Investing in your professional development is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen your ability to manage your community.
By expanding your skills and knowledge to engage your organization’s colleagues in problem-solving, decision-making, and planning processes, you can improve the social, political, and cultural well being of your community’s civic life.
Developed in collaboration with public sector executives and learning & development experts, Goodman Group’s NextGen Municipal Leadership program aims to help improve your ability to engage, lead, and develop your catchment area.
“The NextGen program is delivered by experienced and progressive municipal leaders and provides the tools and understanding to perform in the evolving public sector. Delivered in a fun and practical environment this program was motivating and energizing.”
– Adam Eckhart, City of Welland Fire Chief
In municipalities, leadership is not about title. It is about stewardship. Every decision shapes public trust, community wellbeing and the legacy left to those who follow.
For more than a decade, the NextGen program has supported municipal leaders who want to grow with intention. Guided by an active advisory committee and continuously refined through participant insight, it reflects the real pressures and responsibilities of local government. From strategic planning and financial stewardship to council relations, unionized environments, coaching, inclusive leadership, leading change, building effective teams and emerging realities such as AI, each session is grounded in the municipal context.
Participants are challenged to think beyond their department and lead for the whole system. Because when a municipal leader grows, the impact does not stop at their desk. It ripples outward to their team, their council and the community they serve. By joining this program, participants also have the opportunity to connect and learn alongside like-minded leaders from other municipalities, sharing perspectives, experiences and insights that strengthen the future of municipal leadership.
Through interactive sessions led by Goodman School of Business faculty and municipal leaders, participants will:
- Deepen self awareness by understanding their leadership strengths, temperament and impact on others to enhance effectiveness across roles.
- Strengthen their coaching capability to elevate individual performance, foster accountability and build high performing teams.
- Enhance their ability to navigate complex municipal relationships, including staff and council dynamics, with professionalism and strategic awareness.
- Strengthen their understanding of municipal strategic planning processes to better align departmental priorities with corporate strategy and translate vision into action.
- Build greater confidence in financial and business acumen to support responsible budgeting and resource decisions.
- Expand their capacity to integrate equity, diversity and inclusion principles into everyday leadership practice.
- Strengthen their approach to managing in unionized environments, addressing conflict, managing crises and supporting teams through change.
- Broaden their perspective on emerging trends, including AI in the municipal sector, while clarifying personal leadership growth priorities and next steps.
- Fall 2026: Thursdays from Oct. 1 to Dec. 3; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (ET)
- Program graduation: Thursday, December 3 at 1 p.m. (ET) at GSB Atrium
To learn more, please contact us at [email protected]
On May 28, 2026, Goodman Group proudly celebrated the successful completion of Cohort 23 of the NextGen Municipal Leadership Program, a transformative 10-week leadership experience designed to strengthen leadership capacity across the municipal sector.
This cohort brought together emerging and experienced leaders from eight municipalities and organizations, including the Town of Fort Erie, City of Port Colborne, City of Welland, Niagara Region, Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, City of Niagara Falls, Town of Pelham and Township of King. Throughout the program, participants engaged in meaningful discussions, practical learning experiences and collaborative problem-solving with peers from across the region. Read more.
