Empowering Leaders
Tribal Leaders Program, Harvard Business School, June 2024
NCAI's Empowering Leaders Initiative
NCAI is committed to building and protecting tribal sovereignty, supporting healthy tribal governments, and fostering vibrant tribal communities. Central to that task is equipping tribal leaders with the knowledge, skills, tools, and strategies they need to advance those fundamental priorities on behalf of their Tribal Nations.
In 2023, NCAI developed and administered two interconnected initiatives to provide intensive professional development and leadership training to Indian Country. Learn more about these two programs below.
Leading Tribal Nations Executive
Education Program at Harvard Business School
In collaboration with Harvard Business School, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) offers the Leading Tribal Nations Program, designed to equip tribal leaders with the knowledge and skills needed to advance their capacity for strategic governance. During the five-day program, tribal leaders will engage in collaborative learning and problem-solving through the case-study model facilitated on the Harvard Business School campus.
- Dates: June 22-27, 2025
- Cost: $2,500 per participant, which includes lodging at Harvard Business School, meals, and amenities on all participant days. It does not include airfare or lodging before or after the program ends.
- The program is designed for elected tribal leaders. Non-elected leaders and tribal professionals may apply, but elected tribal leaders in good standing will receive preference.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, and the application deadline is April 18, 2025.
Media Training and Communications Fellowship
Hosted at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at ASU., this fellowship will provide targeted learning and hands-on practice to tribal leaders and professionals who wish to increase their communication skills and expand their media presence to meet their community needs. Curriculum will be tailored to, and facilitated by, Native voices with knowledge of the unique media landscape of Indian Country.
This program is open to tribal leaders, aspiring leaders and communications professionals. Elected tribal leaders will be granted first priority.
Fellows will learn:
- Building public speaking strategies and confidence
- Effective storytelling to advance policy and community initiatives
- Navigating diverse interview environments
- Identifying how to address challenges facing communities
- Developing and delivering effective messages across multiple platforms
- Creating and maintaining relationships with news media
- Understanding how to tailor messages to particular audiences
After learning each new skill, fellows will have the chance to practice public speaking in a professional audio-visual studio. All fellows will be provided with recordings from the learning experience to review their progress.
Details of the Fellowship:
- May 28-30, 2025 at the Arizona State University Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
- Cost is $1,000 per participant
- Price includes four nights of lodging and breakfast, lunch and snack on all participant days.
The Empowering Leaders Series is made possible through the generous support of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. NCAI deeply appreciates San Manuel’s essential role in establishing and sustaining the endowment that supports the growth and empowerment of tribal leaders across Indian Country.
For questions please contact: empoweringleaders@ncai.org
