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Aspire: Women’s Leadership Development Programme

Gain the confidence, skills, and networks to overcome barriers and take charge of your leadership journey with purpose and impact.

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In-Person

Cost: $3,695 excl. GST
Duration: 8 half-days, 9.15am-1pm
CPD/PLD Hours: 30
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08 Mar 2027 | Wellington

Sessions
Session 1 | 8 Mar 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 2 | 22 Mar 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 3 | 5 Apr 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 4 | 19 Apr 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 5 | 3 May 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 6 | 17 May 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 7 | 31 May 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 8 | 14 Jun 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 1 | 8 Mar 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 2 | 22 Mar 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 3 | 5 Apr 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 4 | 19 Apr 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 5 | 3 May 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 6 | 17 May 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 7 | 31 May 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 8 | 14 Jun 9:15am - 1:00pm
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21 Jun 2027 | Wellington

Sessions
Session 1 | 21 Jun 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 2 | 5 Jul 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 3 | 19 Jul 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 4 | 2 Aug 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 5 | 16 Aug 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 6 | 30 Aug 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 7 | 13 Sep 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 8 | 27 Sep 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 1 | 21 Jun 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 2 | 5 Jul 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 3 | 19 Jul 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 4 | 2 Aug 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 5 | 16 Aug 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 6 | 30 Aug 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 7 | 13 Sep 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 8 | 27 Sep 9:15am - 1:00pm
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06 Sep 2027 | Wellington

Sessions
Session 1 | 6 Sep 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 2 | 20 Sep 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 3 | 4 Oct 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 4 | 18 Oct 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 5 | 1 Nov 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 6 | 15 Nov 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 7 | 29 Nov 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 8 | 13 Dec 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 1 | 6 Sep 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 2 | 20 Sep 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 3 | 4 Oct 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 4 | 18 Oct 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 5 | 1 Nov 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 6 | 15 Nov 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 7 | 29 Nov 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 8 | 13 Dec 9:15am - 1:00pm
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Course overview

Women face unique challenges on the path to leadership. The Aspire: Women’s Leadership Development Programme provides the tools, strategies, and confidence to navigate these challenges, break barriers, and lead with impact.

Delivered over four months through eight interactive half-day workshops, this programme blends leadership theory, guest speakers, peer learning, and practical exercises. Participants will gain valuable career insights, build their leadership identity, and develop strategies to overcome both internal and external barriers to success.

Designed for women in public, private, and NGO organisations, Aspire is ideal for those looking to advance their careers, strengthen their leadership presence, and expand their professional networks.

By the end of the programme, participants will have the skills, confidence, and support network to take ownership of their leadership journey and make a meaningful impact in their organisations and beyond.

What you'll learn

  • Develop strategies to overcome internal and external barriers to leadership success.
  • Strengthen your leadership presence and confidence to stand firm in your leadership role.
  • Build a powerful leadership network through peer learning and ongoing support.
  • Strengthen your influence, impact, and professional profile.
  • Improve personal wellbeing and build greater resilience.
  • Create an actionable leadership development plan for continuous growth and success.

Course modules

1. Leading Self

  • Know yourself: Reflect on your leadership strengths, values, and areas for growth to develop a strong sense of self-awareness.
  • Who am I at work?: Understand how your personal identity influences your leadership style and approach to work.

2. Leading through Mindset

  • Thinking like a leader: Learn strategies to overcome imposter syndrome, shift from being good to getting better, recognise faulty thinking styles, challenge limiting thoughts, and navigate the accountability ladder and circle of influence.
  • Resilience and Personal change: Build resilience and learn how to navigate personal change to thrive as a leader.

3. Leading Others

  • Growth Conversations: Learn how to listen and how to asking great questions and learn how to use conversation tools. 
  • Tricky Conversations: Develop skills for managing challenging conversations, offering feedback, and resolving conflicts effectively.

4. Leading with Influence

  • Power and Influence: Understand the dynamics of power and influence in leadership, and how to lead with impact and authority.
  • What now?: Develop an actionable plan to continue your leadership journey, setting clear goals and leveraging your new skills to succeed.

Delivered By

Find out more

Trish Lui

FACILITATOR

Find out more

Karen Waitt

FACILITATOR

Find out more

Melanie Beirne

FACILITATOR

Further Information

The Aspire programme is delivered through eight half-day workshops held on Monday mornings over four months. The format will consist of pre-work, theory, guest speakers, peer learning, practical exercises and career advice. The programme will be based on action learning principles. There will be up to 18 participants per programme.

You will receive a digital certificate of attendance and a Wellington Uni-Professional digital badge. These include the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours completed, making them suitable for recognition by professional organisations and employers. 

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Diversity at the top leadership table correlates positively with better organisational performance, so why are more women not in senior leadership roles? Your organisation will benefit through:
Increased productivity through improved staff engagement.
Increase in credible female applicants for leadership roles.
Increased number of female leaders as role models.
Greater diversity in the leadership team, contributing to improved decisions making.
Healthier group dynamic in leadership team.
Improved organisation culture.

Read more here about how the Aspire programme has helped three amazing women on their leadership journeys.

Course reviews

The Aspire programme gave me a huge confidence boost and understanding of leadership, especially for women in the workplace. It was inclusive, engaging and enjoyable – and I now have a great toolkit to up my leadership game.

Past Learner

Aspire has not only helped me to understand myself better but given me practical tools and techniques to advance my professional development.

Past Learner

I enrolled in the Aspire Course hoping to pick up the skills to take on a lead role at work. After the course, I not only felt confident leading at work, but was also empowered to pursue what was important to me in other parts of my life.

Past Learner

I would highly recommend this course to both new and seasoned managers—so many interesting tools, models, and skills that will benefit many.

Past Learner

If you are contemplating this course, then this means you should apply; it’s empowering and reminds you to invest in yourself.

Past Learner

This course has truly helped me to explore what to do next in my career and how to approach leadership!

Past Learner

Amazing learnings with some good eye-openers. So many tools were given to progress further in my career. I would recommend it to everyone who aspires to be a great leader.

Past Learner

Hugely valuable. I wish all aspiring women leaders had the chance to do this course. Fabulous, inspiring, and knowledgeable facilitators.

Past Learner

The guest speakers and women who lead this course walk the talk; they are absolutely inspiring. It’s been a life-changing experience.

Past Learner

This course helped me learn how to shape the job to my style rather than making myself fit into the shape of the job.

Past Learner

I absolutely loved this course. It has taught me so much about myself and helped me plan for my future in leadership and in my own personal life and growth. This isn’t just a “how-to” leadership course. This is a life-changing experience that I would recommend endlessly.

Past Learner

Upcoming Courses & Delivery Options

08 Mar 2027 | Wellington

Duration: 8 half-days, 9.15am-1pm

Sessions
Session 1 | 8 Mar 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 2 | 22 Mar 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 3 | 5 Apr 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 4 | 19 Apr 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 5 | 3 May 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 6 | 17 May 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 7 | 31 May 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 8 | 14 Jun 9:15am - 1:00pm

$NZD 3,695

excl. GST

Register

21 Jun 2027 | Wellington

Duration: 8 half-days, 9.15am-1pm

Sessions
Session 1 | 21 Jun 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 2 | 5 Jul 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 3 | 19 Jul 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 4 | 2 Aug 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 5 | 16 Aug 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 6 | 30 Aug 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 7 | 13 Sep 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 8 | 27 Sep 9:15am - 1:00pm

$NZD 3,695

excl. GST

Register

06 Sep 2027 | Wellington

Duration: 8 half-days, 9.15am-1pm

Sessions
Session 1 | 6 Sep 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 2 | 20 Sep 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 3 | 4 Oct 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 4 | 18 Oct 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 5 | 1 Nov 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 6 | 15 Nov 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 7 | 29 Nov 9:15am - 1:00pm
Session 8 | 13 Dec 9:15am - 1:00pm

$NZD 3,695

excl. GST

Register
Aspire: Women’s Leadership Development Programme