formal internal leadership programs, opting for one-off sessions instead.
With over 20 years of experience, we specialize in creating tailored leadership programs for faculty, staff, and mixed cohorts of academic and administrative leaders. Our proven approach helps institutions build and implement effective, sustainable leadership development initiatives, either by integrating with existing structures or designing custom solutions. We prioritize building internal capacity to sustain these programs.
Partner with us to elevate your leadership development initiatives.
The Five Paths to Leadership® Model underpins all of our leadership work, offering a dynamic approach that emphasizes the need for leaders to adapt to others and to situations.
- This model can enhance self-awareness and personal effectiveness and has been successfully applied in settings ranging from new faculty orientation to leadership development programs for supervisors, front-line staff, and C-suite executives.
- It also serves as a diagnostic tool for group dynamics, providing valuable insights into meeting effectiveness, communication, decision-making, and leveraging diverse perspectives within a team.
- Additionally, we offer it as a multi-rater 360° feedback tool, allowing middle and senior leaders to receive accurate, safe, and constructive feedback on their leadership impact.
Read Examples That Show How We Have Worked With Institutions In This Area
Building Faculty Leadership Capacity at Aurora University
A year-long program to help mid-career faculty lead with greater clarity, confidence, and connection.
The Opportunity
Aurora University saw a need to support mid-career faculty—those shaping the academic experience but often navigating leadership without formal development. The institution aimed to strengthen leadership capacity across Academic Affairs while fostering a culture of inclusion and innovation.
The Approach
In collaboration with Academic Impressions, Aurora designed and launched a year-long Academic Leadership Academy (ALA) focused on developing transformational faculty leaders. The program followed the Four Levels of Mastery from the Academic Impressions Leadership Model:
- Personal Mastery: A retreat launched the experience with foundational leadership tools, including the Five Paths to Leadership® self-assessment.
- Interpersonal Mastery: Participants built communication skills, explored inclusive leadership, and strengthened team relationships.
- Team Mastery: Sessions focused on resource management and team leadership, enhanced by guest speakers from within the AU community.
- Systems Mastery: The cohort examined strategic thinking, ethics, and visionary planning as they prepared for future leadership roles.
“We wanted to help faculty rediscover their leadership voices and act with purpose, not just position.”
- Aurora University Leader
What Happened
Faculty participants gained:
- Stronger self-awareness and leadership identity
- Clearer direction for their career growth
- A more connected and collaborative peer network
The program ended with a reflective capstone where participants drafted personal leadership philosophies—putting their learning into action.
Why It Worked
- The curriculum was flexible and relevant to participant needs
- The experience blended external expertise with internal voices
- It emphasized reflection, community, and long-term impact
“The experience helped me see leadership not as something I aspire to someday, but something I can embody today.”
- ALA Participant
Connect with a Leadership Expert