XWLA - Women's Leadership Academy (WLA)

Course Description

The mission of Women's Leadership Academy (WLA) at Loyola University New Orleans is to train and develop leaders throughout the community by providing the opportunity to grow and network with thought leaders in the region, and develop tools and strategies to achieve their fullest potential personally and professionally.

WLA consists of ten (10) on-campus sessions, including keynote speakers, micro-learning seminars, case studies, and leadership presentations. WLA participants who successfully complete the program will earn a Loyola University New Orleans Certificate of Completion and earn 6.0 Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Although Loyola University's Women's Leadership Academy curriculum is concentrated on addressing women and leadership, all genders and non-binary individuals are eligible to apply.

Applications open October 1, 2026 for WLA Cohort 9.

Please click here to apply for Women's Leadership Academy. 

*Please note the following for application submission:

Course No: XWLA

Section: 009

WLA has limited partial scholarships available to eligible applicants. To apply for a scholarship, please submit the separate scholarship application in addition to the WLA online application. Deadline to submit a scholarship application is November 9, 2026. Please visit wla.loyno.edu for important application dates and information.

Application submission is required prior to completing the enrollment. You will receive notification of your application status via email on January 8, 2027 when enrollment will open to those who have been accepted. 

Cohort 9 - Important Application Dates

October 1, 2026 Applications open

November 9, 2026 Priority & Scholarship Application Deadline

December 11, 2026 General Application Deadline

January 8, 2027 Decision Notifications Released

January 20, 2027 Deadline to Confirm Seat

January 29, 2027 Tuition Payment Due

Please note: Seating is limited. 

Course Outline

See Sample Syllabus

Learner Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, participants will be able to:

• Build confidence as a leader at work and in their communities.
• Gain clarity about their leadership style, purpose, and vision. 
• Grow in self-awareness through an in-depth  understanding of their personality type and personal preferences.
• Strategically grow a network of leaders they can depend on for advice and support.
• Understand the importance of identifying and managing their emotions in the workplace. 
• Gain an increased awareness of executive presence.
• Recognize their personal style of communicating and how to adapt to their preferred style to others in order to communicate more effectively. 
• Grow in their confidence to lead change.
• Identify and leverage their unique strengths as a leader. 
• View challenges and setbacks as opportunities to grow.
• Actively set boundaries in the workplace.
• Gain a clear understanding on how to positively impact their communities.
• Grow in confidence in their ability to manage conflict and navigate difficult conversations.
• Seek diverse perspectives when making decisions and value the contribution that each person makes to a team.
• Become more confident in their ability to execute their leadership vision.

Notes

This program is great for the following:

• Mid to senior level leaders
• Leaders motivated to reflect and improve upon their personal leadership skills to become more effective and impactful
• Leaders committed to driving innovation and transformation within their organizations and region

Testimonials

"I strongly encourage women in leadership roles or interested in serving in a leadership role to participate in the Loyola Women's Leadership Academy. I look forward to these sessions each month because of the speakers, who are inspirational and informative, and because of the value of setting time aside to dream big. Moreover, the opportunity to attend this course with so many strong women is uplifting and amazing in itself. We learn so much from each other. We also see that strong leaders are as diverse as each individual in the room, from the extroverted, assertive leader to the introverted, deep thinker. Good leaders are lifetime learners, and this academy is fantastic, even for the "more experienced" of us in the room!" - Mary Garvey Algero

“WLA has had a transformational impact on me during such a pivotal time in my personal and professional life. The program pushed me beyond my comfort zone and gave me the tools to take on a career change and Director-level roll with confidence. The program has positively influenced my daily life, all while providing me with a powerful network of inspiring female leaders.” - Andrea Lockwood

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Young Women's Leadership Academy

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