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.

USC Distinguished Leaders Program Schedule. Businesswoman explaining strategy over a flip chart.

Hybrid Approach

Benefit from the program’s unique blend of online learning with in-person experiences and real-world projects at influential locations across Southern California and Washington, D.C.

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

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

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

Meet weekly as a cohort on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m. PT in addition to 1:1 meetings scheduled at your convenience. Times may fluctuate slightly based on expert availability and as new opportunities arise. 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

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

Meet weekly as a cohort on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m. PT in addition to 1:1 meetings scheduled at your convenience. Times may fluctuate slightly based on expert availability and as new opportunities arise. 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

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

Meet weekly as a cohort on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m. PT in addition to 1:1 meetings scheduled at your convenience. Times may fluctuate slightly based on expert availability and as new opportunities arise. 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

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