Emerging Leaders
← ACEC/MN Professional Development
Program runs October through November 2026.
Who it's for. Early-career professionals in or approaching their first leadership role, with under six years of experience. Technical and non-technical professionals are equally welcome.
Format. Four full-day, in-person sessions led by industry practitioners and subject matter experts. Interactive, applied, and built for mixed experience levels.
Tuition. $2,500 members.
What you'll leave with.
- Confidence to take on greater leadership responsibility.
- An understanding of how a consulting engineering firm runs as a business.
- Practical tools and action plans you can apply the next day.
- Connections with peers across the industry.
- Awareness of your own leadership style and how to grow it.
One application covers both leadership programs. Questions? Contact Kelly at ksmeltzer@acecmn.org.
Sessions
Day 1. Team Building Experience and Personal Leadership. Opens with a hands-on team building experience, then covers the foundations of personal leadership: character, influence, and vision. Participants examine the difference between managing and leading and leave with a clearer sense of where they want to grow.
Day 2. Building Communication Impact and AI for Emerging Leaders. The morning introduces practical AI tools through the CRAFTing Framework, giving participants a repeatable approach to using AI confidently and responsibly in their day-to-day work. The afternoon builds communication skills, covering self-awareness, communication styles, difficult conversations, and coaching.
Day 3. Understanding How Business Works. Most early-career professionals have strong technical skills and little exposure to how their firm runs as a business. This session closes that gap through hands-on exercises and real-world scenarios covering financial fundamentals, project finance, professional liability and risk, and the HR basics new leaders need.
Day 4. Business Development Simplified and What Leaders Really Look For. Opens with an active business development workshop on building relationships and expanding a firm's presence without overhauling a busy schedule. Closes with a roundtable of firm leaders sharing candid perspective on what they look for in emerging talent beyond technical skills.
Looking for the mid-career program? See the Leadership Development Series.