Boss Builders Leadership Development Open Cohort
The Fall 2026 Open Cohort Begins September 18
A Cross-Industry Cohort for New, Aspiring, and
Recently Promoted Managers
Boss Builders is Mt. Vernon Consulting's cohort-based leadership development program for new and aspiring people managers.
The Boss Builders Open Cohort follows a fixed sequence. It gives organizations of any size the flexibility to enroll one or a few leaders at a time.
Participants learn alongside managers from different organizations and industries, gaining practical leadership skills and valuable perspectives beyond their own workplace. All participants in a cohort move through the same sequence together, week by week, building a shared foundation with their peer group.
A Flexible Fit for Developing Leaders
Not every organization has enough new managers at once to run an internal cohort, and many leaders are promoted one-off with limited support. Our Open Cohort, offered 1-2 times a year, brings together leaders from multiple organizations for a practical,
high-participation learning experience.
The Open Cohort is ideal for:
New managers and supervisors with less than 3 years managing people
Aspiring leaders who anticipate moving into a leadership role within 6 to 12 months
New leaders that want a high-quality leadership program without the investment of a private cohort
Newly promoted managers who need practical support right away
Organizations with one-off or off-cycle promotions
Leaders who would benefit from learning alongside peers in different industries
Organizations that only need to train a few leaders at a time
Individual managers seeking professional development outside their organization
Participants gain practical leadership tools, apply them to real workplace challenges, and learn from managers across organizations and industries.
Not sure if you're far enough along? If you're actively managing people, or expect to move into a leadership role within the next year, you're likely a fit.
Benefits of Participating in the Leadership Development Open Cohort
The open cohort gives participants:
A supportive peer group that makes leadership feel less isolating
Real conversation and practice, not passive content
Fresh perspective from leaders outside their organization
A structured cadence of prework, live practice, and application
Consistent opportunities to speak up, practice, and learn from one another.
How the Leadership Development Program
Open Cohort Works
Boss Builders uses a blended format designed for real-world application.
Independent Prework (approximately 60 minutes): short videos, readings, and reflection prompts
Live sessions: interactive, discussion- and practice-focused sessions (not lectures)
Application: participants leave each session with a clear plan for what they will try on the job
Boss Builders cohorts are intentionally small and interactive.
Participants are expected to actively participate and complete the prework prior to each live session.
Join the Fall 2026 Cohort Collective
Program Dates and Time
Live virtual meetings held weekly on Fridays from 12:00-1:30 pm ET
on the following dates:
September 18: Build the Boss Mindset
September 25: Know Yourself with Everything DiSC® Management
October 2: First, Build Trust
October 9: Communicating Like a Boss
October 16: The Boss’s Guide to Tough Talks
October 23: The Boss as a Coach
October 30: Leading Through Change
Program Investment
Standard tuition: $1,850 per participant*
Additional Pricing Options
Enrolling several leaders? Organizations registering three or more participants may qualify for team pricing.
Work for a nonprofit organization? We believe nonprofit leaders deserve access to high-quality leadership development, even when professional development budgets are limited. Contact us to discuss nonprofit reduced-rate seats.
Paying on your own dime? Payment plans are available for participants who are paying for the program personally.
*Early bird discount = $1,650 for all registrants who apply prior to August 28.
**Discounts cannot be combined. Contact us to discuss team pricing, nonprofit availability, or invoicing requirements.
Time Investment
Prework: ~60 minutes before each session, so live time is spent applying, not catching up
Live sessions: 90 minutes, 100% discussion and practice (Zoom)
17.5 hours of leadership development that actually sticks with you.
Every session is built for practice, not lecture, so you leave with tools you'll use immediately, and keep using long after the cohort ends.
What Your Investment Includes
Your tuition provides a complete leadership development experience, including:
Seven live, 90-minute virtual group sessions facilitated on Zoom
Everything DiSC® Management assessment and personalized profile to help you understand your management style and how to adapt to the people you lead
Guided individual prework before each session (approximately 60 minutes)
A comprehensive participant workbook filled with practical tools, templates, reflection activities, and leadership tips
An actionable leadership development plan to help you turn what you learn into clear priorities and next steps
Session recordings to revisit key concepts or catch up when needed
A cross-industry peer learning experience
A certificate of completion recognizing your investment in leadership development
See What Others are Saying…
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"This course has practical tips for supervising others. It’s less focused on theories and ideals. You walk away with tools in your back pocket for managing people."
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"This program provided an opportunity to learn about my own leadership style and how that style informs my ability to communicate with, work effectively with, and lead others with differing styles. It provided concrete strategies on how to leverage differing styles — as a leader — to get maximum results at work."
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“Having a very small group of folks to connect with was one of the most valuable parts of this experience. Working with people who are not at my organization allowed me to share my experiences and get objective responses from people looking at it from a strict management lens."
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"It's [Boss Builders Leadership Development Program] a great way to gain practical skills and connect with others with minimal time commitment. In the current climate, the asynchronous format with just ~1 hour a week is very doable for most people."
Open Cohort
Frequently Asked Questions
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Participants apply for upcoming cohorts. We keep cohorts small to ensure a high-participation experience.
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Applications are reviewed before a spot is confirmed. If you're a fit for the upcoming cohort, we'll follow up with next steps and enrollment details.
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That is exactly what the open cohort is designed for.
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Yes, it is included in the program price.
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Yes. The program is built for discussion and practice, and live participation is part of the experience.
Ready to build confident, people-first leaders in your organization?
Info@mtvernonconsulting.com