Workshops for Leaders
Join leaders from across SFU to participate in leadership-related learning and development opportunities. Not only will this enhance your own professional development, and be a chance to connect with colleagues, it will also contribute to a positive learning culture for your team. Please also visit our list of online resources on a number of foundational and transferable skills.
Spring 2026 Leader’s Mini-Series
Join us for another Leader’s Mini-Series, some details are included below, with more coming soon. The mini-series provides practical tools and information to support and strengthen our leadership community at SFU. The series has been designed by SFU leaders for SFU leaders and aims to be timely, relevant, and responsive. The series sessions are an opportunity to hear from, discuss with, and stay connected to other leaders.
All virtual sessions run for 1 hour. We encourage you to attend all sessions in the series however, they are designed as stand-alone and can be taken independently.
Date |
Title |
Hosts |
Summary |
Thursday, February 26th, from 11am-12pm |
The Plurilingual Mindset: Turning Linguistic Diversity into Leadership Strength |
Dr. Natalia Bussard, Program Manager, Co-operative Education (Science, Environment and Health Sciences) |
In this session we invite leaders to create their own language portrait (materials provided) and explore how adopting a plurilingual mindset (valuing understanding across multiple languages and perspectives) enhances their ability to navigate complexity. Through interactive dialogue, participants will examine how this approach supports better prioritizing, strategizing, and mediating, helping leaders interpret challenges from diverse viewpoints and foster more inclusive, adaptive decision-making across teams and departments. This session welcomes all leaders and we warmly encourage you to join us—even if you believe you speak only one language.
|
Thursday, March 5th from 11am-12pm |
Sean McKenna, Senior Director, Student Services Operations |
In this session we will dig into what critical thinking really means—and how we can shift from relying on “gut feelings” to making clear, informed decisions. As we navigate rapid change and complex challenges, critical thinking helps us focus on solving the right problems. Leaders will walk away with practical, easy‑to‑use tools you can apply immediately in your projects, daily work, or strategic conversations. |
|
Thursday, March 12th from 11am-12pm |
Sharing knowledge, fostering community. Leading with purpose through story with Another Coyote | Skel7áw̓s, Naomi Narcisse, Director, Indigenous Initiatives |
This leadership workshop invites participants to join a learning space grounded in storywork and knowledge sharing. Through guided reflections, collective dialogue, and lived experience, participants can engage and explore how stories shape the way we connect as leaders with our teams. The workshop centers leading in a good way—cultivating a community of care, responsibility, respect. |
| Tuesday, March 17th from 1pm-2pm | Leading Through the Grey | Christina Rajmaira, EdD, Senior Director, Strategic Academic Planning and Student Affairs, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Erin Biddlecombe, Ph.D candidate, Executive Director, Student Affairs |
This session tackles the practical challenge of leading in ambiguity; when capacity is tight, pressures run in both directions, and no option is perfect. Focused on the realities of leading from the middle, it explores how to provide clarity amid constraint, communicate trade-offs transparently, and sustain trust without over-promising. Grounded in real examples, the session offers concrete tools leaders can take back to their work to navigate competing demands, influence without formal authority, and lead sustainably through complexity. |
| Tuesday, March 24th from 1-2pm | Workplace Accommodations: Understanding the What, the Why, and the How | Juliet McEwen, Organizational Health Specialist, People, Equity, and Inclusion | This presentation provides an overview of workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities and diagnosed medical conditions. We will explore what accommodations are, why they are essential, and the legal definitions and considerations that guide them. Participants will learn about the accommodation process, including the steps involved in developing, formalizing, and managing accommodations, as well as the shared responsibilities of employees, supervisors, and the University. The session will also cover how short-term, extended, and long-term accommodations, as well as medical leaves, are handled to ensure compliance, consistency, and support for employees. |
| Tuesday, March 31st from 1-2pm | AI Assistance with Microsoft Copilot at SFU | Courtney Pederson, IT Services | Join us for an engaging leadership session on the responsible use of AI at SFU with Microsoft Copilot! Discover online resources designed to help staff navigate this new technology, learn the essentials of AI literacy techniques to get the most out of Copilot, and see how Microsoft AI tools can help you with everyday tasks at the university. |
| Tuesday, April 7th from 1-2pm | Tips and Tools for Planning in a Time of Competing Priorities | Christina Medland, Executive Director, People & Organization Development | Leaders will increase their awareness about models and methods for prioritization in times of competing priorities. This workshop is a refresh from the Spring 2025 offering with similar content in an updated context.
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Need to Cancel your Registration?
Most of our workshops fill up and have waitlists, please cancel your registration with as much notice as possible to open up your space for someone else.
Please follow these steps to cancel your registration with more than 7 days notice:
-Go to your Eventbrite account and find the workshop order: https://www.eventbrite.ca
-Select ‘cancel your order’
The Working Mind
The Working Mind is an evidence-based, accredited training developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Delivered by SFU’s Organizational Health & Well-being team, this interactive program is designed to provide practical tools and strategies for leaders and supervisors to better support themselves, support others, and contribute to a supportive SFU environment.
The Working Mind Course Outline 2026
If you have accessibility needs, or any questions regarding registration or the training, please contact the Organizational Health & Well-being team directly at org_health@sfu.ca.
Click here to view and register for sessions.