Aspiring Leaders overview
Each year, up to 25 managers from across the executive branch are nominated by their agency head and selected from a highly competitive pool to participate in the Aspiring Leaders Development Program.
Administered by DAS Learning and Development, Aspiring Leaders is designed to help managers become more effective team leaders through essential and contemporary skillsets such as emotional intelligence, innovation, agility, and resilience.
The program focuses on three core areas: the leader, the agency they serve, and the State of Connecticut.
- The leader: The program seeks to enhance self-awareness and insight into others, grow capabilities to lead transformation, think strategically, and champion change.
- The agency: The program seeks to help leaders lead agency initiatives through process improvement, project sponsorship, and a data-driven culture and communication with credibility and connection.
- The State of Connecticut: The program seeks to drive successful outcomes for the state and stakeholders by understanding and applying regulations and policies.
Participants apply what they learn in the program by analyzing and solving a specific business challenge in state government and formally presenting their recommendations.
The nomination process for the 2026 program will be formally announced in the fall of 2025.
