Program Overview

Cleveland State University’s new Leadership & Innovation Fellows for Transformation (LIFT) Program is an opportunity for faculty and staff to explore how they can create the conditions for positive change by learning about and practicing leadership and innovation. Through this program, Fellows will expand their capacity to drive innovation in their respective fields and across the institution.

Presented by The Beth E. Mooney for Transformative Leadership and the Weston Ideation Lab, the LIFT Program is an eight-month intensive, highly-focused opportunity for up to 12 Fellows, combining engagement with internal and external leaders and innovation theory research with opportunities to practice what is learned in the higher education environment. An external field trip will connect Fellows to best practices and showcase innovation.

Program components include: 

• Mentorship: Pairing teams with experienced leaders for guidance 
• Workshops and Seminars: Deep dives into topics like leadership styles, collaboration, change management, innovation, lean problem solving and design thinking through the higher education lens 
• Field Trip: Opportunities to connect with peers with industry and community leaders who are showcasing best practices in innovation and leadership for the organizations they serve 
• Leadership in Action Project: Participants design and implement an innovation project, presenting their results in the final session

Attendance Requirements 

Participants are expected to attend all sessions and be present while the group is in session. We encourage 100% attendance but recognize this may not always be possible. Schedule conflicts must be communicated in advance.