2027 Leadership Program

The Leadership Program is ideal for:

  • Attorneys looking toward their next step in the coming years, including those moving into partnership, equity partnership, or a leadership or management role.


  • Mid-career attorneys seeking to strengthen core leadership skills, such as communication, emotional intelligence, and strategic decision‑making.


  • Professionals who want to build meaningful connections and develop business relationships through a cohort‑based, community‑focused learning experience.


  • Any NAWL member who is motivated to lead with purpose and expand their impact.

Details



Leadership Program sessions are held weekly. The 90-minute sessions are virtual on Zoom, with a speaker or panel discussion to kick off the session, followed by breakout sessions with small cohort groups. These cohort groups remain intact throughout the Program to foster meaningful relationships, create trusted spaces for discussion, and ensure deep, long-term connections.


Participants must commit to attending five out of the six sessions when registering. Those who attend all six sessions receive a discount to register for NAWL's 2027 Annual Meeting.

Week 1
Wednesday, March 24

12:00 - 1:30 PM ET

Leadership Reset – Defining Your Next-Level Impact

What does leadership look like at the next stage of your career? Following a brief Leadership Program orientation, participants will engage in a guided exercise to define what leadership means at their next level, identify their key strengths, uncover potential blind spots, and pinpoint areas for growth.


Participants will meet their Leadership Program cohorts, intentionally curated to bring together a diverse mix of participants across geographies, practice areas, industries, and experiences, creating a dynamic environment for peer learning, fresh perspectives, and meaningful connection. 



Week 2

Wednesday, March 31

12:00 - 1:30 PM ET


Strategic Communications in the Age of AI

In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, effective communication is a critical leadership skill.


This interactive session explores how to communicate with clarity and confidence under pressure, translate complex ideas into actionable insights for executive audiences, and build credibility in high-stakes moments. Participants will gain practical strategies for delivering messages that drive understanding, influence decision-making, and strengthen trust in an AI-enabled world.


Week 3
Wednesday, April 7

12:00 - 1:30 PM ET


Navigating High-Stakes Conversations

The most important conversations are often the most challenging.


This session focuses on practical approaches for giving tough feedback, managing conflict across differing levels of influence and authority, and delivering difficult news with professionalism and empathy. Participants will explore techniques for maintaining trust, fostering productive dialogue, and navigating high-stakes situations with confidence and composure.


Week 4
Wednesday, April 14

12:00 - 1:30 PM ET


Scaling Yourself as a Leader

As leadership responsibilities grow, success depends less on individual execution and more on empowering others to deliver results.


This session explores how to effectively delegate while maintaining accountability, lead teams through challenges related to burnout and capacity, and establish healthy boundaries that support sustainable performance. Participants will gain practical strategies for scaling impact, fostering resilience, and leading with clarity in increasingly complex environments. 


Week 5
Wednesday, April 21

12:00 - 1:30 PM ET


Driving Change & Building Influence

Driving meaningful change often requires leadership beyond formal authority.


This session explores how to effectively lead initiatives when you don’t control the outcome, align diverse stakeholders around a shared vision, and build buy-in across teams and functions. Participants will learn practical strategies for influencing decisions, navigating competing priorities, and creating momentum for change in complex organizational environments. 


Week 6

Wednesday, April 28

12:00 - 1:30 PM ET

Leadership in Practice: Ask Me Anything

The final Leadership Program session is a candid, interactive conversation reflecting on the leadership challenges and career-defining moments that shaped legal leaders’ professional journeys. Drawing on themes explored throughout the Program, speakers will share personal stories, practical insights, lessons learned, and advice for navigating growth, influence, communication, and change.


Audience participation is highly encouraged, making this an opportunity to ask questions, explore real-world experiences, and gain perspective from leaders who have successfully navigated the path to the next level.



Headshot of Effie D. Silva.

Effie D. Silva

Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary,

Fresh Del Monte

2027 Leadership Program Co-Chair

Pricing

NAWL Member*


Non-Profit / Government Attorney


NAWL Sustaining Sponsor**

Price

$1,500

$750

$1,000

Register

*If you're not yet a NAWL member but would like to register for the Leadership Program, click here to become a member first.


**Sustaining Sponsors are allocated a set number of complimentary tickets by level. Additional tickets can be purchased with this registration type. If your organization is a Sustaining Sponsor, check with them for more details.


Participant Testimonials

"If I had to choose one thing that I found most valuable, it would have been the cohort groups. It was fantastic that this was the same group of participants each week."

"While I expected to learn new leadership skills and strategies, I was struck by how much the program challenged me to look inward; it pushed me to lean into the more uncomfortable parts of growth, and to continue developing my own, authentic leadership style."

"I'm walking away with sharper communication and decision-making skills, but above all, a clearer vision of the leader I want to be: authentic, strategic, caring, and committed to advancing the people around me.”

"Each week of the program was a much-needed opportunity to step back and connect with an incredible group while tackling tough and timely issues. I’m coming away with new perspectives that will help me continue to grow as a leader and better serve my clients in this tough profession."

"The level of candor, encouragement, and mutual investment created a space where growth felt both meaningful and sustainable. It’s a reminder that strong leadership excellence is built in community.”

"I really appreciate the thoughtfulness that was put into developing this program, and I look forward to continuing to meet with my cohort and getting more involved with NAWL."

"From my experiences, I have not always been able to network, learn, and be inclusive in a summit such as this. This was definitely one of most, if not the top best experiences of my professional career. I found myself after every session chatting about speakers and our discussions in our cohort groups with my friends and partner. Thank you for putting on this program!!"

"I am so impressed by the quality of the speakers, variety of topics and how practical the program was overall. Also enjoyed the breakout sessions and getting to know attorneys from around the country with different backgrounds and practices."

"If I had to choose one thing that I found most valuable, it would have been the cohort groups. It was fantastic that this was the same group of participants each week."

"While I expected to learn new leadership skills and strategies, I was struck by how much the program challenged me to look inward; it pushed me to lean into the more uncomfortable parts of growth, and to continue developing my own, authentic leadership style."

Leadership Program Co-Chairs


Headshot of Effie D. Silva.

Effie D. Silva

Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary,

Fresh Del Monte

NAWL logo as placeholder for headshot.

Co-Chair to be announced