In 2025, The Leadership Academy piloted a new programme, the ‘CEO Masterclass Series’. The series was designed to upskill CEOs in response to current identified challenges specific to CEOs in the nonprofit sector. We did this by providing a bespoke and targeted programme focused on impactful learning outcomes for both new and experienced CEOs.
We identified leading trainers and experts with specific nonprofit expertise and curated a suite of dedicated masterclasses. These were delivered monthly to a group of senior leaders from across our sector. As well as dedicated workshops, we provided wrap-around services including an online hub for participants to review material and connect, an accountability buddy matchmaking service, and we will be hosting an in-person event for participants during the summer.
The pilot Masterclass Series has been a resounding success, and we are delighted to confirm we will be running the programme again for 2026/27.
We are now seeking sector and topical experts to deliver the workshops for the next series.
If you are interested in being one of our expert trainers, read on for more details and the form to apply.
How Does It Work?
First, we put out this open call to trainers who are experts at delivering workshops to senior leaders in our sector. We are asking you to identify a key area of need and tell us how you would address this need through a tailored workshop.
Once the proposed workshops are received, several of them will be curated and organised into a curriculum relevant to senior leaders. The workshops will be delivered monthly as half-day, online workshops. One workshop will be chosen to be delivered to the group in person.
What Were the Topics?
We are currently curating this year’s list, but as an example, last year’s workshops were arranged around four leadership stages:
Topics ranged from Culture to AI and from Data to Ethics.
We are open to considering any topics once a clear need is identified and communicated.
Who Attends the Series?
This programme is unique in that we only accept the most senior leaders of organisations. This is for two reasons. Firstly, the material is designed to be relevant and engaging, making it relevant only to most senior leaders. Secondly, it also means the group can relate to one another in a very specific way where they recognise the challenges faced by their peers.
The participants ranged from brand new CEOs to well-seasoned leaders. It is imperative that any proposed workshop should be directly relevant to the most senior leader of an organisation to be considered.
What Experience Should I Have?
You should be a demonstrated expert in your field or area. This year we had a blend of professional trainers, experts with professional training skills and subject matter experts from within the sector. Before your workshop is confirmed you will be asked to meet with someone from The Leadership Academy to discuss your proposal. You can outline your experience in your application. We do not require you to be a formal trainer, we require you to be an expert in your topic of delivery.
If you are a trainer and you would like to propose a high-level workshop for senior leaders relevant to the nonprofit sector, you can do so here.
If you have any further questions, you can hit reply and we’ll come back to you.
The Masterclass schedule will be curated in August 2026 and will be delivered between September 2026 and June 2027.
When is it due?
We need applications in by 9am Monday the 3rd of August 2026. Late applications will not be considered.
Why Should I Apply?
The feedback from both participants and trainers has been excellent. The trainers have commented on the unique access to a large group of dedicated most-senior leaders from across a sector that employs 281,000 people across Ireland.
The participants are the same for the entire programme which means that it becomes a very warm and engaging environment, the sort of room trainers love to work in.
The participants are thoroughly enjoying the content, as you can see below.
The content of the CEO Masterclass was excellent, but what truly elevated the experience was the depth of discussion and learning that emerged through the cohort itself. Being in conversation with other CEOs, seasoned and newly appointed, created space for honest reflection, practical problem-solving, and meaningful peer support.
The Wheel’s CEO Masterclass hasn’t just strengthened my leadership skills; it grounded my experience in the Irish context and connected me with an exceptional community of CEOs whose insights and support have been invaluable.
MaryClare Clarke, CEO, West Cork Beacon
The CEO Masterclass Series is an adult education approach to learning. Each masterclass utilised a mix of theory, practice and discussion-based interaction, to scaffold learning and deepen knowledge-sharing across the programme participants. The series also covered the full picture of what the job demands, something I could not find elsewhere when I had looked previously.
Kerry Cuskelly, CEO, Exchange House Ireland National Travellers Service
I’m currently in my second CEO role and have been a CEO for nearly ten years, leading the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association, a national charity with 21 staff. We deliver a range of services for people living with MND across Ireland, including a nationwide team of seven nurses, equipment provision grants, and therapeutic programmes. What I value most about the CEO Masterclass is the opportunity it provides to step back, reflect, and engage with peers in similar roles—something that can be rare given how isolating the CEO position can often feel.
Kevin Burns, CEO, Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association
