A Detroit Economic Club + Lowisz Leadership Institute Partnership
The DEC Leadership Program That Changes How You LeadNot Just What You Know
Most leadership programs give you ideas. This one installs behaviors. Six months of hands-on practice with Detroit's top emerging leaders. You'll use what you learn Monday morning.
- Install a leadership operating system that holds under pressure
- Replace default behaviors with deliberate ones through practice
- Guide your team instead of driving them - create ownership, not dependence
Apply Skills Same Week
Cohorts Sold Out
Companies Enrolled
Participant Rating
"This is a great way for one of our young leaders to gain valuable, hands-on experience and to connect with a solid group of young leaders. A very logical extension to help some of our rising talent grow their skill set."
Rick Hampson
Metro Detroit Market President, Old National Bank
Why This Is Not Leadership Training
Most Programs
- -Teach concepts and frameworks
- -Inspire you in the room
- -Leave you with notes you never use
- -Fade within weeks
This Academy
- Installs behaviors and standards
- Holds up under pressure
- Built on Guide Don't Drive
- Reinforced through Monday Morning Implementation
If behavior doesn't change Monday morning, nothing changed.
Cohort 1 Completed
Real sessions. Real leaders. Real behavior change.
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Supported by Detroit's Business Community
Hosted at Citizens Bank, Southfield
Space generously donated for Detroit's next generation of leaders
Phase 1: Foundation of Leadership
Sessions 1-6
Establish core principles of leadership, trust, and understanding your team.
Guiding vs. Driving Leadership
Learn to lead by guiding, not driving, and explore the 5 Leadership Levels
Creating and Giving Trust
Build trust through reliability, empathy, and authenticity
Knowing Your Team - Motivators and Drivers
Uncover your team's motivators and behavioral drivers
Growing Your Team
Design development plans and give feedback that inspires growth
Baker's Dozen Questions + Critical Thinking
Guide your team through problem-solving with reflective questions
Difficult Conversations
Master hard conversations with the 7-step framework
The Complete Two-Year Journey
24 sessions across 4 phases, each building on the last. The Fall cohort is your entry point to this transformational program.
Foundation of Leadership
Sessions 1-6
Establish core principles of leadership, trust, and understanding your team
Practical Leadership Application
Sessions 7-12
Apply leadership skills in accountability, culture, business fundamentals, and coaching
Advanced Leadership Development
Sessions 13-18
Build advanced skills in resilience, team-building, coaching, and decision-making
Strategic Leadership Mastery
Sessions 19-24
Master strategic thinking, change leadership, and legacy building
Program Structure and Investment
Delivered in 4 phases of 6 sessions each. Each phase builds a complete set of leadership behaviors that work together.
Fall cohort covers Sessions 1–6. This is the foundation for everything that follows.
Investment is $1,000 per 6-session phase. Includes all materials and between-session reinforcement.
DEC Membership Requirement
Detroit Economic Club membership is required for discounted program pricing. Non-members are welcome to join the DEC to participate in the Emerging Leaders Academy.
Learn About DEC MembershipSix Sessions. Six Leadership Behaviors. One Operating System.
Each 3-hour session installs one behavior you'll use immediately, not forget by Friday.
Guiding vs. Driving Leadership
Leadership isn't about control - it's about empowerment. Learn to lead by guiding, not driving, and explore the 5 Leadership Levels to assess your growth as a leader.
- Identify where you stand on the 5 Leadership Levels
- Understand the for vs. from leadership mentality
- Replace micromanagement with empowering strategies
Creating and Giving Trust
Trust is the foundation of great leadership. Learn how to build trust through reliability, empathy, and authenticity, while earning your team's trust with integrity.
- Diagnose trust issues using the Trust Triangle
- Explore key trust-building practices
- Create a Trust Action Plan for your team
Knowing Your Team - Motivators and Drivers
Great leaders know their people. Learn how to uncover your team's motivators, work styles, and behavioral drivers to tailor your leadership approach.
- Analyze team behaviors using proven assessment tools
- Conduct effective one-on-ones to uncover motivators
- Develop Team Driver Maps for alignment
Growing Your Team
A team's potential is only as great as its leader's ability to grow it. Discover how to design development plans and give feedback that inspires growth.
- Create Individual Development Plans (IDPs)
- Apply the GROWTH framework for team development
- Balance support and challenge to encourage growth
Baker's Dozen Questions + Critical Thinking
Equip yourself with tools to guide your team through problem-solving. This session emphasizes critical thinking as a leadership skill.
- Use 13 reflective questions to empower solutions
- Build a culture of critical thinking
- Enhance decision-making by avoiding common biases
Difficult Conversations
Don't shy away from hard conversations - master them. Learn how to approach, navigate, and resolve conflicts constructively.
- Apply the 7-step framework for difficult conversations
- De-escalate conflicts toward productive outcomes
- Build confidence in addressing challenges head-on
This Is For You If...
You're new to leadership
You've been promoted or are preparing to step into a leadership role and want to start strong.
You're carrying too much
Your team depends on you for answers instead of stepping up themselves.
Accountability feels awkward
You delay hard conversations or avoid them because you don't have a reliable approach.
You want a system, not tips
You're looking for a repeatable weekly operating rhythm, not another set of ideas.
How It Works
This isn't a lecture series. It's a behavior installation process.
Attend Live
Join a 3-hour live session in-person in Southfield. Interactive, practical, immediately applicable.
Practice Weekly
Apply what you learned in real work. Use the weekly reinforcement to build the habit.
Build the System
Each session adds a new behavior. By the end, you have a complete leadership operating system.
If nothing changes on Monday morning, nothing changed.
Phase 1 Registration
All six sessions of foundational leadership development designed specifically for emerging leaders.
Starting February 2026
This cohort has reached capacity. Register for the Fall 2026 series.
What's Included in Phase 1
Register Your Interest
Complete the form and we'll send you full program details, session dates, and next steps.
Phase 1: Foundation
Sessions 1-6 starting Fall 2026
Phase 2: Application
Sessions 7-12 for Phase 1 graduates
This program is for leaders willing to change how they lead, not just learn about leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to build your leadership system?
Join the Fall 2026 cohort of the DEC Emerging Leaders Academy and develop the practical skills you need to lead effectively.