Leading Equity & Inclusion in Organizations Certificate
About the Program
The Leading Equity and Inclusion in Organizations Certificate (LEIOC) program is a four-quarter learning experience that prepares professionals to lead and design diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) change efforts. You will learn foundations and frameworks of organizational change, explore how to apply these frameworks to DEI, and strengthen consulting skills to support your development as a DEI change agent. Students apply their learning in a culminating client design project. Previous projects have been with organizations including The Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Unruly Studios.
LEIOC facilitates your growth to effectively lead DEI change by taking a transformational approach to learning that goes beyond theoretical models and frameworks. LEIOC is designed to develop your ability to engage across differences in intergroup dialogue sessions, identify personal areas of growth through the IDI assessment, and work toward your personal and professional learning goals with an individual coach.
DEI Design Partnerships
Your LEIOC journey culminates with the application of key tools and frameworks to support a client organization’s DEI objectives. You and your classmates will use a design process to identify the client’s needs and co-create solutions. Read this story to learn more about our partnership with The Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
Program Advantages
Leadership Development
Identify and work toward your learning goals with experienced DEI change practitioners and through individual coaching with the IDI assessment
Develop your leadership and critical thinking skills through exposure to DEI work in multiple contexts in team-based client projects
Strategic Focus
Understand how societal, organizational, and interpersonal forces create challenges and opportunities for DEI work
Develop a practitioner toolkit to engage and navigate the complexities of DEI work in formal organizations
Analytic Tools
Master the application of foundational change management frameworks and models to DEI work in various organization types
Develop your ability to collect and analyze multiple data types to design effective DEI programs and interventions with sustained impact
Consulting Skills
Develop your ability to engage in effective interpersonal communication and problem solving with various organizational stakeholder groups to support DEI change efforts
Sharpen your consulting and design skills through teamwork on a DEI consulting project
Learning and Organizational Change at Northwestern
Pursue a standalone certificate, earn a certificate alongside your MSLOC degree, or explore executive education options. Learn more!
Schedule a personal chat with an advisor, current student or alum. In-Person Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:30am-4:30pm. Remote Office Hours: Friday 9:30am-4:30pm.