Strong leadership isn’t something you’re simply born with — it’s a set of skills you can build. Foundations of Effective Leadership is a six-week, interactive training that helps you strengthen workplace awareness, communicate more clearly, navigate organizational change and improve how your teams perform. Through applied learning and real-world workplace analysis, you’ll gain practical tools to better understand workplace dynamics while building the professional confidence and adaptability that effective leaders rely on.
The training meets on Wednesdays, Sept. 16–Oct. 21, 2026, from 8 a.m.–12:00 p.m. at NTC’s Wausau campus.
Training Modules
Over six weeks, you’ll work through six focused modules:
- Leadership Awareness & Influence
- Communication Patterns in the Workplace
- Navigating Change in the Workplace
- Team Dynamics
- Problem Solving & Decision Making
- Stress Management for Sustainable Leadership
What You’ll Gain
By the end of the training, you’ll walk away with:
- Greater self-awareness and leadership insight
- Improved communication and collaboration skills
- Stronger workplace adaptability during times of change
- Better decision-making and problem-solving awareness
- Tools to recognize and manage workplace stress
- Strategies to support sustainable leadership and team effectiveness
Benefits for Your Organization
The value of this training reaches well beyond the individual. Organizations benefit from:
- Improved employee communication and engagement
- Stronger collaboration across teams
- Increased workplace adaptability and resilience
- Reduced workplace tension and stress-related disruption
- More effective leadership behaviors and team interactions
- An enhanced workplace culture and stronger organizational effectiveness
Meet Your Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Kowal
As a project manager, Dr. Kowal has led multimillion-dollar initiatives for a large national consulting firm and for the State of Wisconsin, managing complex, high-visibility projects across diverse stakeholder groups. From regulatory and public-sector initiatives to ERP systems to organizational improvement efforts, she has guided both large and small teams through change, alignment and execution. These experiences sharpened her ability to navigate complexity, build collaboration and deliver measurable results.
Dr. Kowal brings this depth of real-world experience directly into higher education, where she teaches a variety of professional development courses through Workforce Development at Northcentral Technical College, supporting leaders and organizations in strengthening the practical skills that drive performance. She also instructs in MBA programs, teaching courses in business communication, team building, change management, project management and organizational performance. Her approach is practical, interactive and designed for working professionals who want tools they can apply immediately. She emphasizes how clear communication fuels collaboration, strengthens teams and supports sustainable change — skills essential for leaders at every level.
Outside of work and the classroom, she is a beekeeper who draws leadership inspiration from the hive — where cooperation, adaptability and shared purpose drive success. She also enjoys weaving baskets, knitting and gardening. At the heart of her work is a strong commitment to helping others achieve their own version of success.
Pricing and Registration
Registration is $800 and includes all books and training materials.