LEAP Essentials

A high-impact, virtual, leadership development program taught by seasoned CMOs and industry leaders. Designed for experienced and rising marketing leaders to strengthen strategic thinking, expand their influence, and drive greater business impact.

Nominate a Leader or Apply Now

Jan 21 - Feb 11

2027

4 Virtual Sessions

Thursdays, 1pm - 5pm EST

$2800 per

participant

Trusted by the World's Leading Brands to Develop their Leaders

Winter 2027 Professors

Kenny Mitchell

Kenny Mitchell
Global CMO, Levi Strauss & Co.

Kofi Amoo‐Gottfried

Kofi Amoo-Gottfried
former CMO, Door Dash

nikki-neubergur-circle-headshot-1

Nikki Neuburger
former Chief Brand & Product Activation Officer, lululemon

Tressie Lieberman

Tressie Lieberman
Global Chief Brand Officer, Starbucks

Vineet Advisory Large

Vineet Mehra
Chief Growth and Marketing Officer, Chime

The Virtuosi League Advantage

Unlike internal programs or courses from academia, LEAP Essentials is a focused leadership experience built for immediate impact and long-term value. Gain practical insights, a cross-industry perspective, learn from accomplished practitioners in the C-Suite today, and build lasting connections with a community of accomplished peers.

 

Courses Taught by Top Tier CMOs

Learn directly from top CMOs and Executives sharing the real playbooks behind their leadership.

Practical Leadership Tools

Learn proven executive frameworks and tools that you can begin applying the moment you leave a session.

Curated Network of Peers

Build trusted relationships with experienced marketing leaders across industries and organizations.

LEAP Six Pillars of Leadership

 

The LEAP Six Pillars of Leadership is the foundation of the LEAP Essentials curriculum. It is an interconnected framework where each pillar strengthens and influences the others. Practiced together, they build the trust, clarity, and confidence to navigate complexity, lead through change, and drive greater impact across teams and organizations. Explore each pillar below. 

Reinforce Your Foundation iconConnect values to actions to lead authentically with confidence to deepen trust and credibility. 

  • Lead with purpose

  • Establish non-negotiables

  • Frequent reflection

  • Progress over perfection

  • Embrace change

  • Work is a canvas for your purpose to unfold

Understand the Landscape iconStrengthen situational awareness of organizational currency to enhance impact.

  • Assess company culture

  • Know key decision-makers

  • Identify organizational currency

  • Understand people's motivations

  • Remove Assumptions

  • Recognize Workplace Politics as Tools

Clear the Path iconConvert friction into opportunity to accelerate team performance.

  • Set clear expectations

  • Communicate transparently

  • Foster psychological safety

  • Celebrate failures as learning moments

  • Address conflict directly

  • Eliminate excuses

Strengthen Teams iconCultivate empowered teams that move with speed, agility, and accountability.

  • Encourage radical candor

  • Shared understanding of self and each other

  • Create space for growth

  • Seek and implement feedback

  • Delegate to develop

  • Provide clear communication, always

Build Bridges iconInfluence enterprise impact and alignment to foster growth and innovation. 

  • Recognize that “the network is the work”

  • Prioritize your first team – your peers

  • Engage advocates

  • Be trusting and trust-worthy

  • Ensure Information Flows Freely

  • Strengthen Gatekeeper Relationships

Fortify Resilience iconSustain momentum, adaptability and endurance through challenges, failures and setbacks.

  • Own your personal brand

  • Seek support and share challenges

  • Adapt quickly and reframe failure as growth

  • Prioritize mental and physical health

  • Control your calendar

  • Build lifelong connections early

 

Invest in Yourself

  • Strengthen your strategic perspective and sharpen how you lead through four high-impact weekly sessions

  • Learn from C-Suite industry leaders with practical, real-world applications and examples of key leadership best practices

  • Join a cross-industry network of accomplished leaders to broaden your perspective and support your growth

 

Invest in Your Team

  • Equip a rising leader with practical strategies, frameworks and tools they can apply immediately

  • Expand their perspective with accomplished C-Suite professors from outside your organization

  • Build their network with trusted cross-industry peers who offer fresh perspective, insight and support

Apply or Nominate a Leader Today
"The Leap Virtuosi Essentials program was exactly what I needed at this stage in my career. It was helpful to validate and emphasize the fact that leadership starts with mastering yourself. This program gave me both the space and the inspiration to double down on that belief."

VP of Marketing

"What a great opportunity to learn from top business leaders, sharpen my skills, expand my influence, and network with a powerful marketing community."

VP of Brand & Purpose

"LEAP Essentials couldn't have come at a better time. Spending focused time for 6 weeks "mastering me" and giving myself space to think has been invaluable and I already see it paying dividends in how I show up as a leader."

Head of Marketing, Cinnabon

"I had the privilege of meeting incredible classmates who have now become my trusted peers on this journey driven by our shared purpose."

Sr. Design Director

"What makes LEAP Essentials so powerful is its practicality. It doesn't just inspire; it equips you with real frameworks and tools that help you navigate every aspect of leadership."

VP of Marketing

LEAP Essentials FAQs

1

What is the cost of the program?

LEAP Essentials is an investment in your or your team’s leadership journey. Designed for both organizational L&D budgets and individual career development, the program is $2,800 and includes four interactive class sessions and ongoing leadership education materials and opportunities shared with the LEAP alumni community.

What is the cost of the program?
2

Who is the program designed for?

LEAP Essentials is designed for senior marketing leaders who are leading teams and looking to strengthen their leadership skills and advance their careers. Throughout the program, participants are placed in small discussion groups curated by role, experience level, and leadership goals.

Who is the program designed for?
3

What is the format of the program?

Essentials is built around the LEAP Six Pillars of Leadership consolidated into 4 sessions. Each session combines the Pillar principles with real-world insights from C-suite leaders and their lived experiences that explore both the intellectual and emotional aspects of leadership, complemented by interactive whole-group and small-group discussions.

What is the format of the program?
4

What is the winter schedule?

The next LEAP Essentials winter class will take place January 21 to February 11, 2027. Over the course of 4 weeks, participants will attend four highly interactive 4-hour sessions, held Thursdays from 1pm to 5pm EST. Start the new year by investing in your own growth or your team’s leadership development.

What is the winter schedule?

How can I justify the investment to my leaders?

Many participants self-fund for their own development but, for others, company L&D funds may be available. If you would like our help in how to request funding, contact us by submitting the form below. 
How can I justify the investment to my leaders?

Apply to LEAP Essentials or Nominate a Leader on Your Team Today