Session Details
The Management Institute™ - 2026 Applied Leadership Certificate
The Institute’s 2026 program will consist of 9 sessions of instruction beginning on January 13, 2026. We offer a hybrid approach to the workshops. 3 workshops are in-person (noted), the other sessions are synchronous on Tuesdays from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Institute faculty are professors from Roanoke College's School of Business, Economics, and Analytics and business leaders in the Roanoke Valley.
Workshops will emphasize participation and group interaction.
We will kick off the 2026 program on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, with dinner and our first workshop.
January 13, 2026
START WITH TALENT, FINISH WITH STRENGTHS
Meghan Jester – Director of Enrollment Management, Virginia Tech
Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach
Dinner event hosted by Institute Director, Sharon Gibbs
Wortmann Ballroom • Colket Center • 6:00 PM
January 20, 2026
LEADING CHANGE WITH CLARITY: COMMUNCATION STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE CHANGE MANAGEMENT
Michelle Austin – President & CEO, Bank of Botetourt
Workshop online
January 27, 2026
MOTIVATING CULTURE: LEADING THROUGH MOTIVATION THEORY
Dr. Johanna Sweet, Associate Professor, School of Business, Economics, & Analytics
Workshop online
February 3, 2026
TEAM DYNAMICS IN ACTION: COLLABORATION AND PERFORMANCE
Dr. C. Michael Smith, Assistant Professor, School of Business, Economics, & Analytics
Sharon Gibbs, Associate Professor, School of Business, Economics, & Analytics
Workshop In-person; 210 West Hall, Roanoke College
February 10, 2026
CONNECTED LEADERSHIP: LEADING DISTRIBUTED TEAMS WITH PURPOSE
Dr. C. Michael Smith, Assistant Professor, School of Business, Economics, & Analytics
Sharon Gibbs, Associate Professor, School of Business, Economics, & Analytics
Workshop online
February 17, 2026
FROM STRENGTHS TO SYNERGY: UNLOCKING TEAM EFFECTIVENESS
Meghan Jester – Director of Enrollment Management, Virginia Tech
Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach
Workshop online
February 24, 2026
ETHICAL INTELLIGENCE: LEADING WITH INTEGRITY IN THE AGE OF AI
Dr. Betsy Parkins, Professor of Practice, School of Business, Economics, & Analytics
Workshop online
March 3, 2026
DECISIONS WITH IMPACT: LEADING WITH DATA-DRIVEN INSIGHTS
Will Farmer - Owner & Entrepreneur, W11R
Workshop online
March 10, 2026
PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER – LEADERSHIP IN PRACTICE
Sharon Gibbs, Associate Professor, School of Business, Economics, & Analytics
The Management Institute Director
Workshop In-person; 210 West Hall, Roanoke College