Empowering Black youth to unlock their potential and thrive
Students in grades 9 through 12 can apply for the Guest Student program.
About the Program
A comprehensive educational journey beyond the classroom
The Leadership by Design (LBD) program empowers Black youth to unlock their potential and thrive as responsible, engaged citizens in today’s dynamic world. This innovative, multi-year initiative goes beyond the classroom, collaborating closely with parents and community partners to foster leadership skills and fuel ambition. LBD delivers a comprehensive educational journey, combining a supportive environment, enriching curriculum that sparks curiosity and critical thinking, interactive workshops, meaningful mentorship, and exclusive access to resources from partner post-secondary institutions. By nurturing academic, social, career, and personal growth, Leadership by Design inspires youth to reach their highest aspirations and make a lasting impact.
12 Key Elements
soft & durable skills
A comprehensive educational journey beyond the classroom
Skills Gained:
- Accountability and responsibility
- Intellectual curiosity/Critical thinking
- Creativity/Innovation
- Effective communications (verbal, written)
- Persuasiveness
- Self-confidence
- Collaboration/Teamwork
- Relationship building/Networking
- Civic responsibility (valuing the ‘greater good’)
- Resilience/Adaptability
- Decision making /Problem solving
- Empathy
- Intercultural fluency
- Emotional intelligence
- Time management
soft & durable skills
A comprehensive educational journey beyond the classroom
Apart from being a crucial building block in leadership learning, each of the 12 elements teach a set of soft and durable skills that define effective leadership and define success in the workplace and entrepreneurial practice. The soft and durable skills associated with effective leadership practice are the very same skills that spell professional and entrepreneurial success. Given that effective leadership practice is largely based on a given set of essential skills, teaching those skills and encouraging their lifelong practice is a viable method for developing leaders.
- Accountability and responsibility
- Intellectual curiosity/Critical thinking
- Creativity/Innovation
- Effective communications (verbal, written)
- Persuasiveness
- Self-confidence
- Collaboration/Teamwork
- Relationship building/Networking
- Civic responsibility (valuing the ‘greater good’)
- Resilience/Adaptability
- Decision making /Problem solving
- Empathy
- Intercultural fluency
- Emotional intelligence
- Time management
The Enduring Value of Durable Skills
Durable skills span a wide variety of cognitive, emotional, and social capabilities that are critical for success in any job. They include collaboration, creative problem-solving, critical thinking, empathy, initiative, intercultural fluency, oral communication, resilience, and self-directed learning, Within these competencies is a complex network of interconnected sub-competencies, from active listening to identifying patterns. These skills are as foundational as they are dynamic. Each is transferable across various jobs, industries, and sectors, making them indispensable in all corners of the workforce.
At a time when technology — especially the rapid rise of artificial intelligence — is quickly transforming the economy, durable skills are more important than ever. Routine tasks are being increasingly automated, and AI is growing more and more capable of handling complex processes. According to Goldman Sachs, 300 million jobs could soon be disrupted or replaced by generative AI. Having long threatened blue-collar jobs in industries like manufacturing, automation is now swiftly encroaching on roles that require a college degree as well. Durable skills, meanwhile, remain irreplaceable — and in high demand.
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