Ready to elevate your business or career by learning vital business practices with a
network of driven peers?

Many young leaders have great potential to make a big impact through their businesses and careers, but few get the support they need to reach their full potential.

How do you handle criticism? Do you know how to disrupt an ineffective system? How can you ensure there are always one-person accountabilities in your work?

What if an experienced business leader taught you these skills and more—24 concrete, practical, and critical operational skills in all—and you could learn these skills with a group of people like you?

For the past 30 years, I've found that helping young leaders grow is one of the most important things any organization can do. However, not many companies focus on this or do it well.

So I've put together a set of valuable and easy-to-learn business skills that most young leaders only learn through trial and error. These skills aren't overly complicated, but they make a massive difference.

Over the past 12 years, I've shared these ideas with top business leaders and young executives outside my company. I'm now communicating these skills through the Developing Young Leaders Cohort to groups of young businesspeople nationwide. We are currently accepting interest forms for our next cohort that will begin fall 2024, meeting once a month (from 6:15 to 8:15 am).

What Others are Saying…

  • "I feel more confident managing my growing team with the lessons learned during this program. David not only teaches great strategies, but follows it up with real-life examples of the strategies in action."

    Josh, VP of Client Services

  • "I love the way I can bring the pains of my business to the cohort and they help me with practical solutions. I have grown as a leader and I'm able to encourage my employees to grow as well. Highly recommend!"

    Mikey, Entrepreneur, Home Renovations

  • "As a young professional, this cohort provided what I needed to create a toolbox of business skills that have changed my career and allowed me to growin new ways!"

    Kailey, Realtor

  • "My participation in the cohort was a worthy investment in myself and my career. I learned practical skills which could often be directly applied the same day."

    Katherine, Director of Finance

  • "Beginning each week with the cohort helped set a positive and productive tone for the week. Throughout the cohort, I learned how to lead in different situations."

    Zach, Program Director

  • "The cohort has transformed my organization. As a leader, I've gained valuable insights from other participants and directly applied David's advice to achieve revenue gains at our company. He’s also personally helped me navigate several key situations successfully."

    Caleb, Founder, Software Company

  • "David makes learning tangible, applicable, and actionable. We identify one takeaway for any problem that we bring to the group for discussion. The next month, we share the steps we actually took. I've moved from learning to doing."

    John David, Investment Associate

The Developing Young Leaders Cohort

  • The Question

    How could your life and career be transformed if an accomplished leader and coach guided you through 24 game-changing best practices, alongside friends and peers, all the while being held accountable to apply these powerful lessons in real-world situations?

  • Ideal Participants

    This program is particularly impactful for leaders aged 25-32 who are managing staff or contractors, although older participants in new management roles are also welcome. Optimal learning occurs with 3 or more individuals from the same geographic area.

  • How it Works

    We cover 24+ concrete skills in twelve two-hour sessions. Half of each session is dedicated to solving real problems facing participants. We meet virtually by video once a month, usually early in the morning. Each participant also has an individual one-hour meeting every quarter to reinforce how to apply these skills to their job.

  • What You Will Learn

    Master essential leadership skills, such as effective communication, decision-making, and understanding team dynamics, while also learning how to lead meetings, handle criticism, and navigate difficult conversations. This comprehensive course empowers young leaders to excel in their careers and create a lasting impact in their organizations.

Download participant information

Frequently Asked Questions about the Cohort

  • We will cover the following 24 topics:

    How to Lead A Meeting

    How to Handle Criticism

    The Power of a One-Page Draft

    The Necessity of One-Person Accountability

    The Power of Systems

    The Theory of Constraints

    The Power of Culture

    The Shadow Side of Strengths

    How to Fire Someone

    Bullying with the Large Stack (pressing your unique market advantages)

    How to Have a Difficult Conversation

    How to Develop Talented People

    The Power of Communication

    How to Avoid Solving the Wrong Problem

    The Importance of Failing Quickly

    Good Enough vs. The Best

    Types of Decision-Making

    The Power of Personal Relationships

    Designer-Developer-Maintainer: Understanding Personality within Teams

    The Importance of Self-Awareness

    The Power of Priorities

    Make Sure the Chef Eats Their Cooking

    Having an Effective One-on-One Meeting

    Having an Effective Team Meeting

  • The cost for each participant is $115 per month.

    The right candidate will view this as an investment in their personal development and future career growth. The practical, hands-on skills you'll acquire can lead to promotions, increased job satisfaction, and professional success, ultimately offering a significant return on investment.

  • The program focuses on universal leadership and business skills that can be applied across various industries and roles, empowering you to become a more effective and confident leader, regardless of your specific job or sector. And, during each session, considerable time is dedicated to discussing practical issues you and other participants face.

  • David Delk, the instructor, has over three decades of experience building successful teams and organizations. He has refined these lessons by communicating them to more than 200 business leaders outside of his own organizations.

  • The virtual format allows for flexibility, reduced travel costs, and broader accessibility. We strive to create engaging and interactive sessions. And we emphasize joining a cohort with at least one person from your area so that you can collaborate for application and accountability.

Unlock Your Potential

Invest in yourself and unlock your leadership potential by joining a Developing Young Leaders Cohort. Experience a transformative, collaborative learning journey where you'll acquire practical, hands-on business skills from an experienced mentor, alongside like-minded peers. By investing in your growth, you'll become a more effective leader – take the first step and apply today!