Athenian Executive Leadership Program

A leadership journey for local government executives ready to reconnect with their purpose, wrestle with the profession's hardest questions, and lead the next chapter of their careers.

The Athenian Executive Leadership Program is proud to be affiliated with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), supporting excellence in local government leadership and professional development

Athenian is for you if:

  • You want to think about the legacy you're actually building
  • The work feels routine, and you're craving a real challenge again
  • You've lost touch with why you got into this profession
  • You'd welcome colleagues who understand the weight you carry
  • You're standing at a career crossroads and can't tell what's next
  • You're exhausted and it's starting to show in how you lead

What the week holds:

The Athenian Program is intentionally different from a traditional leadership program. Rather than lectures and checklists, participants engage in meaningful conversations, wrestle with complex issues, build lasting relationships, and make space for reflection. Together, these experiences create a leadership journey that continues long after the week concludes.
  • The Athenian Oath

    A shared commitment, deliberated together, that frames the whole experience and the year that follows.

  • Real Problems, Real Answers

    Participants build business-case responses to the societal dilemmas local government actually faces.

  • A Safe Space to Be Candid

    Fifteen to twenty strangers get vulnerable fast - alumni consistently call it the most honest room they have ever been in. 

  • A Year-Long Connection

    The relationships don't end at Lake City - cohorts stay in touch, and alumni contribute to the profession by serving as speakers, panelists, and subject matter experts. 

  • Purposeful Reflection

    Purposeful activities providing fun and time for reflection.

The Athenian program changed my life! It renewed my commitment to the profession and showed me how to be more effective in my role.

Jeffrey A. Fiegenschuh, City Manager, City of Rochelle, Illinois

Upcoming Session:

Athenian 27: April 11 - 16, 2027 in Lake City, SC

Who qualifies: Local government managers and assistant managers with 10+ years of continuing service - from growing cities to major metros, urban and rural.

$5,600 All-In: Covers lodging, meals, breaks, and materials for the full week.
Limited scholarships are available and some state associations may offer professional development scholarships. 

Learn More About the Athenian Executive Leadership Program!

 

Apply for Athenian 2027 Today!

Past Participants

Click the link below to see discover past participants of the Athenian Program!

Athenian Alumni!

Athenian is a laboratory where introspection, creativity, fellowship, learning, philosophy, relaxation and teamwork mix and reveal to participants new considerations for thinking, leading and living.

Monica Spells, ICMA-CM, Loudoun County, Virginia