Presented by WashU’s Bauer Leaders Academy and In St. Louis, For St. Louis
Strong nonprofit organizations need strong, adaptable leaders. This four-part series brings together St. Louis nonprofit and community leaders to learn practical leadership skills grounded in research from WashU faculty and tailored to the realities of leading mission-driven organizations. Each session offers actionable tools leaders can put into practice immediately, while creating space to connect, share ideas, and learn from peers across the St. Louis community. Join us at Delmar DivINe to build your leadership toolkit, expand your network, and strengthen the work you’re already doing in our community.
SESSIONS (ALL SESSIONS HELD 2:00 – 3:30 PM AT THE DELMAR DIVINE)
September 29, 2026
Leading to Build Collective Psychological Ownership
Faculty Facilitator: Andrew Knight, PhD | Bank of America Professor & Senior Advisor to the Chancellor
How do you get people to feel invested in the work, not just responsible for it? Nonprofit leaders rely on staff, volunteers, and board members to bring time, energy, and commitment to a shared mission. Drawing on WashU research, this session explores how leaders can build a sense of collective ownership—the feeling that something is “ours”—while mitigating the territorial behaviors that can divide teams. Participants will leave with practical strategies for creating greater investment, accountability, and connection to the mission.
November 16, 2026
Leading to Move Ideas into Actions: Implementing Creativity
Faculty Facilitator: TBD
Great ideas are only the beginning. For nonprofits, the challenge is often turning creative thinking into ideas that can actually be implemented. Drawing on WashU research, this session explores how leaders can create conditions for better ideas, recognize group dynamics that get in the way, and build creative processes that help move ideas from brainstorming to action.
February 9, 2027
Foundations of Negotiations
Faculty Facilitator: TBD
Every nonprofit leader is a negotiator. Whether you are working with funders, vendors, community partners, board members, or your own team, knowing how to navigate competing priorities is essential. This interactive session introduces the fundamentals of interest-based negotiation and gives participants an opportunity to practice through a realistic nonprofit scenario. Participants will leave with practical strategies for understanding interests, creating options, and navigating difficult conversations with greater confidence.
June 15, 2027
Leading without the Spotlight: Introverted Leadership
Faculty Facilitator: TBD
Leadership takes many forms. Many leaders, staff, and volunteers assume that effective leadership requires being extroverted or having a commanding presence. But research shows that extraversion is not a prerequisite for effective leadership. This session explores the strengths of quiet leadership and offers practical strategies for building influence, fostering connection, and leading effectively by leaning into your own strengths.