Your Journey Starts Here
Empowering Future Entrepreneurship Leaders: CLA's Center Leader Certification offers immersive training from global experts, preparing you to start or lead an entrepreneurship center confidently. Partnered with the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC), CLA ensures best-in-class resources for career advancement.
Your Journey Starts Here
Empowering Future Entrepreneurship Leaders: CLA's Center Leader Certification offers immersive training from global experts, preparing you to start or lead an entrepreneurship center confidently. Partnered with the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC), CLA ensures best-in-class resources for career advancement.
Empowering Future Entrepreneurship Leaders: CLA's Center Leader Certification offers immersive training from global experts, preparing you to start or lead an entrepreneurship center confidently. Partnered with the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC), CLA ensures best-in-class resources for career advancement.
Your Journey Starts Here
Here's how CLA's certification has transformed the careers of our graduates. From skill enhancement to networking opportunities, hear firsthand how our program elevates leaders in the field.
"As a newly appointed center director, the Center Leader Academy has been a tremendous resource. It was great learning from other university entrepreneurship leaders and having the opportunity to receive coaching. The discussions, presentations, mentorship and peer connections all provided an avenue to take a deep-dive into the strategic planning process of our center. I look forward to continuing to be involved with CLA as an alumnus."
Zac Strobl, Director
Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Northern Kentucky University
"The CLA Program was instrumental in helping me transition to my leadership role at the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center. As a Program Manager, it provided me with the language, tools, and network to understand my position within the broader landscape of entrepreneurship centers. The program helped me set clear goals for my center's future and foster valuable connections with other center leaders, opening doors for collaboration and growth. Now as Associate Director, I continue to benefit from the insights and network I gained through the program."
Kathia Hernandez, Associate Director
Coleman Entrepreneurship Center
DePaul University
"This achievement will help me better guide the Hunt Center at all levels regionally, nationally and internationally. Completing this program allows us to integrate advanced practices into our work, enriching our programs and enhancing the value we offer to students, entrepreneurs and stakeholders across the region."
Carlos Murguia, Director
Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship
New Mexico State University
With cohorts starting each May, the CLA Center Leader Certification program offers a comprehensive, 4-month curriculum designed for aspiring and current entrepreneurship center leaders. Delivered virtually and led by experienced industry practitioners, the program comprises 6 targeted modules, providing over 30 contact hours of interactive learning with the CLA team. Admission is selective, with cohort sizes intentionally kept small to ensure a personalized learning experience. The application process considers professional backgrounds in higher education as well as the private sector, fostering a diverse and dynamic peer group.
With cohorts beginning in May of each year, the CLA Center Leader Certification program consists of 6 modules with associated learning outcomes, delivered over a 4-month time frame. Practitioner-based and taught by industry leaders, the certificate is designed to be completed virtually, providing attendees with over 30 contact hours with the CLA team.
To ensure a high quality learning experience, cohorts are limited in size and admission is application-based. Experience in both higher education as well as the private sector is taken into consideration.
With cohorts beginning in May of each year, the CLA Center Leader Certification program consists of 6 modules with associated learning outcomes, delivered over a 4-month time frame. Practitioner-based and taught by industry leaders, the certificate is designed to be completed virtually, providing attendees with over 30 contact hours with the CLA team.
To ensure a high quality learning experience, cohorts are limited in size and admission is application-based. Experience in both higher education as well as the private sector is taken into consideration.
With cohorts beginning in May of each year, the CLA Center Leader Certification program consists of 6 modules with associated learning outcomes, delivered over a 4-month time frame. Practitioner-based and taught by industry leaders, the certificate is designed to be completed virtually, providing attendees with over 30 contact hours with the CLA team.
To ensure a high quality learning experience, cohorts are limited in size and admission is application-based. Experience in both higher education as well as the private sector is taken into consideration.
The CLA was founded by Gurpreet Jagpal, John Laurie, Ph.D. and Misty Fox to provide a gold standard for center leader education and certification. Collectively, the CLA Team has over 75 years of international experience directing and leading entrepreneurship centers, holding leadership positions in both higher education and the private sector, including Pro Vice-Chancellor, Assistant Vice-Provost, Professor, Director, CEO and COO. Combined, they have secured over $100M in higher education funding and have won more than a dozen international awards.
The certification program is targeted to those who are new to or looking to transition into a role as a entrepreneurship Center Director. The program has been designed to introduce the fundamentals of running and growing a center, as this is applicable to those in an existing center and those who are looking to launch a new center.
Certification is valid for 2-years and can be further extended by engaging in on-going Continuing Education Units (CEU's) through the CLA. Further details to follow
Due to a partnership with GCEC, the total cost for the CLA Center Leader Certificate program is $2,750 for GCEC members. This is a 15% discount from the non-member cost ($3,250).
We accept up to 20 people per cohort and no more than 1 person per institution/organization per cohort.
Admission for the 2025 cohort is done on a rolling basis.
Applications Open: November 4, 2024
Applications Close: April 11, 2025 (Earlier if Full)
Payment Due: April 30, 2025
Orientation/Modules 1&2: May 15-17, 2025
Modules 3&4: June 12-13, 2025
Modules 5&6: July 17-18, 2025
Final Assignment: September 8, 2025
Graduation: GCEC Conference, October 2-4, 2025
There is a 4-step application process:
Step 1: Register your interest on the sign up page to receive an information pack
Step 2: Apply via the link at the bottom of the information pack along with requested documentation and return it to the CLA Team
Step 3: Informal Zoom call with the CLA founders
Step 4: Confirmation of place in the certificate program and payment
Have questions or ready to join the CLA community? Connect with us to learn more about our certification program, partnerships, and the resources we provide for entrepreneurship center leaders.
