2027 Compassionate Leadership Teacher Training

Lead with Heart. Deliver with Purpose. Multiply the Impact.

An 8‑month, research‑backed Teacher Training Accreditation Program.
Opening Retreat in May 2027, followed by online sessions and a Practicum, led by an expert Faculty Team.

Leadership built on control and burnout is breaking down, right when organizations need something more sustainable. Compassion is the antidote: driving innovation, engagement, and human flourishing, even as AI reshapes how work gets done.

This is your chance to teach it.

Join a growing global community of Accredited Compassionate Leadership Teachers bringing meaningful change to their organizations and communities.

The world is urgently looking for a different way to lead, and compassionate leadership is it. This training prepares you to embody it and teach it, grounded in evidence-based tools and principles that stand up in the boardroom. You'll learn to turn compassion and wisdom into a practical leadership discipline: one that strengthens psychological safety, deepens connection and belonging, and builds cultures where people thrive.

If you are being called to lead with heart and humanity, now is the time to become an Accredited Compassionate Leadership Teacher.

These Times Demand Courageous, Compassionate Leaders. Become the Teacher Who Trains Them.

A proven curriculum, taught by experts in the field.

What you’ll learn to teach:

• Deliver the full curriculum of the Compassionate Leadership Certification Training, a research‑based, modular program proven to grow compassion for self, others, work, and the wider world.

• Build psychological safety and belonging as drivers of innovation and engagement. Teach compassionate communication and create environments where people do their best work.

• Make the case—even to skeptics. Use boardroom‑ready language, independent research, and practical metrics to show how compassion improves retention, productivity, and results.

• Ground your teaching in empirical research from neuroscience, organizational behavior, and psychology—so you teach with authority.

• Equip participants with tools for immediate impact. Translate safety, connection, and belonging into small everyday structural moves within roles, routines, networks, and culture, that teams can apply immediately.

Who you’ll become:

• Be the change you wish to see in the world. Shape the system with a field-tested framework for the roles, routines, culture, and networks that bring organizational compassion to life.

• Be part of a global community of engaged compassionate leaders committed to bringing this change into organizations and the world.

• Lead and teach from an authentic, grounded place. Root your life in contemplative practice and self‑compassion so you set firm boundaries and model a sustainable pace.

The Impact: Proven Results, Backed by Research

The Center for Compassionate Leadership commissioned an 18‑month independent study of the Compassionate Leadership Certification Training curriculum, conducted by evaluators at Claremont Graduate University, which found statistically significant increases in:

• Self‑compassion

• Compassion for others

• Compassion at work

• Resilience

The study also identified what accelerates compassion inside organizations, and what stalls it. You'll apply those findings directly in the organizations you lead and teach in.

What this means in practice:

• Innovation: Psychological safety unlocks candor, faster experiments, and fewer costly reworks.

• Engagement: Safety, connection, and belonging get people speaking up, collaborating across teams, and leaning into change.

• Flourishing: Leaders grounded in self-compassion model a sustainable pace and clearer thinking, and burn out less.

“Being part of the Compassionate Leadership Teacher Training has been life changing. I found a community of people who wished to grow and change the world for the better. It’s an evidence‑based way to shift organizational culture through connection, and it has helped me connect more deeply with my organization, our partners, and the broader community.”

Your Path to Accreditation: An 8‑month Immersive Journey

Join a cohort of aspiring Compassionate Leadership Teachers for 8 months of real depth and growth: rigorous training, practice, and an inspiring community built to sustain you well past graduation. You'll learn alongside Faculty and peers who embody the work as they teach it, and leave carrying compassionate leadership into every organization you serve.

1. The Opening Retreat: May 4–7, 2027 (In-person or Virtual)

● A 3-day immersive retreat, in-person in London or virtual, where you engage with the Faculty, Mentors, and your cohort of aspiring teachers, and start deepening into your teacher community.

● Slow down long enough to reconnect with what matters, and return with the clarity and courage this 8-month journey asks of you.

● Get your first hands-on experience of facilitation and embodiment practice, along with a clear roadmap for the program ahead.

2. Learning & Practice Phase: May — September

• 11 full cohort sessions taught by the Faculty with experiential exercises, lecture, discussion, and breakouts.

• 7 small‑group Teaching Pod sessions with Mentor supervision to practice teaching and give/receive feedback.

• A supportive peer group, daily contemplative practice, and readings, tools, and resources that deepen your embodiment of the work.

• Access to the people shaping this field: fieldwork assignments and live guest faculty bonus sessions, including Q&A.

3. Practicum Teaching Phase: October — December

• Teach the full course: deliver a complete 12-hour Compassionate Leadership Certification Training to an audience of your choice.

• Practicum toolkit: everything you need to deliver a successful Practicum, including your teacher's manual, slides, pre- and post-session emails, and pre- and post-course surveys.

• Real support behind you: coaching and supervision from faculty and mentors to sharpen your teaching and keep it true to the curriculum.

4. Accreditation: After completion

• Accreditation conferred after successful Faculty review; you qualify to become an Accredited Compassionate Leadership Teacher.

• You will be featured as an Accredited Teacher on the Center’s website, social channels, and newsletter—and can start teaching with full curriculum usage rights.

5. Post‑Accreditation: Joining the Global Teacher Community

• Ongoing teaching and community engagement, with the Center's support to help you promote and deliver your own programs.

• Ongoing access to the latest curriculum, research, marketing, and program materials.

• Deepen connection and collaboration with Accredited Teachers around the world through regular Teachers’ Council meetings.

Download a tentative calendar of the Opening Retreat and Learning and Practice phase here.

 Resources & Ongoing Support. Everything you need to teach, already built.

• Full access to the validated curriculum, presentation materials, and Teacher Facilitation Guide

• Materials to support your own cohorts: marketing assets, email templates, and pre/post program survey instruments

• A growing library: practices, audio recordings, transcripts, and research bibliographies

• Peer community and Faculty support to accelerate your growth

• Your students are eligible to join the Center for Compassionate Leadership Alumni Community which meets monthly. They are also qualified to join future Teacher Training cohorts.

How to Use Your Accreditation

What becoming an Accredited Compassionate Leadership Teacher makes possible:

• Teach a research‑validated, modular curriculum with usage rights and updated IP

• Win skeptical rooms with independent evaluation and boardroom‑ready language

• Operationalize compassion at organizational scale through roles, routines, networks, and culture

• Provide measurement through pre- and post-course survey results

• Grow your impact with the Center’s collaborative efforts, brand halo, case studies, and promotional reach

Choose the Opening Retreat Track That Works for You

New for 2027! To make the Compassionate Leadership Teacher Training program more accessible, we’re offering a virtual option to participate in the Opening Retreat. The rest of the program is identical and virtual for everyone.

Super Early Bird ends on December 16, 2026. Apply and save your spot now.

If you bring a colleague, each of you saves an additional 10%. Contact us for more information.

Team and Organization Enrollments are available with enhanced opportunities for customization and research. Contact us for more information.

Payment plans are available for each track.

 Meet the Faculty

Faculty and mentors for the Compassionate Leadership Teacher Training bring extensive organizational, contemplative, and academic experience to the cohort community. You will be guided and inspired by pioneers and leading practitioners in the field of compassionate leadership.

To learn more about faculty for this training, please click on the photos below.

 Who We’re Looking For

Is this your moment to lead the change?

You yearn to have more impact as a champion of compassion that sparks lasting change. This is your chance to become someone who can teach and embody that change—and make a meaningful impact. This training is for organizational leaders, learning and development, and human resources professionals, leadership consultants and coaches, academics, and educators who want to build organizations and systems defined by safety, connection, and belonging. Whatever context you serve—a corporate team, a classroom, or a nonprofit on the front lines—you’ll leave equipped with the research, skills, practical tools, and community to lead this shift with confidence.

Not sure if this is the right fit? Schedule a call with Lead Faculty Laura Berland and Evan Harrel.

“Global challenges necessitate collective solutions. As a nurse leader, the Compassionate Leadership Teacher Training provided evidence‑based tools, practices, and principles that prepared me to train other leaders. This transformative program deepened my facilitation and enabled me to empower leaders to become advocates for change and compassion—making it real and tangible.”

Admission Requirements

You have these core requirements:

• Experience leading, teaching, or facilitating groups

• Deep commitment to building a world of safety, connection, and belonging through compassionate leadership

• Prior completion of a public Compassionate Leadership Certification Training or an equivalent organizational training program

• Regular personal contemplative practice

• Lived experience working in an organizational setting as a leader or contributor

Valuable, but not required, experience:

• Previous training in compassion practices (e.g., CCT, MSC, CBCT, meditation retreats)

• Certification as a teacher/facilitator in leadership or awareness‑based programs (e.g., SIY, MBSR, CCT, MSC, CBCT)

• Coaching certification (e.g., ICF, EMCC)

Tuition

Tuition for the 2027 program is $6,200. You can save $2,250 with the Super Early Bird valid through December 16, 2026.

Tuition covers the entire 8‑month Compassionate Leadership Teacher Training program: the 3‑day Opening Retreat, 5‑month Learning & Practice Phase with your Teaching Pod, and the 3‑month Practicum Phase with guidance, supervision, and coaching. Tuition also includes access to all curriculum materials, presentations, practices, marketing materials and email templates, research, and bibliographies.

In-person Retreat Fees

Program participants are responsible for $1,375 USD room and board for the 3‑day Opening Retreat at and their personal travel arrangements to and from Four Acres Leadership Retreat Centre in London.

For accessibility, a Virtual Retreat option is available at no additional cost.

Scholarships

A limited number of partial scholarships are available for qualified applicants. Apply via the Scholarship Application here. Contact us with any questions.

Join the Compassionate Leadership Teacher Network

Accreditation isn’t the finish line—it’s your entry point into an active network built for ongoing support and promotion.

• You’re visible. Your name, bio, and contact information listed on the Center’s website.

• You’re supported. Monthly Teachers’ Council meetings and a private online community for certified teachers.

• You’re equipped. Full use of Compassionate Leadership Certification Training slides, resources, and surveys, plus official Certificates of Completion for your participants.

• You’re connected. Ongoing faculty support, opportunities for collaborative research and featured case studies, and Alumni Network eligibility for your participants.

Become part of the community working to shift organizational culture from the inside out, toward compassion, inclusion, belonging, and sustainable performance.

Still unsure? Hear from Accredited Compassionate Leadership Teachers

• “What I appreciate most … actionable framework … golden thread is authenticity.” — Helen Curtis, University of Huddersfield and Vintis

• “Life changing … evidence‑based way to shift organizational culture through connection.” — Anita Sharma McLevich

• “One of the most meaningful and rewarding decisions of my life.” — Haleh Hashemi Toroghi, Brunel University London

• “Tools, language, and confidence to bring compassion into action … supported and stretched in all the right ways.” — Irene Chan

• “Schools need compassionate leaders … critical to creating safe and caring schools.” — Astrid Kendrick, EdD, University of Calgary

• “Gave me the words, language, and data to step into my strength … unlike any training before.” — Justin Shelley

If you still have questions, please schedule a call with Lead Faculty Laura Berland and Evan Harrel.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the application process?
Please complete the online application here. (link) If accepted, we’ll contact with you within ten business days with an offer to join the 2027 Teacher Training cohort and payment details to secure your seat.

What’s the difference between the In‑person and Virtual tracks?
The only difference is the Opening Retreat experience. You can either join the 3‑day retreat with your global cohort in person in London, UK, or participate virtually. Everything after that—the 5‑month Learning & Practice phase, the 3‑month Practicum, coaching, resources, and Accreditation—is identical.

Do I need to have already completed a Compassionate Leadership Certification Training?
Yes. Prior completion of a public Compassionate Leadership Certification Training, or an equivalent Compassionate Leadership Certification organizational training program, is required for admission.

What if I have to miss a live session?
You may miss up to three live sessions during the Learning & Practice Phase and still meet the attendance requirement by reviewing the videos and completing make‑up work.

What does tuition include?
Tuition covers all aspects of the full 8‑month program: Opening Retreat, Learning & Practice, Practicum, Faculty coaching and supervision, and all curriculum, marketing, and research resources. If you choose to come to the Opening Retreat in-person, participants are additionally responsible for the cost of travel, room, and board.

Are scholarships available?
Yes. A limited number of partial scholarships are available for qualified applicants. Apply via the Scholarship Application here.

Are payment options available?
Yes. Please contact us for details

What if I bring a colleague?
Colleagues are most welcome, and an additional 10% discount applies to each of you. Contact us for more information.

Do you offer Team Enrollment?
Yes. Coordinated team enrollments with tailored support and research options are available. Contact us for more information.

What are the Requirements for Accreditation?
Attendance the Opening Retreat, and all sessions during the Learning & Practice Phase. Participants may miss up to three live modules and still meet the attendance requirement by watching session videos and completing make-up work.

Demonstration of readiness in all areas of the Compassionate Leadership Teacher Competency Model:

• Conceptual Clarity

• Helping Participants Apply Learning

• Leading Exercises and Meditations

• Creating a Container of Connection

• Embodying Connection and Compassion

Successful completion of Practicum Phase, which includes teaching a full 12-hour Compassionate Certification Training course and attendance at peer coaching sessions.

What happens after I’m Accredited?
You join the Compassionate Leadership Certified Teachers Network: ongoing mentorship, a private teacher community, full use of program materials for your own courses, and eligibility for your participants to join the Alumni Network.

How does this help with AI readiness, innovation, and engagement?
AI increases interdependence and change velocity. The curriculum strengthens psychological safety, belonging, and boundary clarity—drivers of idea flow, experiment cadence, decision speed, and reduced rework—while lifting engagement and participation in change.

I’m not sure this is the right fit yet. Can I talk to someone first?
Yes. Schedule a conversation with Laura Berland or Evan Harrel to discuss your goals and fit.

“This program helped me to slow down, reconnect, and reframe what leadership can be. It’s not about just being decisive or visionary, but being deeply human. What stood out most for me was the blend of neuroscience, lived experience, and practical tools. It’s helped me show up differently with clients and for myself—challenging more wisely and leading with greater clarity and care. The ripple effects are real. I’ve integrated some of the concepts into workshops with corporate leaders, and watching them realize that compassion belongs in the boardroom and in strategy meetings—that’s powerful.”

Become part of an international network of purpose‑driven leaders, coaches, and facilitators advancing human‑centered leadership.