Home / Program Description
Curriculum
Program Outline
The HRI Leadership Academy is a one-year program consisting of in-person training sessions, virtual online classes and meetings, and a LEAD Project and presentation.
At a Glance
How It Works
Program Length
12 Months
Time Commitment
4 in-person, 2-day sessions
About 10 hours/month preparation
Culminating LEAD Project
*Subject to change
Class Size
About 12 Students
Format
Hybrid program
In-person and online components
Delivery Style
Led by business and leadership coaches and green industry subject matter experts
Costs
There are no application fees, and tuition is covered by AmericanHort.
The program follows a
Learn > Reinforce > Apply
Participants will LEARN new skills in class, REINFORCE their learnings in between sessions, and APPLY the concepts in a culminating LEAD Project.
Step 1 · In Class
Learn
The four in-person training sessions are focused on hands-on learning and are professionally taught by leading business and leadership coaches and green industry subject matter experts. Classroom training provides a structured learning environment where participants will learn new concepts and skills supported with reinforcement tactics, such as group discussions and individual/group exercises, throughout the session. Participants will leave each session with an assignment to apply what they’ve learned in class to their day-to-day work environment.
Step 2 · Between Sessions
Reinforce
Between in-person sessions, participants will continue individual and small group work and attend virtual classroom sessions. Virtual classroom sessions follow this real-world application to provide participants the opportunity to share what they’ve learned with one another, discuss their successes and challenges, and gain strategies for going forward.
Step 3 · LEAD Project
Apply
The experience culminates with a team LEAD Project focused on a substantive industry-level challenge. Groups develop practical recommendations and present them to HRI and AmericanHort leadership at Cultivate.
Four In-Person Sessions
Session Details
The HRI Leadership Academy offers training in the following leadership and business concepts over four in-person sessions.
Session 1
Strategy & Competitive Positioning
Expected Outcomes
Examine competitive position, markets, and the strategic choices required to grow and remain competitive.
Key Concepts
- Approach to strategy, people, and team dynamics
- Competitive strategy and positioning
- Mission, vision, values, and culture as operating tools
- Value proposition and competitive position
- Market and industry forces
- Industry and research trends
Session 2
People Leadership & External Engagement
Expected Outcomes
Strengthen leadership and people management, with attention to external engagement, in horticultural businesses.
Key Concepts
- Enterprise leadership versus day-to-day people management
- Moving from operator to enterprise leader
- Finding and retaining talent
- Identifying strengths and developing people
- Communicating effectively, including conflict resolution
- External engagement and industry stewardship
Session 3
Financial Fluency & Advocacy
Expected Outcomes
Understand business operations, including KPIs, cash flow, growth initiative prioritization, and the overall ability to judge business success. Understand the political system and ways leaders can enhance their influence and effectiveness.
Key Concepts
- Income statements, cash flow, and financial judgment
- Inventory velocity and return on assets
- Determining and prioritizing growth initiatives
- Judging business success through financial and non-financial KPIs
- The political system and how government decisions impact business
- Advocacy tools for influencing policy and politics
Session 4
Value Chain, Negotiation, & Influence
Expected Outcomes
Strengthen the ability to manage supplier and customer relationships, drive sales and brand, and negotiate and communicate with executive influence.
Key Concepts
- Vendor and supplier relationships
- Buyer dynamics and customer influence
- Driving sales
- Building and leveraging brands and marketing
- Influential communication and persuasive presentations
- Negotiation with executive influence
Culminating Project
LEAD Project Details
Learn and research an issue
Engage with team and others
Adopt a position and solution
Deliver final plan and recommendations
The LEAD Project is the culmination of the HRI Leadership Academy. Participants become stronger leaders when they work on current, real-world industry challenges rather than theoretical case studies.
Developed over the course of the program, the LEAD Project gives teams (typically in groups of three to four) a structured way to examine a substantive industry-level issue and develop practical recommendations. The work concludes with those recommendations delivered to HRI and AmericanHort leadership at Cultivate.
The LEAD Project Development Process
- Research the situation: data-driven where possible, interviews with experts encouraged
- Pose a hypothesis
- Assess the business or industry impact of possible solutions
- Recommend a solution and course of action
- Receive program and industry coaching throughout
- Deliver presentations to HRI and AmericanHort leadership at Cultivate
Apply
Class of 2028 applications close February 5. Selection is competitive and class size is limited.