Four Opportunities for Leadership Professional Development to Advance Your Career
Professionals build the knowledge and skills necessary for leadership roles throughout their careers. Eighty percent of executive respondents to a Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) survey viewed ongoing learning as important. Few people are ready to lead businesses, schools, or communities on the first day of their careers; rather, they need ongoing professional development in leadership.
As a current or aspiring leader, you may wonder what leadership training opportunities are right for you. This choice may depend on your experience level, industry and company needs. A good starting point in your leadership development journey is to look at the most in-demand skills for leaders.
Knowledge and Skills Needed for Effective Leadership
Organizations of all sizes face shifting landscapes due to economic changes, technological advancements and evolving workforces. Skilled leaders can guide their teams through myriad challenges toward new opportunities. They solve problems and lead by example by drawing on a toolkit of hard and soft skills.
Hard Skills
Hard skills are quantifiable abilities necessary for specific roles or industries. Examples of hard skills include proficiency in a software programming language or budgeting principles. Professionals experienced enough for leadership roles typically learn hard skills through hands-on training and certification.
The most important hard skills for leaders vary depending on the type of organization and industry. Leaders may also pick up technical competencies with future career changes in mind, thus creating diverse skill sets. Some hard skills that may be useful across multiple industries include:
- Content development and management
- Foreign language fluency
- Human resource management
- Proficiency with generative AI
- Statistical analysis
Soft Skills
Soft skills are interpersonal attributes and skills that facilitate more effective communication and collaboration. A soft skill like teamwork does not depend on a particular software, language, or underlying theory. Aspiring leaders strengthen their soft skills through introspection and frequent interactions with colleagues.
There has been a growing emphasis on soft skills in new hires from human resource executives. A 2024 LinkedIn report found that the growth in AI adoption has reinforced the need for employees with strong soft skills. The top core skills for 2025 identified by the World Economic Forum also double as a checklist for good leadership skills:
- Analytical thinking
- Resilience, flexibility and agility
- Social influence
- Creative thinking
- Motivation and self-awareness
Leadership Professional Development Opportunities
Successful organizations emphasize leadership training as part of their career development efforts. A 2025 LinkedIn survey found that 71% of respondents considered “career development champions” offered formal leadership training. Your path to future leadership roles may pass through the following professional learning opportunities.
1. Networking
Aspiring leaders need strong networks of colleagues and confidants as their careers advance. A CCL report suggests that the best leadership networks are open to new ideas and people, diverse and meaningful. Networking occurs in the course of daily work, during informal conversations outside the office, and at professional conferences and networking events.
Your professional network keeps you informed about industry trends and challenges faced by your peers. Networking refines soft skills critical to leadership roles, including active listening, confidence and empathy. This form of leadership development also fosters relationships that are beneficial for future career advancements or changes.
2. Mentoring
Formalized relationships between experienced mentors and more junior employees are provided by 98% of Fortune 500 companies in the United States. Mentoring programs improve participants’ adaptability, commitment to organizational values and job satisfaction. The mentor-mentee relationship creates continuity as both participants advance in their careers.
Mentoring as a form of leadership training is most impactful on soft skills. Mentors learn how to communicate their years of experience into useful insights, while mentees understand how to lead within their workplace. Mentees also learn their leadership styles and how they can best serve future employees through the example set by their mentors.
3. Standalone Courses and Non-Degree Certificates
Leadership professional development may take place through individual courses on soft or hard skills. Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platforms and in-house training programs may support one-off sessions on topics such as change management or strategic leadership. Professionals also use individual courses to advance their knowledge of areas such as accounting principles and software development.
Universities, industry associations and corporate training centers also offer more involved certificate programs. Non-degree certificates may include multiple courses or study sessions prior to certificate exams. Examples of this leadership training type include the SHRM-CP for human resource professionals and the Project Management Professional (PMP) for project leaders.
4. Graduate Education
A study of Fortune 100 CEOs found that only 54% held graduate degrees. Pursuing a graduate degree, in particular, a terminal degree in a discipline, can be a competitive advantage when seeking leadership roles. A Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership is a good choice for future leaders because of its focus on applicable skills for the modern workplace.
The hard work and commitment required to complete an Ed.D. yield a better skill set for future leadership roles. You can improve the return on your investment of time and money by picking a doctoral program from a university with a reputation for excellence. Marymount University is designed by leading minds for the next generation of leaders.
Marymount University’s Innovative Leadership Ed.D. Program
The Online Ed.D. in Leadership & Organizational Innovation brings leadership development to your home or office. You can earn the highest academic honor in the discipline without setting foot in the classroom thanks to the program’s entirely virtual format. Ed.D. candidates complete their courses and dissertation in less than three years of study.
Faculty members with experience in public and private organizations guide future change agents through a 48-credit curriculum. Program coursework covers topics including:
- Ethical Leadership & Social Justice
- Leading an Organization: Theory, Practice & Reflection
- Transformative Leadership: Leading Organization Change
Every Ed.D. student works with a Lead Doctoral Faculty Mentor (LDFM) starting in their fourth semester. LDFMs guide their mentees as they complete their Dissertations in Practice. This dissertation format allows the student to select real-world organizational challenges to solve through their research and analysis.
At Marymount University, you can learn about leadership from a leading institution. The Online Ed.D. program holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Marymount University graduates benefit from the school’s national reputation and a growing network of fellow alumni.
Get in touch with a Marymount University advisor today to learn about the Ed.D. program.