From the opening reception and dinner to the closing lunch, the week features a mix of sessions designed to spur individual learning, develop organizational insights, and nurture development of leadership skills. Sessions are intended to balance the role of the financial professional in state and local government with key trends in leadership for the public sector. Representative sessions include:
Self-assessments and other behavioral insights designed to help participants understand how they work—and how they can best contribute to their organizations
Leadership skills for the 21st century
Characteristics of great organizations
You and your organization
Values of public service
Case study preparation and presentations
Leadership discussions and reflections
Leadership Academy Insight
Who should attend?
Finance Directors, Assistant Finance Directors, Treasurers, Department Managers, City Managers, and Assistant City Managers
Tuition
Tuition of $2,500 includes all speaker and working sessions, weekday lunches, and several dinners and receptions.
CPE Credits
Attendees can earn 30 CPE credits through participation.
Leadership Academy Application
The deadline to apply for GFOA's Leadership Academy at the College of Charleston has passed. Applications for 2026 will open soon.
Leadership Academy speakers will share their perspectives on the roles and responsibilities of state and local government officials in a complex and rapidly changing world. They will share career insights gleaned from research and hands-on leadership experience. The faculty roster includes:
Robert O'Neill
Executive in Residence, Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Center for Livable Communities
Chris Morrill
GFOA Executive Director
Shayne Kavanagh
GFOA Senior Research Manager
Alicia D. Caudill
Executive Vice President for Student Affairs, College of Charleston
Kim Nelson
Professor of Public Administration and Government, University of North Carolina
Valerie Lemmie
Director of Exploratory Research, Kettering Foundation
Michael Bryant
Deputy County Manager, Mecklenburg County, NC
Scholarship Availability
If you are interested in applying for the next Leadership Academy, but are concerned about the costs for travel or lodging, you can also apply for a scholarship through the GFOA’s Leadership Development Scholarship program. GLDS is a program focused on providing scholarship funding to working professionals for in-person training provided by GFOA and our partners.
Applications for a GLDS scholarship are completed through the Leadership Academy application process. After submitting an application to the academy, the confirmation email will include details to complete a GLDS application.