You Finished a Leadership Program—Now What?

You’ve just completed a leadership program. Maybe you spent a few days away from work, immersed in learning, reflection, and connection. Maybe you came away feeling energized—with new ideas, tools, and confidence. So… what now?

We’ve gathered these simple, proven strategies to help you sustain your learning and turn your leadership growth into lasting change. These tips are drawn from research and reinforced by stories from past participants—people just like you, who returned to their teams ready to lead differently.

1. Pick one action and start right away

You don’t have to change everything. In fact, trying to apply everything at once can be overwhelming. Instead, choose one thing you want to do differently in the next week. It could be something small, like speaking up more in meetings, giving feedback to a colleague, or setting clearer priorities for your team.

“After the program, I really focused on vocalizing my thoughts in meetings. I planned in advance and made sure to speak up—and the feedback I got was encouraging. That one shift made a difference.”

— Matt Marcovitch from CIBC

Try this: When you explain what you learned to someone else, you remember it better—and you’re more likely to follow through. Whether it’s your manager, a teammate, or a peer from the program, talking it out helps turn insights into action.

2. Talk about it with someone else

When you explain what you learned to someone else, you remember it better—and you’re more likely to follow through. Whether it’s your manager, a teammate, or a peer from the program, talking it out helps turn insights into action.

“When we returned, we even created a PowerPoint presentation for our HR Director and our CEO, walking through what we learned day-by-day. The simulations and scenarios were so memorable that we could recall them clearly and explain how they connected to our real-world challenges.”

— Danielle Brome from Massy Stores

Try this: Schedule a short debrief with your manager or a trusted colleague. Share one thing you learned and how you plan to use it.

3. Adapt the tools you learned to fit your reality

Not every strategy will fit your exact role or organization, and that’s okay. Leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all. The key is to take what you learned and tailor it to your team, culture, and challenges.

"Some insights in the program came from later-stage investors, but I work with early-stage startups. I had to reshape those learnings to work in my context—but it made them even more useful.”

— Yasmine Al-Hussein from Yaletown Partners

Try this: Look at one of the frameworks or tools from the program. How could you tweak it to fit your team or projects?

4. Create a reminder system

Without reminders, even the best intentions fade. Whether it’s sticky notes, a pinned list in your notebook, or calendar prompts—build little nudges into your routine to keep your goals top of mind.

“Leadership is a muscle. You have to practice it over and over until it becomes second nature.”

— Matt Marcovitch from CIBC

Try this: Set a weekly 10-minute calendar reminder to reflect: What did I try this week? What do I want to keep working on next week?

5. Bring others along

Leadership learning shouldn’t stay with just one person. When you share it with others, its impact spreads and its more likely to become a habit for yourself. Whether it’s a team meeting, a lunch chat, or a workshop, use what you learned to spark growth in others.

“We did exercises, went outside, and reflected together. It helped reinforce the learning—for me and for them.”

— Su Webster from the Federal Government of Canada on running a team-development day based on what she learned

Try this: Pick one tool or insight from the program. Introduce it at your next team meeting or 1:1.

6. Stay connected with your cohort peers

One of the most powerful parts of a program is the people. These are peers who understand your challenges and can become your support system long after the last session ends.

“I still keep in touch with my cohort. I hope we keep growing together in this space.

— Yasmine Al-Hussein from Yaletown Partners

Try this: Reach out to one person from your cohort this month. Catch up, swap ideas, or share how you’ve been applying the learning.

7. Give yourself time

Finally, remember that change takes time. You don’t have to become a new leader overnight. Just keep experimenting, reflecting, and building on what you’ve learned.

“I had to overcome the belief that I had to change who I was to lead effectively shared. “But the program helped me realize I could lead with empathy and still make an impact.”

— Ann Zeng from the Ontario Energy Board

Try this: Don’t worry about getting it perfect. Focus on progress, not perfection.

Moving Forward

You’ve invested in yourself. You’ve stretched, learned, and grown. Now it’s time to keep going—step by step, day by day.

If you’re ever unsure of what to do next, return to these questions:

• What do I want to try this week?
• Who can I share this with?
• How will I know I’m making progress?

Because leadership isn’t just about what you know. It’s about what you choose to do—starting now.

This article is written by Rosa Cendros, Senior Learning Experience Designer at Ivey Executive Education. Rosa holds a PhD in Philosophy, Educational Studies – Curriculum Field and has over 15 years of experience in developing transformational learning experiences.