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Women in Leadership:
Influence and Impact

Learn. Lead. Empower.

The online Women in Leadership: Influence and Impact certificate program offered through SMU’s office of Continuing & Professional Education (CAPE) is designed to deepen your understanding of your own leadership, influence and impact style, while helping you hone essential leadership skills to confidently express your expertise, authority and point of view.

Taught by five industry practitioners–and featuring a live panel discussion during the final week–the six-week program combines self-paced content (ideal for working professionals) with live, virtual class sessions (opportunities to build a professional network with subject matter experts and likeminded participants), to provide an authentic learning experience that encourages collaboration and practical application.

SMU alumni qualify for a 10% tuition reduction!

Complete and submit the form below to receive your Women in Leadership: Influence and Impact program guide.
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Program Outcomes

Upon your successful completion of this program, you should expect to be able to:

  • Understand the relationship between your thoughts, feelings, intersectionality, and actions and how they impact your attitude and performance
  • Align your actions and your team’s actions toward your organization’s strategic goals
  • Strategically prepare for efficient and effective communication with leaders, peers and team members
  • Develop an action plan to adopt strategies to strengthen psychological safety, trust and engagement within your organization
  • Discuss personal differences and apply best practices towards coaching, mentoring, and sponsorship relationships with all groups of people, including ethnically diverse groups

What You Will Learn

The six-week Women in Leadership: Influence and Impact program will help you create a positive impact through reflection and application of leadership strategies to influence others toward a common goal.

Week 1: Leadership Starts from Within: Gain a better understanding of yourself, your personality, identities, and your leadership style. Led by Kara Schillaci, Vice President of Talent Management & Transformation, Rexel USA

Week 2: Developing Strategic Insights – From Staff to C-Suite: Learn how to leverage strategic thinking and position yourself as a key contributor in the organization. Led by Mina Shams, Principal HR Consultant, OH Consulting

Week 3: Communicating for Influence: Learn how to develop the right message for the right person at the right time to inspire action. Led by Laura Wooten, Marketing Communications Consultant, Wooten Communications

Week 4: Cultivating Psychological Safety, Trust, and Team Engagement: Learn how to identify the level of psychological safety and trust in your organization and teams, and what practical steps you can take to build a healthy and happy team. Led by Wendy Hultmark, Executive Coach

Week 5: Influence through Coaching, Mentorship, and Sponsorship: Explore what you should consider as you extend your influence on others as an ally, mentor, or sponsor. Led by Mignon Early, Vice President Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Fresenius Medical Care

Week 6: Industry Expert Perspectives Panel: In this final module, you’ll have an opportunity to learn from female leaders representing a variety of industries. They will lend their voices to provide fresh insights, leadership tips and strategies designed to help you increase your influence and impact as a woman in leadership.

Certificate Overview
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6 Weeks

Live Online Class Thursdays in addition to
6-8 hours of self-paced study per week

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CEUs: 4.2

Continuing Education Units

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PDUs: 42

Professional Development Units

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$1,995

Meet Your Instructors

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Kara Schillaci

Vice President, Talent Management & Transformation, Rexel USA

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Mina Shams

Principal HR Consultant, OH Consulting

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Laura Wooten

Marketing Communications Consultant, Wooten Communications

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Wendy Hultmark

Executive Coach, Wendy Hultmark Executive Coaching

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Mignon Early

Vice President Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Fresenius Medical Care

Who Should Register?

The SMU CAPE Women in Leadership program offers a unique learning experience for both aspiring and established leaders seeking to advance their leadership skills.

The program is beneficial for new leaders, emerging leaders, and individual contributors aspiring to be leaders of influence and impact, as well as those in mid- to senior-level roles who currently manage teams or coach those seeking leadership opportunities.

Group (2 or more) or corporate tuition reductions are available to those who qualify. Contact a Student Success representative for more information.

Build your professional network

During the first week of the program, you'll be paired with an Impact Partner to discuss each module's lesson, encourage positive progress, and offer additional collaboration opportunities to apply the material in the real world.

Why SMU?

  • SMU Continuing and Professional Education has offered noncredit learning programs since 1953.
  • SMU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
  • Live, instructor-led virtual live class sessions encourage peer-to-peer interaction and practical application of the material.
  • Participate in a live, virtual panel discussion with industry leaders who understand how to become successful leaders of influence and impact.
  • Students who successfully complete the Women in Leadership program will be issued a digital Women in Leadership credential through Credly, and will earn a certificate and a lifetime credential through SMU Continuing and Professional Education.
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Questions? Call 469-619-9940

Delivered on behalf of Southern Methodist University Continuing and Professional Education by Bisk © 2025.
Program cost, availability and requirements are subject to change.