Overview
The Certificate in Effective Leadership for Senior Managers addresses the unique demands and challenges faced by senior leaders navigating today’s complex organizations. With a focus on leading people, optimizing processes, and transforming structures, this program empowers you to refocus, develop, and grow into your most effective leadership self.
Program Details
Format
- Online
- half-day / biweekly
Duration/Timing
- 4 months
- Fridays
- 9 am – 12 pm (EST)
Dates
Module 1 | Oct 3 & 17, 2025
Module 2 | Nov 7 & 21, 2025
Module 3 | Dec 5 & 19, 2025
Module 4 | Jan 9 & 23, 2026
Program Fee
$2,500 + HST
Learn about funding options and get a $300 early bird discount (until July 31st).
Participant Profile
Senior Managers and Directors, or anyone who has held a leadership role within a team or department for several years, are encouraged to apply. To ensure a peer-to-peer learning environment, applications are reviewed for suitability.
If you wish to apply to this program, please email your resume or LinkedIn profile to imi.executiveprograms@utoronto.ca, and a member of our team will be in touch.
Ready to elevate your leadership journey?
Lead with Confidence and Purpose
This immersive certificate program is specifically designed to address the challenges you are facing at a senior level and help you think, act and influence strategically. The program will build upon your strategic leadership skills to further your growth at a personal and professional level.
What You'll Learn
- Proven models for strengthening leadership through self-awareness
- Communicating effectively and manage expectations.
- How to building high-performing, accountable teams with psychological safety.
- Change management frameworks for leading and sustaining high performance
How You'll Learn
- Masterclass with an Expert - Learn from a senior professor who brings deep expertise and real-world experience to every session.
- Practical Leadership Case Studies - Apply key leadership principles and strategies to real-world scenarios.
- Peer Learning and Application - Collaborate in group discussions to exchange insights, with time between sessions to implement and reflect on your learning.
This module provides you with a foundation for understanding effective leadership and will equip you with the essential tools you need to excel and further develop in your leadership role.
You will explore applicable models of leadership competencies, assess personality and individual differences, and examine mindset and grit as crucial leadership skills.
To be a successful a cross-functional leader means being highly skilled in communicating effectively on various levels.
In this module you will learn strategies to influence others, improve communication skills, and effectively manage expectations. Key topics include: influence & persuasion, communication & feedback, fostering collaboration, and managing expectations.
Accountability, team dynamics, conflict mediation, and psychological safety are at the core of every leadership role. We will investigate and enhance your leadership abilities in these crucial areas. You will learn how to foster strong teams, resolve conflicts, and create a psychologically safe work environment.
This module focuses on change management and in particular change leadership. You will learn evidence-based approaches for leading change, effective frameworks, mapping human performance, and building and sustaining high-performance cultures.
Meet the Faculty
Rafael ChiuziRafael Chiuzi is an experienced Organizational Behaviour Consultant with a strong, demonstrated capacity to leverage human capital for the benefit of organizations and people alike. In his ten plus years of innovative practice in North & South America, Europe and the Middle East, he has been able to overcome widespread organizational challenges, and successfully implement lasting and meaningful change. Rafael is also a published author and Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, at the University of Toronto Mississauga where he teaches organizational behavior and correlated courses. |
I highly recommend the IMIx Certificate in Effective Leadership for Senior Managers. The program provided an invaluable opportunity to engage with fellow senior leaders, all of whom were open about the challenges they face in their roles. This created a collaborative and supportive environment where we could work together to find solutions. What truly set the program apart was the exceptional teaching of Professor Rafael Chiuzi. His insightful, interactive approach helped us navigate complex leadership concepts while ensuring practical application. With real-world examples and a deep understanding of leadership, he enriched the entire experience, providing me with the tools and knowledge to enhance my own leadership journey.
Farhat Rabia
Senior Change Management Lead
Digital Strategy & Engagement
Metrolinx
Before beginning the application process, please review the participant profile to ensure eligibility. Our programs follow one of two pathways for enrollment: Direct Registration or Application Review.
Direct Registration Programs
These programs are open to all participants who meet the general eligibility criteria.
- Register online through the program page.
- Full payment is required at the time of registration.
- Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Application Review Programs
These programs involve a review process to ensure alignment between participant goals and program outcomes.
- Programs requiring a review will indicate this in the Participant Profile section
- When a résumé or LinkedIn profile is requested, please email it to imi.executiveprograms@utoronto.ca.
- If accepted, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to proceed with registration and payment.
Participant Notification Process
If space is available and eligibility requirements are met, you will receive an automatic confirmation and receipt from the application system once you have submitted a completed application and fee deposit. Program details, calendar invites, and additional instructions will be sent via email two weeks before the program's start date.
- The full deposit fee is required at time of application. Payment can be made through the application link via credit card. Please note that we do not accept cheque payments.
- Please note that all prices are quoted in Canadian dollars and subject to applicable taxes.
- IMIx certificate program dates, fees and faculty are subject to change. In the case that a program is canceled, you will be offered enrollment in either the same or any other future program or alternatively, a full refund.
Visit our Funding and Financial Support page for information on potential financial assistance options (i.e OSAP) and discounts for groups and alumni.
FAQs
All of our programs are offered entirely online using Zoom (a free basic account is required). There is no in-person component.
The program fee includes all modules and all necessary course materials, including any licensed content. There are no additional costs, Software access or online tools (if applicable) are also fully covered by the fee.
A Certificate of Completion will be awarded to all participants who meet all program requirements, including attending at least 90% of the sessions. Certificates are mailed to participants, and a digital copy can also be provided via email upon request.
For programs that include an assessment component, the certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the required assessment activities. Assessments may include assignments, reflection essays, or a project, and are typically graded on a pass/fail basis.
Programs that include an assessment:
- Canadian Income Tax Practice
- Data Analytics
- Effective Healthcare Management
- Strategy & Critical Thinking
Programs that do not include an assessment:
- Effective Leadership for Senior Managers
- Pharma Challenges and Opportunities
- Governance & Ethics
- Effective Management of People
You may be eligible for a discount if you are;
- A U of T or IMIx alum
- Eligible for a special offer (e.g., Early Bird Discount, Team Discount, etc.)
- A team of 2 or more individuals from the same organization
- A group of 2 or more individuals enrolling together (e.g., friends or family)
Visit our Funding and Financial Support page for more information.
Cancellation Policy
If you are no longer able to attend a program, requests must be sent via email to imi.executiveprograms@utoronto.ca. The following options will apply:
- 21+ days notice: You will be eligible for a 100% refund
- 10+ days notice: You will be eligible for a 50% refund
- Less than 10 days notice: you will not be eligible for any refund
In any of the above cases, you will have the option to take a credit or transfer registration to another person.