Inclusive Communications Leadership Certification
Presented by the Diversity Action Alliance (DAA)
Elevate your leadership capabilities with the Inclusive Communications Leadership Certification, a premier development experience tailored for mid to senior-level professionals in Marketing Communications (MarComms), Human Resources (HR), and People Operations. This program is designed to equip forward-thinking leaders with the tools to foster connection, clarity, and purpose-driven change within their organizations.
Why Enroll in This Certification?
Strategic Expertise
Gain practical and forward-looking insights into building communication strategies that resonate across audiences—enhancing internal cohesion and strengthening external engagement.
Leadership Development
Refine your ability to lead teams with empathy, alignment, and confidence, cultivating a workplace culture built on trust and collaboration.
Crisis Management
Learn to respond to communication challenges with poise and clarity, ensuring consistency and credibility in high-stakes moments.
Talent Engagement
Develop strategies to attract, retain, and empower top talent by creating an environment where employees feel valued, seen, and supported.
Flexibility
Attend live or access recordings anytime.
Program Highlights
Comprehensive Curriculum
Participate in expert-led sessions covering key topics such as narrative influence, strategic messaging, organizational alignment, and talent-focused communication.
Capstone Project
Apply what you’ve learned to a real-world challenge, demonstrating your ability to translate inclusive communication principles into effective leadership.
Flexible Virtual Learning
Engage in a virtual format built to support your professional schedule—so you can grow without putting your work on pause.
What You’ll Gain
Through expert-led courses and real-world applications, participants will walk away with practical tools to:
Analyze organizational dynamics and the historical influences that shape communication and workplace culture.
Develop messaging strategies that foster trust, authenticity, and alignment across teams and stakeholders.
Respond to crises with transparency, clarity, and cultural awareness.
Apply leadership techniques that empower teams and support meaningful, organization-wide change.
Create workplace environments that attract, retain, and support top talent through intentional communication and culture-building.
Upcoming Courses:
Semester One (September-December 2025)
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Foundations of Inclusive Communication
Sept 24, 2025 | Savannah Lenhardt
This foundational course introduces inclusive communication principles, shared language, and practices to set learners up for success across the certification.
💵 $195 -
Course 1: Courageous Conversations & Principled Leadership
Oct 22, 2025 | 2:00–3:30 PM EST — Fiza Gujaran
Oct 23, 2025 | 11:30 AM–1:00 PM EST — Kim Clark
This course builds the personal foundation for inclusive leadership, equipping participants to manage bias, create psychological safety, and facilitate difficult conversations that drive organizational change.
💵 $195 -
Course 2: Shaping Inclusive and Impactful Narratives
Oct 31, 2025 | 12:00–1:00 PM EST — Ganga Dhanesh
Nov 18, 2025 | 5:30–7:00 PM EST — Ayanna Anderson
Learn to harness storytelling for authentic, accessible messaging that resonates across diverse audiences, mitigates bias, and drives organizational goals.
💵 $195
Semester Two (January - April 2026)
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Course 3: Strategic Leadership and Responsible Crisis Response
📅 Jan 2026 | Fred Garcia (date/time TBD)
Explore inclusive leadership principles during critical moments. Develop crisis communication strategies that balance transparency, legal considerations, and stakeholder trust.
💵 $195 -
Course 4: Elevating ERGs and Linking Communication to Business Strategy
📅 Jan 2026 (1:30-3:00 PM EST)| Cecilia Nelson-Hurt
Position ERGs as strategic business assets. Learn to align ERG communications with recruitment, retention, innovation, and organizational growth.
💵 $195 -
Course 5: Metrics, Measurement, Technology, and Accountability
Feb 3, 2026 | 11:00 AM–12:00 PM EST — Michael Marinello & Medha Chandorkar
Develop KPIs, reporting frameworks, and ethical AI practices to demonstrate the business value of inclusive communication.
💵 $195 -
Course 6: Global Inclusion Strategy: Integrating IR, ESG, and Public Interest Communications
📅 Mar 2026 | (Instructor, date/time TBD)
Address the intersection of DEI, ESG, and governance. Learn to secure investor/board buy-in and navigate global, regulatory, and societal impact communications.
💵 $195 -
Capstone Project – Leading Responsible Communication
April 2026 (dates TBD)
Synthesize your learning into a measurable, inclusive communication strategy. Design, present, and receive feedback on initiatives that demonstrate leadership and impact.
💵 Included in Full Certification
Ready to transform how you lead and communicate?
Flexible pathways for every professional.
Whether you’re looking to sharpen one skill, dive into a semester of learning, or commit to the full Inclusive Communications Leadership Certification, ICLC offers options that fit your goals, schedule, and budget..
FAQs for Inclusive Communications Leadership Certification:
What is the Inclusive Communications Leadership Certification?
The Inclusive Communications Leadership Certification is a transformative program designed to empower communication professionals to lead inclusively and implement strategies that fuel innovation and a culture of belonging in their organizations and communities.
Who is the ideal learner for the Inclusive Communications Leadership Certification?
This program is designed for:
Communication professionals with at least five years of experience who are ready to expand their leadership and inclusive communication capabilities.
Individuals working on in-house communications teams, communicators at non-profits, academic institutions, or in any function within an agency environment, including account management, new business development, strategy, multicultural, and procurement.
Those seeking to strengthen their inclusive leadership skills, including individuals who have faced feedback or challenges around fostering inclusivity.
Global participants are welcome; the program is not limited to U.S.-based professionals.
Note: This program is best suited for mid- to senior-level professionals and is not intended for C-Suite executives.
What is the time commitment for ICLC?
Estimated time commitment: ~30 hours across 9 months. ICLC will kick off in August 2025, and there will be an average of one live 2-hour course per month starting in September 2025. Each live course will have 1 hour of reading, resources, materials, or assignments.
2 hours class time per module x 7 modules = 14 hours class time
1 hour reading or discussion assignment x 6 modules = 6 hours assignments
Capstone project: 10 hours (incl. group work and presentation)
What are the key learning objectives of the Inclusive Communications Leadership Certification?
Participants will be able to analyze organizational dynamics, create inclusive communication strategies, respond to challenging communication moments, and retain diverse talent within their teams. Each course has specific learning objectives. Request the full curriculum from andrea@diversityactionalliance.org.
How are the courses structured?
The certification consists of six virtual courses delivered over several months, each focused on a different aspect of inclusive leadership and communication. Courses include expert-led sessions, assignments, discussion forums, and practical applications.
What is the cost of the Inclusive Communications Leadership Certification?
$995 to enroll. Group discounts and complimentary course access for signatories may apply. See Here.
What changes have been made to the program since last year?
In response to feedback from last year’s lecturers, experts, and learners, and to reflect evolving industry trends, we’ve expanded course offerings and placed greater emphasis on intersectional aspects of inclusion. This year’s program features enhanced peer collaboration opportunities, smaller capstone groups to support stronger group cohesion, and an improved Learning Management System for easier navigation.
What is the format of the Certification Capstone Project?
The Capstone is a group project requiring participants to design and present a strategic, inclusive communication initiative tailored to a real or hypothetical organizational challenge. The project, primarily conducted outside of the learning platform, synthesizes learning from all courses and is presented to peers and instructors for feedback. This project requires groups to collaborate outside of official class time. Groups will be no larger than four participants.
What credential will I earn upon completing the ICLC?
Participants who complete all required coursework and the Capstone Project will earn an official Inclusive Communications Leadership Certification and digital badge, demonstrating expertise in inclusive leadership and responsible communications.
How can organizations measure the success of the Inclusive Communications Leadership Certification?
Success can be measured through implementing inclusive communication strategies, improving organizational diversity metrics, and making positive changes in organizational culture.
How long will I have access to the course materials?
Participants will have access to recordings and materials for 2 months after the final course to review content and complete any outstanding requirements.
How can organizations measure the success of the Inclusive Communications Leadership Certification?
Implementation of more inclusive communication strategies.
Improvements in workplace culture and engagement.
Enhanced stakeholder trust and reputation.
Tracking DEI-related communications KPIs and metrics.
How can participants continue their growth after completing the Inclusive Communications Leadership Certification?
Graduates are encouraged to:
Lead mentorship and sponsorship initiatives.
Drive internal DEI communications efforts.
Contribute to industry thought leadership.
Continue professional development in inclusive leadership.
Advocate for responsible communication and systemic change within their fields.
What discounts are available?
EARLYBIRD25 – $25 off individual courses (through Sept 15)
BUNDLE500 – Semester bundle for $500 (through Oct 1)
TEAM10 – 10% off group enrollment (contact for processing 3 or more registrations)
Who should I contact with additional questions?
Andrea Williams andrea@diversityactionalliance.org