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RESILIENT LEADER INSTITUTE
Adapt. Improvise. Overcome.
Institute Overview
You are either heading into a storm, in the middle of one, or emerging from it.”
In today’s fast-paced and unpredictable world, resilient leadership is not just an asset—it’s a necessity. Change is constant, crises are inevitable, and pressure is part of the job. The difference between teams that survive and those that thrive comes down to the resilience of their leaders.
➡️ Research shows that 70% of organizational change efforts fail, often due to employee resistance and lack of effective leadership.
➡️ Leaders who lack resilience are 3 times more likely to experience burnout, and their teams are 23% less likely to feel engaged at work.
➡️ In organizations where leaders model resilience, employees are 43% more productive and report 31% higher job satisfaction.
When leaders struggle to adapt, the ripple effect is clear: low morale, poor decision-making, decreased innovation, and high turnover.
That’s where the Resilient Leader Institute comes in.
We equip leaders with the mindset, skills, and real-world strategies they need to:
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Navigate adversity without losing momentum
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Build resilient, high-performing teams
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Make sound decisions under pressure
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Lead with clarity and empathy—even in uncertainty
Whether you’re an experienced executive or an emerging leader, the storms will come.
The Resilient Leader Institute ensures you're prepared—not just to weather the storm, but to lead through it. The Resilient Leader Institute consists of four interconnected modules, each designed to strengthen leaders capacity to lead in times of uncertainty. Below is a description of the modules.
Click the image to the right for The Resilient Leader Institute syllabus >>>
Self-Assessment and Modules
RSESILIENT LEADER SELF-ASSESSMENT
As a participant of the Resilient Leader Institute, you will complete the Resilient Leader Self-Assessment, which will evaluate your current level of awareness and readiness to thrive in and through adversity. Based on your results, you will be categorized in one of three archetypes:
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Empowered Resilient Leader – Building foundational resilience skills.
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Strategic Resilient Leader – Strengthening consistency and strategic adaptability.
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Transformative Resilient Leader – Mastering resilience and leading through adversity with confidence.
This assessment will provide you valuable insights to help you identify growth areas and develop the skills needed to advance as a resilient leader.
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MODULE 1: THE HIGH COST OF LEADERSHIP WITHOUT RESILENCE
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Session 1: How much does your company lose when your leaders are not resilient?
Live Zoom Meeting (1 Hour)
MODULE 2: THE 7 KEY BEHAVIORS OF RESILIENT LEADERS
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Session 1: Overview of the 7 Key Behaviors of Resilient Leaders
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Session 2: Behaviors of Resilient Leaders 1-4
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Session 3: Behaviors of Resilient Leaders 5-7
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Session 4: Module Recap
Live Zoom Meeting (1 Hour)
MODULE 3: RESILEINT LEADERS LEADING WITH C.A.R.E.
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Session 1: Overview of the C.A.R.E. Framework
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Session 2: Curiosity
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Session 3: Awareness
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Session 4: Respect
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Session 5: Empathy
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Session 6: Module Recap
Live Zoom Meeting (1 Hour)
MODULE 4: RESILIENT LEADERS MASTERING DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS WITH C.A.R.E.
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Session 1: Overview of the applying C.A.R.E to Difficult Conversation
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Session 2: Applying the SCALE Framework to lead difficult conversations
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Session 3: Basic Communication Skills for Leaders (10 mins)
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Session 4: Module Recap
Live Zoom Meeting (1 Hour)
Price
Team: $275.00 per team (up to 5 participants)
Individual: $55 per person
Program Outcomes
Participants walk away with...
1. **Current Thought Leadership:** You will gain insights into the latest trends and research that will enhance your understanding of what it takes to become a Resilient Leader. This understanding is the cornerstone of accelerated productivity.
2. **A Powerful Mental Model:** We'll provide you with a mental framework that will enable you to effectively communicate with your team during difficult times and conversations.
3. **7 Behaviors of Resilient Leadership** You will learn about the 7 crucial behaviors of resilient leaders that will dramatically enhance your ability to lead during time of adversity.
4. **A 90-Day Personal Action Plan:**
Participants will craft a personal action plan for the next 90 days, aligning their goals with the principles they have learned.
PRICE:
Team: 275.00 per team (up to 5 participants)
Individual: $55 per person
Program Logistics
This Institute will occur in both asynchronous and synchronous modalities. Cohorts of participants will take the course asynchronously, accessing pre-recorded training videos and course materials via the Willhouse Learning Management System. There will be four synchronous sessions where participants will engage with Dr. Lewis, present their action assignments, and participate in Q&A. Finally, participants will create their own personal action plan.
The Institute consist of the following:
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15 Pre-recorded videos (15-30 minutes per video) (90 mins)
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15 Application Exercises
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4 Live Q&A Zoom Sessions with Dr. Lewis (This is a "cameras on" learning experience)
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90-Day Personal Action Plan
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Resilient Leader Assessment
Date, time, location and cost
🗓️ When: Five consecutive Mondays – June 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30
🕜 Time: 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM EST
📍 Where: Virtual via Zoom
$275.00 per team (up to 5 participants)
$55 per Individual
A message from Lewis
Hi folks, let me tell you—I’ve been there.
I’ve been through life’s storms and had moments where I truly didn’t know how I was going to survive.
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I’ve been fired.
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I’ve had my heart broken.
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I’ve gone through a divorce.
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I’ve had a car repossessed.
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I’ve lost money on business deals.
But here’s the thing—I didn’t stop there.
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I also wrote an award-winning book.
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I took my family of six on a European vacation.
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I have traveled this country doing the thing I love--speaking
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I’ve met some incredible people and built a life I’m proud of.
None of that would have happened if I had given up during the storms.
I realized along the way that my real superpower is resilience.
I’m Dr. William T. Lewis—the watcher on the wall—standing guard against the creeping chill of incivility.
I’m a champion of belonging, a protector of culture, and an architect of resilience.
By day, I’m the Chief Executive Gopher at Cam’s Coffee Co., our family’s social enterprise supporting individuals with disabilities.
By night, I’m a rhythmless dancer—moving to the beat of hope, action, and change, even if the music doesn’t quite match my steps.
I’ve been honored as a 2022 Triad Business Leader in Diversity, co-authored the NADOHE Standards of Professional Practice, and written the award-winning book Sweet Potato or Pumpkin Pie: Conversations with My White Friends About Race.
But most importantly—I’m a social worker at heart, passionate about helping people find their voice and reach their full potential.
Now, I want to journey with you through the Resilient Leader Institute—because if life’s going to bring storms,
we might as well become the kind of leaders who dance through the rain.
Let’s get to work.