At a Glance
What it is: Forge partners with NYU to deliver an exclusive certificate program to help social-impact leaders drive meaningful change through innovation.
What you get: Earn an NYU certificate while building your network through 21 hours of in-person and virtual instruction.
Who it's for: This program is ideal for senior leaders and executives in public, nonprofit, and social enterprise sectors who want to gain the skills to navigate complexity and lead with purpose.
When: Winter 2026 cohort runs over March 2026, with two full day live in-person sessions March 3 and 4 in Calgary, Alberta and 3 evening virtual sessions.
Tuition: $4,997 one-time-payment. If you require financial assistance and work at a non-profit organization you can apply for a Forge Scholarship during the application process. If your organization is interested in enrolling 3 or more participants you are eligible for a 15% group order discount, please contact us at info@forgecentre.com to make arrangements.
Details
In partnership with the NYU Bronfman and I3: The Institute for Impact and Intrapreneurship, Forge is bringing innovation and systems thinking to the social health field. The Leading Innovation for Systems Change program is designed for practitioners working to address social health issues, mental health, recovery, domestic violence, or sexual violence.
How it’s different
Most social innovation training focuses on disruption or theoretical information, not the tools leaders need to shift systems or build cultures of safety and dignity.
Social innovation requires getting buy-in, leveraging networks, and finding sustainable paths forward. This certificate is about leading change in real situations where it’s messy and complicated - and where making change matters to people, in community, and civic life.
Learn to:
- Use practical tools for innovation process
- Gain support for implementing your ideas
- Connect, influence, and inspire others
- Approach social change like an entrepreneur
Goals
- Exposure to typologies, concepts, methodologies and practices in entrepreneurship and innovation.
- Familiarity with practical innovation and entrepreneurship development and management tools;
- Development of an innovation mindset;
- Innovation and entrepreneurship introduced to your organization and network.
- Dialogue and collaboration with other leaders;
- To build skill in designing relational approaches to innovating in public and social service settings
Logistics
- Winter 2026 - March 3 and 4th in person & follow up virtual sessions.
- 21 academic hours
- In Person and Virtual Sessions
- NYU Executive Education Certificates will be granted to participants
Interested in bringing this course to your network, organization or community? Contact us at info@forgecentre.com
Curriculum
- Adaptive Innovation in Times of Disruption
- Harnessing Complexity & Working with Emergence
- Building Adaptive Capacity with Dignity-Driven Teams
- Innovation and Complexity in Government & Public Service
- The Art of Experimentation
- Building a Culture of Innovation
- Case Studies in Innovation for Systems Change
- Intrapreneurship in Action
*Topics are subject to change depending on instructor availability and needs of the group
PAST FACULTY
- Dr. Nir Tsuk, Founder I3: The Institute for Impact and Intrapreneurship
- Dr. Jeff St. John, Founder, Forge Centre for Dignity Driven Leadership
- Kim Ruse, CEO Fear Is Not Love
- David Turner, First Peoples Group
- Talia Bell, Chief Programs and People Officer, YW Calgary
- Sharon Blackwell, Consultant
