Leadership Intensives

On July 4, 2026, America will celebrate its 250th birthday. In honor of that occasion, this program will examine some of America’s most important political thinkers throughout its two-and-a-half-century history to tell the philosophical story of how Americans went from defending a revolution against the monarchy in the name of constitutional democracy in the late 18th century to calls for a radical reimagining of that project in the early 21st century.

Students of all political persuasions are welcome. You will be guaranteed to cherish at least some of the thinkers we examine and to hate-read at least some of the others. Just as importantly, students of all countries are welcome. American thinkers wrestling with what America is supposed to be all about holds lessons for all.

Reading selections will be short to accommodate busy schedules and complemented by mini-lectures to provide participants with enough material for us to discuss and debate the thinkers we look at. The standard practice of this Leadership Intensive will be to read every person on the list both charitably and critically. Charitably means we will work to present their views in the best favorable light. Critically means we will also challenge their views.

When

6–7:30 p.m. on:

• Wednesday, February 11, 2026
• Wednesday, February 25, 2026
• Wednesday, March 11, 2026
• Wednesday, March 25, 2026
• Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Facilitator: Christopher Robichaud

Christopher Robichaud is Senior Lecturer in Ethics and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Director of Pedagogical Innovation at the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics. He received his doctorate in philosophy from MIT. His interests surround ethics, political philosophy, and social epistemology, with a focus on examining the role of truth and knowledge in well-functioning democracies, and on understanding what the post-truth age of politics is. Dr. Robichaud has been a member of the faculty since 2006. Previously, he has taught philosophy courses at Texas A&M University, the University of Vermont in Burlington, and Tufts University.

Dr. Robichaud's work at the Harvard Kennedy School focuses primarily on developing ethics pedagogy for professional policymakers. He is the course head for the MPP core ethics program and has led efforts to transform the ethics curriculum into a case-based and simulation-driven enterprise. He has overseen the recent development of several agent-focused cases looking at Edward Snowden, Kim Davis, and Congressman Bart Stupak, as well as new policy-focused cases about Eric Garner and social justice, and the minimum wage and economic justice.

Dr. Robichaud has devoted considerable energy to creating simulations that give professionals opportunities to explore ethical decision making in the context of practicing leadership skills and engaging in negotiations. In addition to appearing in the MPP program, these simulations are used in a variety of executive education programs at the Harvard Kennedy School, including Emerging Leaders (for which he is co-chair), Leadership and Decision Making, and Senior Executive Fellows. They have also been used in programs at the Harvard Medical School, Harvard Business School, and Harvard Graduate School of Education. New simulations he is working on will soon appear in the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, the Institute of Politics, and the Harvard Law School. Dr. Robichaud recently delivered a TEDx talk discussing his work on ethics and simulations.

In 2015, he was the first recipient of the Innovations in Teaching Award at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is among the faculty who will be working on the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, and he regularly collaborates with the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative, which is part of the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.

Dr. Robichaud is also dedicated to bringing philosophical ideas to a wider audience, and pursues this goal by looking at issues in moral and political philosophy that arise in pop culture stories, especially superhero narratives. His articles can be found in the volumes Superheroes and Philosophy, Supervillains and Philosophy, Batman and Philosophy, Iron Man and Philosophy, X-Men and Philosophy, Spider-Man and Philosophy, Superman and Philosophy, Watchmen and Philosophy, The Avengers and Philosophy, Heroes and Philosophy, True Blood and Philosophy, Walking Dead and Philosophy, Game of Thrones and Philosophy and Dungeons & Dragons and Philosophy. He is currently under contract with Harvard University Press to write a book of public philosophy that interrogates superhero characters and stories.

He has contributed online content to the EdX Smithsonian course, "The Rise of Superheroes and Their Impact on Pop Culture" and has developed a new joint Smithsonian-Harvard EdX course, "Power and Responsibility: Doing Philosophy with Superheroes," which launched in the spring of 2017.

The rising generation of public leaders must be able to communicate with courage and integrity in an increasingly diverse, divided, and disrupted world. This workshop will help strengthen your capacity to be a brave leader and communicator in whatever setting or sector you choose. This workshop is open only to students who have not taken Dr. McCarthy’s course "REAL TALK: The Art & Practice of B.R.A.V.E. Communication" at HGSE. 

When

 Friday, February 13, 2026, 8:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

Facilitator: Timothy McCarthy

This Leadership Intensive blends ancient wisdom and modern leadership tools to help participants handle high‑stakes moments with clarity and courage. It focuses on building inner character and ethical grounding to lead effectively in today’s complex world.

When

6:30–8 p.m. on:

• Tuesday, February 10, 2026
• Tuesday, February 17, 2026
• Tuesday, February 24, 2026
• Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Facilitator: Cathleen McCaffery

Cathleen McCaffery is an entrepreneur and certified executive coach whose work explores how ancient philosophical and spiritual traditions can inform contemporary leadership practice, with particular focus on discernment, moral courage, and the inner capacities required for principled action in complex environments.

An entrepreneur who has built multiple ventures including launching a company internationally, McCaffery brings both scholarly depth and practical leadership experience to her teaching. Her approach integrates philosophical reflection with experiential learning, drawing on diverse wisdom traditions to help leaders distinguish between fear and intuition, cultivate attention, and develop what the ancients called phronesis, practical wisdom for navigating high-stakes decisions.  

She has pursued advanced studies across Harvard's Graduate School of Education, Business School, Law School, Divinity School, and Kennedy School, cultivating an interdisciplinary foundation that spans literature, practical theology, psychology, leadership development, and organizational strategy. Her research focuses on ethics and character development in higher education. While at HGSE she worked with Dr. Howard Gardner on a pilot project, “Making Ethics Central to the College Experience” as well as Dr. Meira Levinson on creating legal contracts for EdEthics case studies.

McCaffery's teaching and research are grounded in the conviction that leadership in an era of ecological precarity, technological acceleration, and widespread uncertainty requires not merely technical expertise but the cultivation of character, discernment, and courage. Her work creates space for participants across faith and philosophical backgrounds to develop their own frameworks for ethical leadership and sustained moral practice. 

McCaffery holds a master's degree in education leadership, organizations, and entrepreneurship from Harvard's Graduate School of Education and a bachelor of arts in English literature and creative writing from the University of Southern California.  

In today’s complex environments, leaders must understand not only how teams function but how entire organizations move, adapt, and sometimes get stuck. This session offers a fully experiential immersion using the Classroom as Organization (CAO) method, an approach in which the classroom temporarily becomes a real organization with roles, units, workflows, and deliverables. Instead of analyzing cases from a distance, students become the organization: They make decisions under pressure, coordinate across groups, face ambiguity, and navigate the informal norms that quietly shape performance.

The power of the session lies in learning through action. After the simulation, we pause to unpack what happened—where coordination flourished, where it broke down, and what leadership moves shifted momentum. Through collective reflection, we identify the levers that allow leaders to steer an organization. Unlike other sessions focused on teams or interpersonal dynamics, this one illuminates the organization as a whole.

When

Friday, February 27, 2026, 8:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Facilitator: Timothy O'Brien

"If you're not at the table, you're on the menu." For too long, LGBTQ+ voices have been absent from the decision-making tables that shape our laws, policies, and communities. In 2025 alone, we have seen a record-breaking number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in state legislatures across the country and ordinances locally. While LGBTQ+ representation in elected office has grown in recent years, it is still far from proportional. Ensuring a more representative democracy requires intentional effort to prepare, support, and elect more LGBTQ+ leaders.

This Leadership Intensive brings together students from across academic disciplines eager to explore how political representation shapes outcomes for marginalized communities and what it takes to move from advocacy to elected office. The core of the offering is a one-day, skills-based workshop that introduces students to the fundamentals of running for office: where and when to run, how to fundraise, and how to craft a compelling political message. The program brings in local LGBTQ+ elected officials to discuss their unique experiences and challenges running for office and ends with a reception to network with other leaders in the area.

Recent elections have shown us that every seat matters—up and down the ballot. This program will empower politically minded students to transform their passion into action by equipping them with tangible skills while fostering dialogue about the importance of LGBTQ+ representation. Whether they want to be the candidate themselves or help support other LGBTQ+ candidates, this day-long co-curricular is open to all who want to dive deeper into the world of civic engagement.

At a time when LGBTQ+ rights are increasingly politicized and contested, CPL can continue convening students for critical conversations and leadership training.  

Don't just get mad; get elected. 

When

Friday, March 6, 2026, 8:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

Facilitators: Itay Balely and Elliot Imse

Itay Balely (he/him) is the Director of Training, overseeing LGBTQ+ Victory Institute’s political training programs, including its signature Candidate & Campaign Training programs, along with other activation and skills-building trainings to provide resources for candidates interested in (or currently) running for public office. Previously, he was the U.S. Programs Manager leading the Victory Congressional Internship & Fellowship experiences. Prior to joining LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, Itay worked at the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, where he trained and organized volunteer leaders and board members to expand the LGBTQ+ political movement through impactful fundraising. Itay is a graduate of the University of Maryland where he earned his Bachelor’s in Psychology and Jewish Studies with a concentration in Public Leadership. In his free time, you can find him hosting trivia at a local Washington, D.C. bar and watching reality game show competitions on television. 

Elliot (he/him), having previously served as the Vice President of Communications at LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, Elliot leads LGBTQ+ Victory Institute as Executive Director. Prior to joining Victory, Elliot was Director of Policy & Communications at the DC Office of Human Rights (OHR), a government agency dedicated to eradicating discrimination in the District of Columbia. In that capacity, he worked with a multitude of communities to prevent discrimination through well-informed policy and community awareness. Before OHR, he focused on messaging and communications strategy for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Harvard Gender and Sexuality Caucus – an organization that organizes and advocates for Harvard’s LGBTQ+ students, faculty, staff and alumni. He has a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor degree in Journalism & Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. 

The Negotiation Clinic is an intensive clinic designed using best practices in negotiation skill development and a research-based coaching protocol. The Clinic is an opportunity for students to improve their negotiations performance through one-on-one feedback from a trained coach who will understand their personal goals, observe them in multiple exercises, and provide feedback and an opportunity for guided reflection.

When

• Friday, April 17, 2026, 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.
• Saturday, April 18, 2026, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Eligibility

You are eligible if you:

• Are a current graduate student or fellow at Harvard
• Have taken/are currently enrolled in a simulation-based negotiations course
• Are available for the entirety of the two-day workshop

Facilitators: Monica Giannone and Joan Moon

Monica Giannone is the Director of the Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Collaboratory at the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School. Giannone is an Instructor at Harvard Kennedy School where she teaches in Executive Education programs and co-teaches degree program courses on negotiation. Giannone is also an Adjunct Lecturer in the Management Division at Babson College and teaches negotiation in the MBA program.

The Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Collaboratory’s work on negotiation, conflict management, alternative dispute resolution, and intersectional leadership seeks to expand the way the HKS community and the broader field studies leadership and negotiation. Giannone’s current areas of work focus on international climate negotiations, overcoming partisan divide in U.S. legislatures, negotiation in cities and local government, value-based conflict, situations of low-power, and gender and negotiation.

Giannone has worked with foundations, non-profits, government institutions, and companies in the public and private sectors to deliver customized trainings on interest-based negotiation focusing on two-party negotiation, multi-party negotiation, team based/internal-external negotiation, influence and persuasion, and situations of low-power and/or status differences. Clients include European, Burmese, Israeli, Palestinian and other international diplomats and political leaders, U.S. Congress, U.S. military, multinational foundations, and private sector companies in the manufacturing, consulting, and tech industries.

Giannone has a Master’s in Public Policy (MPP) from Harvard Kennedy School and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science and Religion from Wake Forest University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa.

Joan Moon is a Negotiation & Conflict Resolution Collaboratory Fellow at the Center for Public Leadership, where she was the founding coach and lead researcher for the Negotiation Coaching Clinic in 2018. Previously, Joan served as a Fellow and Lara Warner Scholar at the Women and Public Policy Program where she was the founding coach for the Career Negotiation Coaching Program and researched the effects of negotiation coaching on negotiation outcomes. Joan is also the founder of Moon Negotiation, LLC. Before her time at Harvard, Joan was a Teach For America corps member, Bronx schoolteacher, and management consultant.

Join Governor Deval Patrick for a three-session intensive exploring the experience of running for public office as a principled person. Sessions will cover:

• Exploring Your “Why”: Reflections on personal motivation, values, ambitions, and how these align with your objectives in public service.
• Building a Campaign and Launch: Exploring campaign structure, early team building and fundraising, and learning to connect your “why” to your team and the voters.
• Strategy, Media Engagement, and Winning and Losing: Introduction to campaign planning and strategy; managing media, criticism, and political vulnerabilities; crisis management; reflections on winning and losing gracefully and how these choices connect to your “why."

Facilitator: Deval Patrick

Deval Patrick AB 1978, JD 1982, is Senior Partner at The Vistria Group, a private investment firm that seeks to deliver both superior financial returns and meaningful impact. He is also a Hauser Leader at Harvard’s Center for Public Leadership. Previously, he served as the David R. Gergen Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, where he was co-director of the Center for Public Leadership from 2022 to 2024.  

Finding Your Authentic Voice is designed to help participants feel empowered to use the full potential of their voice as leaders for social change. Through activities that explore culture and personal identity as well as vocal exercises, we will explore ways to best utilize the power of our voice to communicate authentically and effectively.

Facilitator: Carla Canales Dirlikov

Carla Canales has created and led programs concerning cultural diplomacy and cultural entrepreneurship at leading universities worldwide and has served as an Arts Envoy for the United States Department of State since 2005.  In addition, she has won acclaim on leading stages around the world as an opera singer while also being recognized with multiple awards and honors for her work as an arts advocate and as an entrepreneur.  In 2023, Carla was appointed by the White House to serve in a newly created role at the National Endowment for the Arts, as Senior Advisor and Envoy for Cultural Exchange. Prior to joining the Biden Administration, Carla oversaw cultural diplomacy initiatives at both Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Since 2021 she has been a Social Innovation Initiative Fellow at the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard’s Kennedy School and as was also 2021 Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellow at Harvard, the youngest fellow in the history of the program to date. During the Obama Administration, Carla served as a member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities Turnaround Arts Program.  She is the founder of The Canales Project, a non-profit arts and advocacy organization focusing on using the arts to address issues of identity and culture.  As a classical singer, Carla has been in demand for her portrayal of Bizet’s Carmen, a role she has performed over eighty times in twelve countries.  In other leading roles and as a concert singer she has performed on five continents including, in the U.S., performances at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Carla has authored two recent book chapters on Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy, as well as several academic publications.  She is fluent in Spanish, French, Italian, German, and English and is currently working on achieving proficiency in Mandarin.

In this series of six workshops, you will learn the essential skills for effective leadership through simulations, role plays, case studies, and personal reflections. Each student will have a one-on-one mentoring session with the faculty.  The program begins with an on-campus session, followed by an intensive all-day field trip that same weekend to an island managed by Outward Bound, where you will participate in hands-on leadership exercises. The subsequent workshops include: 

• Self-awareness and empathy
• Radical listening
• Creating teams
• Persuasive communication
• Perseverance and managing adversity 

Facilitator: Rand Wentworth

Rand Wentworth teaches environmental politics, leadership and negotiation at the Kennedy School and received the Carballo Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2021. Wentworth is president emeritus of the Land Trust Alliance, a DC based national conservation organization that leads over 1000 land trusts with 8,000 staff, 16,000 board members and 4.6 million members. He is widely recognized for expanding the pace and quality of land conservation in America. Wentworth has testified before the U.S. Congress on multiple occasions and built a bi-partisan coalition that convinced Congress to pass environmental legislation. He was the founding director of the Trust for Public Land in Atlanta where he tripled the size of the national park honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. and protected a 70-mile national park along the Chattahoochee River. Prior to his career in conservation, Rand was president of a commercial real estate development company. He is graduate of Yale University and holds an MBA in finance from Cornell University. 

This series of lectures and discussions will provide an overview of three bodies of knowledge for leadership across four sessions:

• Foundational principles
• A diagnostic and strategic framework
• An internal framework for managing oneself

Facilitator: Ronald Heifetz

Ronald Heifetz is among the world’s foremost authorities on the practice and teaching of leadership. He advises heads of governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations across the globe. In 2016, President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia highlighted Heifetz’s advice in his Nobel Peace Prize Lecture. 

Heifetz founded the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School where he is the King Hussein bin Talal Senior Lecturer in Public Leadership. Heifetz played a pioneering role in establishing leadership as an area of study and education at Harvard, in the United States, and around the world. His research addresses two key challenges: developing a conceptual foundation for the analysis and practice of leadership; and developing transformative methods for leadership education, training, and consultation.  

Heifetz co-developed the adaptive leadership framework with Riley Sinder and Marty Linsky to provide a basis for leadership practice and research. His first book, Leadership Without Easy Answers (1994), is a classic in the field and has been one of the ten most assigned books at Harvard and Duke Universities. Heifetz co-authored the best-selling Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive through the Dangers of Change with Marty Linsky, which serves as one of the primary go-to books for practitioners across sectors (2002, revised 2017).  He co-authored the field book, The Practice of Adaptive Leadership: Tools and Tactics for Changing your Organization and the World with Alexander Grashow and Marty Linsky (2009). All  three books have been translated into many languages. Heifetz’s HarvardX online course, Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles (2020), has reached more than 700,000 people and was one of five finalists among global online courses for the 2021 EdX Prize.

Heifetz began his focus on transformative methods of leadership education and development in 1983. Drawing students from throughout Harvard’s graduate schools and neighboring universities, his courses on leadership are legendary; his core course won the alumni award for the most influential course in the careers of alumni six out of six years. His teaching methods have been studied extensively in doctoral dissertations and in Leadership Can Be Taught, by Sharon Daloz Parks (Harvard Business Press, 2005). 

A graduate of Columbia University, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard Kennedy School, Heifetz is both a physician and cellist. He trained initially in surgery before deciding to devote himself to the study of leadership to address the major challenges facing societies and organizations. Heifetz completed his medical training in psychiatry to provide a foundation for developing a political psychology of leadership. As a cellist, he was privileged to study with the great Russian virtuoso, Gregor Piatigorsky.