2026 SCHEDULE
The Program
  • 8-week: In-person program held at the WACA Training Center in Pleasanton 
  • Program Dates: Run from April 9 through May 28, 2026 
  • Thursdays: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM full-day sessions
Week 1: Kickoff, Self-Awareness & Personal Leadership
Learning Objectives:
  • Identify individual leadership styles and articulate personal strengths in leading others.
  • Demonstrate greater emotional intelligence by recognizing personal patterns and adapting responses to strengthen relationships.
Key Activities:
  • Lego Build Leadership Challenge: Complete a team challenge and see different behaviors while simulating the complex communication challenges between customer, office and field.
  • MBTI Workshop
Tools & Takeaways:
  • MBTI Step II report
  • Personal “Action Plan” Habit tracker
Week 2: Communication & Crucial Conversations
Learning Objectives:
  • Apply effective communication techniques to convey messages clearly and confidently.
  • Demonstrate strategies to navigate conflict and resolve challenging conversations constructively.
Key Activities:
  • Describe & Draw
  • Listening Skills Self-Assessment
  • Roleplay industry-specific difficult conversations
​Tools & Takeaways:
  • “Crucial Conversations” framework
  • “Action Plan” for communication improvement
Week 3: Team Leadership & Motivation
Learning Objectives:
  • Identify the characteristics and behaviors of effective, high-performing teams.
  • Apply delegation and coaching strategies to develop team capability and
  • enhance engagement and performance.
Key Activities:
  • Building Teams Group Presentation Challenge
  • Leverage your Strengths Relay Challenge
​Tools & Takeaways
  • Delegation Planning Worksheet
  • Coaching Guide for improved 1:1 meetings
Week 4: Productivity & Decision-Making
Learning Objectives:
  • Evaluate competing priorities and apply decision-making frameworks to address project challenges.
  • Demonstrate strategies to manage time, resources, and workflow for improved efficiency.
Key Activities:
  • Time Budget Auction
  • Applied Problem-Solving Lab
​Tools & Takeaways
  • Time Management Cheat Sheet
  • “Action Plan” for prioritization and problem-solving
Week 5: Financial Acumen in Construction
Learning Objectives:
  • Interpret basic project and company financial reports to identify key
  • performance drivers.
  • Apply financial insights to make leadership decisions that enhance project
  • and organizational outcomes.
Key Activities:
  • Cash Flow Game
  • K’nex Bridge Productivity Challenge
Tools & Takeaways
  • Financial Acumen Cheat Sheet
Week 6: Influence & Client Relationships
Learning Objectives:
  • Demonstrate techniques to influence stakeholders and build productive
  • professional relationships.
  • Apply negotiation strategies to reach mutually beneficial outcomes with clients and partners.
Key Activities:
  • Ten-Dollar Challenge
  • Mapping Influence Networks
​Tools & Takeaways
  • Individual Report – Thomas Kilman Instrument on conflict management
Week 7: Leading Change & Innovation
Learning Objectives:
  • Analyze team dynamics and decision-making patterns to identify effective
  • behaviors that support innovation and responsiveness under pressure.
  • Demonstrate adaptability by adjusting strategy and team coordination in response to changing conditions during a simulated business environment.
Key Activities:
  • Card Shop Business Simulation
  • Applied Discussion: Barriers to Change
​Tools & Takeaways
  • Change readiness checklist
  • Action plan for leading change
Week 8: Capstone & Graduation
Learning Objectives:
  • Synthesize key concepts from the program to develop and present a team-based leadership solution.
  • Reflect on personal growth and commit to specific leadership actions for continued development.
Key Activities:
  • Team presentations to WACA Board panel
  • Peer feedback and reflection
  • Graduation ceremony and celebration
Tools & Takeaways
  • Personal Leadership Action Plan
  • Certificate of Completion
Download Brochure
​How To Apply? Contact: Sarah Thorvund
[email protected]
(925) 249-7268

​Limited Availability
This is your opportunity to elevate your leadership, expand your influence, and accelerate your career.
​Only 30 seats available—apply early to be considered.