leadership
certificate
Young Professionals of Knoxville offers an annual Leadership Certificate program for its members that is unlike other programs available for young professionals in East Tennessee. Designed by regional experts with leadership best-practice tools and updated on a yearly basis to stay relevant, the program equips young professionals with leadership skills no matter their current career or industry.
The Leadership Certificate program has three primary pillars:
Develop Self
Connect with Peers
Serve our Community
During the program, participants will discover their own leadership style and strengths, discuss multiple aspects of leadership, including what qualities make a good leader, and how to apply their learnings in their own lives, at work, and in the Knoxville community.
Applications for 2025 are open now!
Program Details
The 2025 Leadership Certificate program sessions will take place from August 6 - September 10, meeting every Wednesday evening from 5:30 - 7:00 pm at multiple locations throughout Knoxville. For more complete details of this year’s program, please see the program outline below:
Alumni & Sponsor Mixer (optional)
Session 1: Discovering You as a Leader
Session 2: Developing & Leading with Emotional Intelligence
Session 3: Expanding Your Network to Advance Your Career
Session 4: Adapting in the Workplace
Session 5: Knoxville’s History, Opportunities, and Growth
Session 6: Serving & Building Community Through Nonprofit Boards
Final Presentation
While all participants are invited to attend the Alumni & Sponsor Mixer on Wednesday, July 30 to meet fellow 2025 participants and network with past Leadership Certificate graduates and current sponsors of YPK, attendance is optional. The Final Presentation will take place on Wednesday, October 15 and will be required for all participants (certificates will be distributed at this event).
An official celebration of all 2025 Leadership Certificate graduates will be held during the 13th Annual Impact Awards on Friday, November 7.
QUALIFICATIONS
All applicants must:
Be a member of Young Professionals of Knoxville (Not a member? Apply now!)
Commit to attending all Leadership Certificate program sessions
Possess a growth mindset with the will to learn and advance
Use their developing leadership skills and knowledge for the long-term benefit of the community
ATTENDANCE
Program participants are expected to attend all sessions. However, exceptions (if urgent) can be made for participants to miss one session. The program consists of six (6) sessions with a mixer before sessions begin and a final presentation concluding program participation.
It’s highly recommended that all applicants hold the dates above on their calendars when they apply.
TUITION
Tuition for the Leadership Certificate program is $250. Each participant and/or employer/sponsor of each participant is expected to pay the full program tuition before the first session. This amount covers all program costs, including materials, assessments, speakers, and food and drink at every session. Tuition is non-refundable in whole, or in part, if the participant fails to complete the program.
Applicants interested in being considered for financial assistance should submit a one-page document stating the amount requested and the reason for the request. All requests for financial assistance will remain confidential. Please email all requests to contact@ypknox.com with the subject line, “Leadership Certificate Financial Assistance.”
If applicants wish to request their employer pay for their tuition, a template to aid your request can be found here.
