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.
The NextGen Municipal Leadership Program is designed to strengthen the knowledge, confidence and leadership capacity of current and aspiring municipal leaders as they navigate the opportunities and responsibilities of local government.
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 today’s municipal environment.
Your Learning Journey
The NextGen program combines expert led learning, practical discussion, municipal case studies, interactive computer based simulations and peer learning to help participants strengthen their leadership effectiveness while applying concepts to realistic municipal scenarios.
The following are sample sessions for this program:
- Maximizing Relationships: Understanding Yourself and Others Through Personality Dimensions
- Fundamentals of Business Leadership
- Budgeting and Financial Management
- Municipal Strategic Planning Process
- Coaching for Performance
- Leading Change
- Leveraging the Power of Teams
- Staff and Council Relations
- Managing in a Unionized Environment
- Rising to the Challenge of EDI
- AI in the Municipal Sector
- HR for Non HR Managers
- Bringing It All Together: Where Do We Go From Here?
Executive Certificate
Participants who successfully complete the program requirements will receive a Certificate from Goodman Group, Goodman School of Business at Brock University, recognizing their commitment to strengthening municipal leadership and serving their communities.
Interested in bringing this program to your organization?
The NextGen Municipal Leadership Certificate is also available as a customized offering for individual organizations. Contact us at [email protected] to learn how the program can be tailored to your team’s goals, priorities and schedule.
Upon completion of the program, participants will be prepared for:
- Apply greater self awareness to strengthen relationships, adapt their leadership approach and work more effectively with colleagues, teams and stakeholders.
- Apply practical leadership approaches to coach employees, strengthen accountability, build high performing teams and support individual development.
- Contribute more effectively to municipal planning by aligning departmental priorities with organizational goals and understanding how decisions influence broader municipal outcomes.
- Support sound operational and budget related decisions by applying foundational financial concepts and considering organizational priorities and available resources.
- Navigate staff and Council relationships, unionized environments and challenging workplace situations with greater confidence, professionalism and strategic awareness.
- Apply practical strategies to lead change, foster inclusive workplaces and respond thoughtfully to emerging opportunities and challenges, including the use of AI in the municipal sector.
- Develop an intentional leadership action plan that identifies priorities for continued growth and supports ongoing leadership effectiveness within their municipality.
- 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.
