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Future Leaders Academy
Unlocking leadership potential and accelerating careers across Aotearoa
Unlocking leadership potential and accelerating careers across Aotearoa
The Future Leaders Academy is a structured leadership development programme designed to support both organisations investing in emerging talent and individuals stepping into greater leadership responsibility.
It is built to accelerate the transition into leadership by equipping participants with the mindset, capability, and confidence to lead effectively, influence stakeholders, and deliver meaningful impact within their organisations.
Through interactive workshops, personalised coaching, and internal mentorship, the programme develops high-potential professionals at key points in their leadership journey, helping organisations strengthen their leadership pipeline while enabling individuals to grow into more impactful roles.
- Duration: Three-month structured programme
- Format: Hybrid (in-person workshops and online coaching and mentoring)
- Location: Auckland
- Investment: $5,800 + GST NZD
- Next intake: August 2026
Fill out the form below to apply and our team will be in touch to discuss your application.
If you’re a manager making an enquiry on behalf of a team member or employee, please get in touch here for more information.
Who is this programme for?
Designed for emerging leaders ready to step up.
The Future Leaders Academy is tailored for professionals in the early to mid-stages of their leadership journey who are already making an impact and are ready to grow their influence.
Ideal participants include:
- Newly appointed managers (0–2 years in manager role)
- Team leaders, supervisors, and first-time managers
- Professionals transitioning from specialist or generalist roles into leadership
- Founders or leaders within growing organisations seeking to strengthen leadership capability
Participants may come from any sector, corporate, public, or not-for-profit, and are currently leading people, teams, or initiatives that deliver measurable results.
Whether you are looking to develop your own leadership capability or exploring development opportunities for your team, connect with our team to discuss if the Future Leaders Academy is the right fit.
Realise your leadership potential
Join our community of respected organisations that have chosen Robert Walters programmes for leadership training and development:
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What you will walk away with
By the end of the programme, you will be equipped to:
- Lead your team with greater confidence and clarity
- Influence stakeholders and communicate with impact
- Navigate challenging conversations and organisational change
- Build a leadership style aligned to your strengths
- Execute a clear personal development plan for continued growth
Program overview
Over three months, participants engage in a blended learning experience that combines group workshops, one-on-one coaching, and internal mentorship.
Workshops
Interactive, practical sessions designed to build core leadership capabilities through real-world application and peer collaboration.
Coaching
Personalised one-on-one sessions focused on self-awareness, strengths, and actionable development strategies.
Mentorship
Ongoing guidance from experienced internal mentors, providing perspective and support throughout the programme.
Capstone project
Participants work in cohort groups to develop a practical assignment throughout the programme, culminating in a final presentation with live feedback.
Programme structure
A structured three-month journey designed to build foundational capability, strengthen leadership skills, and embed long-term impact.
Phase 1: Foundations
Build core thinking capability and self-awareness
- Critical, analytical, and creative thinking
- Psychometric insights and understanding your potential
Phase 2: Capability building
Strengthen communication and leadership effectiveness
- Communication, empathy, and influencing through change
- Resilience and adaptability in dynamic environments
- Leverage newly found skills to develop group capstone project
Phase 3: Leadership in practice
Apply leadership skills with confidence
- Leadership styles, influence, and management capability
- Personalised action plan for ongoing development
- Present group capstone project
Throughout the programme:
- One-on-one coaching tailored to your development
- A dedicated mentor matched to support your growth
- Group-based learning and peer collaboration on capstone project
Ongoing support for continued growth
Your development continues beyond the programme through access to tools, networks, and resources that support long-term success.
- Access to an online portal with frameworks, templates, and learning resources
- Membership in an exclusive LinkedIn alumni community
- A personalised development plan created with your coach
- Recognition through a digital badge and LinkedIn credential
Adam Gordon
Global Head of Talent Development
"Every year, thousands of high-potential professionals are promoted into leadership roles they haven't been prepared for. The technical skills that earned them the opportunity are not the same skills that will help them succeed in it.
Leadership is not intuitive. It is learned, practiced, and refined, ideally before the pressure is highest. Organisations that invest early in their emerging leaders don't just develop better managers. They build stronger cultures, retain top performers, and create a pipeline of capability that compounds over time.
The Future Leaders Academy was designed specifically for this moment, the critical transition from individual contributor to leader. Over three months, it brings together interactive workshops, one-on-one coaching, professional mentorship, and applied learning to give emerging leaders the tools, confidence, and clarity they need to lead well from day one.
It is built for professionals who are ready to stop learning leadership by trial and error and start building it with intention. Whether you are an organisation looking to develop your next generation of leaders, or an individual ready to step into your potential, this is where it begins."
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