Crain's Academy 245+ Graduates and Growing

From concept, to reality, to scale when brainstorming how to advance Crain as a brand and a business, it's important to remember the company's stated purpose: we empower success.

This mission statement inspired Amy Shivvers, managing director of events and executive education at Crain's Chicago Business, when she was looking for ways to better serve the publication's professional leadership outside of existing networking programs. In 2015, Crain's Leadership Academy launched, a five-session program of professional leadership training, personal development and civic outreach for 25 – 35 attendees, nominated by their CEO or direct hire. After the initial success of Crain's Leadership Academy, Shivvers and her team launched Crain's Academy, a new company in charge of expanding Crain's professional development capabilities.

Crain's Academy includes 245 graduates from multiple programs targeting different levels of the career arch. Something for the new workforce to mid-tier and senior leaders, plus Summer School with tactical leadership lessons over lunch, for all levels. “It is fun to be an entrepreneur and this means taking some risks, seeing what the marketplace wants and constantly pivoting,” she said. “These [programs] are all wonderful touch points for our brand and keeping awareness high while promoting upcoming programs.” Crain's Academy is growing still. Crain's Leadership Academy is now offered in Detroit, under Crain's Detroit Business, and Shivvers said she is looking forward to adding a new program in Chicago that focuses on team leadership development that will tailor to individual groups over a two-day period, as well as developing alumni programming that includes quarterly lunches with guest speakers.

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