buildingleaders
Building Business Leaders: A Curriculum-Based Program for Rising Managers and High-Potential Employees
course # C-15429 – click here to apply to send a selected rising manager in this course
Program Overview: This 10-session, practical program (30 instructional hours total) aims to develop the business acumen, leadership capability, and ownership-level thinking of high-potential employees and managers in small to mid-sized Massachusetts companies. (Thinking like an owner, despite not being a stockholder)
Designed for rising leaders—including key employees, next-generation contributors, and non-family managers—the program blends expert instruction, Socratic dialogue, and applied exercises. Each session includes:
* 1/3 expert lecture (interactive)
* 1/3 structured Q&A and dialogue
* 1/3 structured, standardized workshop reinforcing how lessons will be implemented.
The group facilitator is Ira Bryck, who brings over 30 years of experience as a family business educator, advisor, and mentor. He previously ran his family’s fourth-generation children’s clothing store, giving him first-hand insight into small business operations and ownership challenges. As longtime director of the UMass Amherst Family Business Center, Ira developed a practical, applied approach to leadership training that emphasizes real-world learning and immediate usefulness. Curriculum and Learning Outcomes: each student will become more literate and functional in the 10 relevant topics.Each session pairs a guest expert with the lead instructor to combine formal teaching with facilitated case work and peer learning.
Participants will:
* Understand Financials – Interpret core financial statements and apply insights to business decisions.
* Think Strategically – Evaluate competitive position, define priorities, and contribute to planning.
* Make Better Decisions – Use structured frameworks to weigh options and manage risk.
* Coach and Mentor – Conduct effective coaching and feedback conversations.
* Understand Organizations – Analyze how structure, culture, and communication affect results.
* Master the Art of Being a Great #2 – Build influence, judgment, and authority without the title.
* Develop Emotional Intelligence – Strengthen self-awareness, empathy, and composure.
* Lead and Manage Effectively – Distinguish between leading and managing, and know when to do each.
* Rethink Branding – Connect brand strategy to customer experience and company culture.
* Apply Improv Skills – Use “yes-and” thinking, listening, and adaptability to improve collaboration.\nInstructional Approach
Each workshop moves through a complete learning cycle: expert instruction, inquiry and discussion, and practical application via working with relevant case studies and strategic exercises. This hands-on approach ensures that skills are understood, practiced, and ready to use immediately.
Who Should Attend: High-performing / high-potential employees who show promise for advancement and leadership.
