USC Distinguished Leaders Program Helps Seasoned Professionals Turn Ideas Into Impact

The new USC Distinguished Leaders Program supports executives and innovators as they build a better future — and enhance their own well-being.

What’s next when you’ve fulfilled every career goal and now want to start new chapters of achievement? To help professionals in midlife and beyond turn their passions into action, USC has leveraged its preeminence in education, research and creativity to launch the Distinguished Leaders Program.

Welcoming experienced doers age 55+, the USC Distinguished Leaders Program provides mentorship from top faculty members and guest speakers who are global leaders in their fields. The expertise of the program’s advisors spans cinematic arts, medical technology, civic engagement, environmental sustainability and more.

“The mentees we attract are distinguished leaders, and so are the faculty members who work with them,” said Tara Hein-Phillips, USC executive director of Continuing Education, Online and Global Programs. “The program offers proven innovators a chance to define what their next act looks like as they maximize their skills to create a future focused on wherever their passions lie.”

The program focuses on storytelling, sustainability, innovation, social good, and health and longevity — all areas in which the university is noted for its excellence. By exploring these topics, “a select cohort of diverse leaders will embark on a nine-month journey of self-discovery and immersive learning to fuel a social impact project of their choice,” explained Joe Árvai, director of the USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability and a Distinguished Leaders expert advisor.

“At USC, we believe that lifelong learning enriches the mind and spirit to enhance lives and strengthen communities,” added writer/producer Gabe Sachs, a program advisor whose credits include Freaks and Geeks. “Our Distinguished Leaders Program empowers seasoned professionals to thrive with a new sense of purpose and transform ideas into real-world impact.”

Another advantage is the hybrid format combining on-campus intensives with the convenient flexibility of remote learning.

“Through this blend of in-person experiences and unique online opportunities to engage with advisors and collaborate with colleagues, scholars develop their areas of interest using USC’s emerging technologies and advanced teaching approaches,” said program advisor Caroline Cicero, director of the USC Age-Friendly University Initiative and co-director of the university’s Emeriti Center.

Over the program’s nine months, Distinguished Leaders travel to USC campuses and institutes from University Park in Los Angeles to scenic Catalina Island, tech hub Silicon Beach and our nation’s capital. At each locale, they develop their goals by partnering with faculty and peers. They also learn from the experts who engage in research there while hearing from notable visiting lecturers. “Program scholars take advantage of USC’s exceptional Southern California facilities,” said advisor Kamy Akhavan, executive director of the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future and former CEO of ProCon.org. “In addition, they convene with global opinion leaders on the national stage at the university’s new hub in Washington, D.C.”

Then the participants return home to log in for weekly 1:1 coaching as they pursue their chosen goals. But even as the program shifts to the virtual, it remains personal.

“Through the program, Distinguished Leaders build vital connections with fellow changemakers while receiving support from USC’s world-renowned faculty and advisors,” said program advisor Leslie Ann Saxon, MD, executive director of the USC Center for Body Computing and lab director of the USC Institute for Creative Technologies.

In their time as Distinguished Leaders, participants connect with USC faculty, artists, executives, scientists, policymakers and activists, enhancing their professional networks while making lasting relationships.

By the program’s culmination, Árvai said, “they come away not only inspired but also ready to change their lives and the world around us.”

The USC Distinguished Leaders Program welcomes proven executives and innovators wanting to start new chapters in life, achieve social impact and build a better future. Email distlead@usc.edu or visit https://distinguishedleaders.usc.edu for more information about the Distinguished Leaders Program and how to apply.