Apply What You're Learning
Explore these resources, then bring the skills back to your real work.
People Leader Learning Journey
Learning and practicing leadership in ways that help teams thrive
UCalgary Continuous Learning Model
Develop as a Leader. Learn in Every Direction.
The best leaders never stop learning — and learning looks different depending on the moment. Sometimes it's a course. Sometimes it's a challenging conversation, a trusted colleague, or a resource you come back to again and again.
The UCalgary Learning Model organizes development across four areas — Work, People, Formal, and Support — with Personal Reflection & Application at the centre. Use this framework to build a well-rounded development plan that fits your role, your goals, and the way you learn best.
Explore the resources below and consider how each area can strengthen your leadership practice.
Work | Learn on the Job
Build leadership skills through real work—stretch assignments, everyday decisions, and real challenges. As a people leader, growth happens when you apply new thinking to real situations Use these resources to build the skills you need, then look for opportunities to apply them on the job.
Essentials of Change Leadership
Build the fundamentals that help you lead with clarity, consistency, and purpose — and create the conditions your team needs to succeed.
Navigating Challenging Conversations for Leaders
Some conversations are harder than others, especially when emotions or differing views are involved. Learn how to approach them with curiosity, clarity, and compassion.
Fostering a Culture of Respect through Leadership
Learn how to model and reinforce everyday behaviours that build trust, strengthen team relationships, and support a respectful workplace.
Critical Thinking for Better Judgement and Decision‑Making
Learn practical tools to strengthen critical thinking, avoid fallacies and biases, and make clearer, more confident decisions in everyday work and leadership situations
Strategic Thinking
Learn to think strategically by examining the big picture, anticipating future needs, and creating informed plans that guide clearer decisions and stronger team direction.
People | Through Others
Grow through connections with peers, mentors, and learning networks. Leadership develops through relationships and shared experience. These opportunities build community, encourage peer learning, and create space for feedback and coaching that support growth.
Learn Together, Grow Together
Programs and workshops designed to build your leadership through connection and shared experience.
ULead: Foundations
For new and emerging leaders, this cohort‑based program builds core leadership skills and confidence. Explore setting direction, clear communication, trust, and team culture through interactive sessions, peer learning, and guided reflection.
ULead: Engagement
For experienced leaders who want to keep growing. This program creates space to explore complex leadership challenges with peers through facilitated sessions, peer coaching, and applied learning that deepens practice and broadens perspective.
Applications Currently Closed
The Art of Giving & Receiving Feedback
Build confidence in giving effective feedback with practical tools focused on psychological safety, emotional regulation, and team dynamics. Strengthen relationships and optimize performance.
Building Emotional Intelligence Skills in the Age of AI
Build emotional intelligence for an AI‑driven workplace by strengthening empathy, trust, self‑awareness, and relationship‑building skills to enhance communication and team effectiveness.
Team and Collaboration Library
Optimize your team's performance through collaboration and communication strategies. Learn about team dynamics, conflict resolution, and project management.
Formal | Learning Experiences
Build your knowledge and skills through courses, workshops, and certificates. Formal learning creates a strong foundation. Whether you’re new to managing or growing your expertise, these programs offer clear, structured ways to develop as a people leader.
Learning Opportunities
From your first days as a manager to advanced leadership development — find the right program for where you are.
People Management 101 for Managers
An introduction to your role and accountabilities as a people manager at UCalgary. Access key resources to support your leadership journey. Approximately 30 minutes of self-paced learning.
Develop Your Skills as a New Manager
Learn the core skills new managers need—from transitioning into leadership to coaching, delegation, onboarding, and performance management—to build strong, motivated, and effective teams.
Becoming a Manager Professional Certificate
Build essential management skills from communication and emotional intelligence to strategic problem‑solving to prepare for your first leadership role and earn a professional certificate.
Certificates & Programs
Certificate in Professional Management
Are you hoping to move into management, enhance your business knowledge and skills, change employment, or build on your degree? You will examine key principles of business and their interrelationships in local, national and global world settings. Learn key management skills that foster communication, teamwork and problem solving in the workplace. Become more effective in your workplace today.
Employee Tuition Support
This benefit program provides development opportunities through the tuition support plan. This program is available to eligible UCalgary employees and their eligible dependents, allowing them to participate in academic courses at the University of Calgary at a reduced cost.
Manager Essentials
Introduction to Managing in a Unionized Environment
Designed for leaders with AUPE reports. Build understanding of labour relations framework, collective agreements, and corrective action processes. Approximately 1.5 hours of learning.
Equitable and Inclusive Hiring for Managers
An interactive workshop introducing equity and inclusion principles in hiring practices. Learn how to apply an equity lens to hiring processes and address barriers to inclusive recruitment.
Equitable and Inclusive Hiring for Academic Selection
Required every two years for academic selection committee members. Covers equitable hiring, applying an EDI lens, and tools to mitigate implicit bias.
The Working Mind for Managers
Build awareness of mental health, reduce stigma, and explore a leader's role in supporting workplace wellbeing. Learn when and how to accommodate employees while balancing organizational needs.
Timely Terminations: Processing Voluntary Departures
An introduction to processing timely terminations and voluntary departures at UCalgary. Designed for leaders and designated administrators. Approximately 20 minutes of self-paced learning.
Support | Resources and Tools
Build your understanding and strengthen your practice with on‑demand resources, libraries, and tools. Available anytime, these supports help you explore topics, find answers, and build skills at your own pace—on their own or alongside formal learning.
Resources at Your Fingertips
Explore on-demand libraries and tools to deepen your knowledge and reinforce your practice — at any stage of your leadership journey.
Leadership Skills Course Library
Leadership skills are essential for anyone who wants to inspire, motivate, and empower others to achieve their goals. Learn how to develop your leadership style, communicate more effectively, manage conflict, delegate tasks, and foster a positive culture. These courses can help you grow as a leader and enhance your career prospects.
Management Skills Library
Whether you're a first-time manager or an experienced leader, you can find courses here to help you grow in your role.
AI for Business Analysis
Improve your skills in areas like predictive analytics, data visualization, and natural language processing. Harness AI to streamline your decision-making processes and drive business growth.
Business Intelligence Program Area
Develop skills to analyze data, uncover insights, and support smarter decision‑making. Explore tools, best practices, and BI strategies used to drive performance across modern organizations.
Writing Courses
Build your writing skills for work, creativity, or personal growth. Explore courses in business, creative, and workplace writing, with options that count toward professional certificates.
Upcoming Learning Opportunities
View upcoming courses, workshops, lectures to help strengthen your teams, enhance your professional skills, and connect with colleagues across campus.
What You Can Explore Next
Explore additional resources that help you strengthen your leadership approach, support your team, and navigate UCalgary’s academic and operational environment with confidence.
Contact & Support
Our programs are managed by a range of faculties, departments, and external partners, each with their own dedicated team. Connecting directly with the right contact is the quickest way to get the help you need. For more specific support, see the resources below.