Program Schedule
Over nine months and four focus areas, you will renew your purpose, forge connections, enhance your well-being and set goals to tell your story — all with the supportive and collaborative mentorship of USC’s esteemed advisors and faculty.
Preparing for Your Distinguished Leaders Journey
- Online (august 12 – september 6, 2024)
August – SEPTEMBER
Week 1 — Portal Opens
The gateway to your program opens providing you access to all of the materials, calendar and scheduling tools, contacts, and important updates and information you need to begin your journey as a Distinguished Leader.
Week 2 — Setting the Stage: Preparing for Your Journey
As you prepare for the journey ahead, equip yourself with the tools, knowledge, and mindset needed to embark on this next chapter of your professional life.
Week 3 — Connect with Your Colleagues
Engage with the Distinguished Leaders community by learning about the diverse backgrounds of your cohort, connect online, and start building meaningful relationships before you come to campus.
Week 4 — Meet Your Advisors
Meet your dedicated team of advisors who will be guiding you through each of the four sections. Learn about their tenure with USC, their passions, and their plans to guide you through this incredible experience.
Section 1
- USC Campus (September 9 – 12, 2024)
- Online (September 16 – November 8, 2024)
september – November
USC
Downtown Los Angeles
Storytelling — Developing Your Own Personal Narrative
As leaders you have had to play many roles to many different people. How will you define yourself on this next stage of the journey? USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni and industry professionals will coach you on:
- The fundamentals of great storytelling
- How to think about your story: who you are and who you would like to become
- How to weave your personal and collective experiences into a narrative that will tie to the goals that matter most to you
Goal Setting — Creating Your Personalized Plan
Our expert faculty and advisors will help you to begin to develop a plan tied to your goals and aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. With a focus on: Creating equal opportunity, Sustainability, and Health, Education and Wellbeing. There will be plenty of time throughout the year to decide where to put your focus, but this session helps to structure the future you might like to step into.
- Using your narrative as a base-explore areas of interest and impact
- Cultivating relationships with other USC Distinguished Leaders
- Creating a personalized plan for your time in the program
Weekly Online Sessions
We will meet weekly online throughout the block to further develop your storytelling and goals. Each week will offer:
- 1:1 coaching to dive deeply into your project and goals
- Faculty and industry experts on storytelling and developing your ideas
- Group sessions with presentations and feedback as your projects progress
Advisors
A full list of experts and advisors will be provided in the detailed program schedule.
Gabe Sachs
Writer and Producer, Freaks and Geeks, Just Shoot Me, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and accomplished photographer
A master of bringing authentic and captivating stories to the screen, Gabe Sachs has written and produced box office-topping movies and a slate of top-rated television series. By sharing his craft, Sachs hopes to help aspiring filmmakers bring their ideas to fruition.
Section 2
- Silicon Beach & Catalina Island (November 11 – 15, 2024)
- Online (November 18, 2024 – january 24, 2025)
November – January
USC Wrigley Marine Science Center
Catalina Island
Creating a Sustainable Future
Sustainability is a core value at USC and we will explore how sustainability weaves into your professional and personal goals. Our block at the Wrigley Marine Science Center will explore how to approach some of the world’s biggest environmental and sustainability problems in the world, as well as providing a framework for integrating sustainability into everything we do.
Leaders from the USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability will:
- Hold decision-making and problem-solving workshops and discussions with invited faculty
- Delve into how to set goals around sustainability
- Help you uncover how to design a sustainable future for yourself and your initiatives
Silicon Beach, Los Angeles
Hacking the Future
Imagining the future depends on knowing what is possible. Our hacking the future session will focus on the future, and how you can harness the power of emerging technologies including AI, machine learning, data science, and quantum information. Leaders from the USC Institute for Creative Technology will:
- Demonstrate the novel work underway at the Creative Technologies Institute
- Hold design thinking workshops to help you develop and nurture your ideas
- Engage in a student run hackathon demonstrating problem solving in your area of interest
Weekly Online Sessions
Our virtual course sessions will provide you with:
- 1:1 coaching to dive deeply into your project and goals
- Faculty and industry experts on innovation and sustainability
- Group sessions with presentations and feedback as your projects progress
Advisors
A full list of experts and advisors will be provided in the detailed program schedule.
Joe Árvai
Director, USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability
With expertise in environmental issues and sustainability, Joe Árvai uses innovative research to improve decision making across a broad range of environmental, social and economic contexts. He also advises government, private business, and NGOs.
Leslie Ann Saxon, MD
Executive Director, USC Center for Body Computing, Lab Director; USC Institute for Creative Technologies
Renowned for cardiovascular expertise, Leslie Ann Saxon is a global authority on virtual care, wearable technology and software solutions providing real-time physical data to health care professionals for improved wellness. Saxon will be leading and facilitating the Silicon Beach module on Health, Wellness and Innovation.
Section 3
- Online (january 27 – march 7, 2025)
- Washington, D.C. (march 10 – 14, 2025)
January – March
USC Capital Campus
Washington, D.C.
Focus on Social Impact — Organizations, Government, Non-Profits
In the heart of the nation’s capital, this block focuses on introducing you to government, non-profit and policy leaders that are in the world addressing the problems you care most about, demonstrating the many pathways open to you in driving change in your selected area of interest.
USC experts and Policy leaders will help you:
- Explore avenues of social impact to influence your personal project
- Provide opportunities to network with impact organizations and leaders
- Showcase how national and global challenges are being addressed alongside leading government and academic collaborators
Crafting Your Project — Getting Specific About Goals
We will spend time in this block working with you to solidify the direction for your outcomes post-program.
Advisors will work with you to:
- Tie your goals to impact
- Learn how to turn your ideas into action
- Targeted networking opportunities to better realize your goals
Weekly Online Sessions
Our virtual course sessions will provide you with:
- 1:1 coaching to dive deeply into your project and goals
- Faculty and industry experts on social impact
- Group sessions with presentations and feedback as your projects progress
Advisors
A full list of experts and advisors will be provided in the detailed program schedule.
Kamy Akhavan
Executive Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future; Former CEO, ProCon.org
An expert in solutions to political polarization, interpersonal communication, nonprofit leadership, digital marketing and civics education, Kamy Akhavan’s efforts have served more than 300 million people around the world. Akhavan will be leading and facilitating the Washington, D.C. module on Policy and Social Good.
Section 4
- Online (march 31 – may 16, 2025)
- USC Campus (may 19 – 22, 2025)
MARCH – MAY
USC
Downtown Los Angeles
Prioritizing Health, Wellness and Longevity — Completing Personal Plans
In this block we bring your goals to a conclusion while focusing on your personal and professional longevity, to ensure that your future path is as fulfilling as possible.
Faculty and industry experts will:
- Advance your understanding on longevity and aging
- Help you create a personal wellness assessment plan to bring you closer to your goals
- Focus on wellness practices that encourage the most fulfilling future
Culminating Your Project — Finalizing Personal Action Plans
At the culmination of the yearlong program, you will:
- Develop your final plans and next steps
- Cultivate a network of lasting relationships
- Enjoy networking opportunities to meet with local organizations and leaders
- By instilling USC’s values around quality education, you’ll conclude the Distinguished Leaders Program with the tools and resources that you need to promote not only your own well-being, but also your project goals and to inspire a tenure of lifelong learning.
Weekly Online Sessions
Our virtual course sessions will provide you with:
- 1:1 coaching to dive deeply into your project and goals
- Faculty and industry experts on health, wellness and longevity
- Group sessions with presentations and feedback as your projects progress
Advisors
A full list of experts and advisors will be provided in the detailed program schedule.
Caroline Cicero
Director, USC Age-Friendly University Initiative; Co-Director, USC Emeriti Center
As a gerontologist, social worker and urban planner, Caroline Cicero is committed to fighting ageism in society, making local communities better places to grow old, and analyzing aging’s portrayal in popular media, fine art, and the public square.
Ready to Apply?
Take the first step toward a new phase of your life’s journey.
Got Questions?
Contact us with any questions about the program or how to apply.