A Mini MBA Developed By DU, Tailored To You
The High Performance Leadership (HPL) program is a flexible mini-MBA designed to fit your schedule and career goals. Select the courses that align with your objectives and complete them on your own timeline to earn a DU-backed digital badge and microcredential.
Learn the strategic business skills and leadership capabilities needed to thrive in today's business environment through across three core areas:
- Leadership Development- Improve self-awareness, authenticity, and strategic impact
- Business Acumen- Learn to connect strategy, operations, and results
- Team Dynamics- Enhance collaboration and communication for greater effectiveness
Register for an upcoming workshop to experience practical, MBA-level learning you can apply immediately and start your HPL journey.
Build Your own Learning Pathway
The HPL program is designed to be flexible—allowing you to build your own learning journey. For the best results, we recommend the following pathway:
1. Begin with a Leadership Experience – An immersive five-day program that builds a strong foundation for effective and authentic leadership.
2. Next, Build Your Business Acumen – Choose two to four workshops (about six days total) to strengthen your strategic, analytical, and financial skills.
3. Finish up with Team Dynamics – Complete your pathway with a workshop focused on communication, collaboration, and trust.
Browse the course catalog below to start designing your personalized business & leadership microcredential.
Leadership Experience
Choose 1 leadership program, each totals five days.
Explore immersive programs that strengthen self-awareness, refine decision-making, and build the confidence to guide teams through change.
Accelerated Leadership Experience
Five-day program | Hybrid | 4 credits
Designed for those currently transitioning into a management role or those already managing, Accelerated Leadership Experience is a five-day equivalent program offered in fall and spring.
Denver Leadership Experience
Five-day program | In-person | 4 credits
Designed for experienced professionals who are currently leading a team, an enterprise, or a global initiative, or who are leading major projects in a company or organization, Denver Leadership Experience is a five-day program offered in fall and spring.
Business Acumen
Choose 2 to 4 workshops, equal to 6 days of learning.
From understanding financial reports to applying AI and analytics, these workshops help you develop business fluency and communicate with influence across your organization.
Artificial Intelligence in Action
One and a half-day workshop | Hybrid | 1 credit
Explore practical ways to apply AI tools and strategies to real business challenges. Artificial Intelligence in Action is offered twice a year in the fall and the spring.
Dashboard in a Day Using Power BI
One-day workshop | In-person | 1 credit
This one-day, hands-on workshop introduces the core features of Microsoft Power BI, a free, interactive data visualization tool. Dashboard In a Day Using Power BI is offered once a year in the winter.
Data Analytics for Decision Making
Three-day workshop | 2 credits | In-person
This course focuses on the fundamentals of data analysis and its application to business. Data Analytics for Decision Making is offered once a year in the winter.
Power BI Bootcamp
Three-day workshop | 2 credits | In-person
This workshop is a deep dive into the world of data and data visualization. Power BI Bootcamp is offered once a year in the fall.
Finance for Non-Financial Managers
Three-day workshop | 2 credits | In-person
This course introduces you to the essential accounting and finance skills any business professional needs to know. Finance for Non-Financial Managers is offered once a year in the fall.
Finance Foundations for business
One and a half-day workshop | Hybrid | 1 credit
In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn how to read and interpret income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports to make smarter business decisions. Through hands-on budgeting and resource-planning exercises, you’ll connect financial concepts directly to your role and organization. Finance Foundations for Business is offered once a year in the spring.
Negotiating with Confidence
One and a half-day workshop | Hybrid | 1 credit
This course outlines strategies and proven negotiation tactics to ensure you get the best outcomes possible during business negotiations. Negotiating with Confidence is offered twice a year in the fall and spring.
Sales Skills for High Impact
One and a half-day workshop | Hybrid | 1 credit
In this two-day course, new to mid-level sales professionals learn how to leverage the powerful skills of top performers while improving their interactions with customers. Sales Skills for High Impact is offered once a year in the spring.
Team Dynamics
Attend a one-and-a-half-day workshop of your choice.
Enhance collaboration through workshops that help you strengthen relationships, give effective feedback, and create a culture of high performance.
Effective Team Management
One and a half-day workshop | Hybrid | 1 credit
Effective Team Management is designed for professionals managing teams while navigating relationships with superiors. It equips participants with tools for effective leadership in remote and hybrid workplaces, guiding them in assessing their leadership style, refining goals, and crafting personalized development plans. It is offered once a year in the winter.
Coaching & Feedback
One-and-half-day workshop | Hybrid | 1 credit
Coaching and Feedback is an intensive session that sharpens coaching skills and feedback delivery. Through research and hands-on exercises, gain actionable strategies to enhance communication, build trust, and boost team performance.
Leading Across Generations
One-and-half-day workshop | Hybrid
Leading Across Generations is a hybrid intensive builds the skills to lead across generations, reduce team friction, and create a more connected, high-performing workplace.
Why Choose the HPL Microcredential?
Flexible, Relevant, and Recognized Learning for Career Growth
Designed for professionals who want to grow their leadership, business, and team-building skills, HPL offers flexible, high-impact learning experiences. Gain the tools, insights, and credentials to advance your career—without pausing it.
- Complete HPL at your own pace, on your schedule.
- Learn from expert faculty and experienced industry professionals.
- Earn a DU microcredential and digital badge.
- Tailor classes to your current role and future goals.
- Expand your network by learning alongside professionals from diverse industries.
Explore Your Options for Tuition Reimbursement
Many organizations provide financial assistance for professional development programs. Speak to your HR or L&D department to explore your organization's professional development reimbursement policies.
View Our Guide to Employer Tuition Reimbursement
Imagine Yourself as a High Performance Leader
High Performance Leader: John Adams
Principal Systems Engineer, Bluestaq LLC
Program Timeline: Four Months
“One of the main reasons I chose to complete DU’s High Performance Leadership Program was based on the quality of the Executive Education curriculum and faculty that I experienced during the Denver Leadership Experience. DU’s flexibility in tailoring the courses I needed to best fit my professional and personal needs was a plus. Prior to attending courses at DU, my personal and professional goals were to recalibrate how I manage and lead teams, be aware of my “blind spots”, and be more intentional in my day-to-day work. I also wanted to collaborate with other professionals outside of my industry and learn from their experiences. The relationships with classmates and faculty built during HPL continue today as additional resources. My experience at DU throughout HPL exceeded my expectations! I use the tools I learned at DU at my company, to include sharing best practices with my colleagues. It’s given me a renewed perspective and continues to pique my professional curiosity.”
High Performance Leader: Danielle Duran
Operations & Growth Consulting, DS Duran
Program Timeline: 1 Year
"As a first-time business owner and sole executive at my marketing agency, I decided to take the HPL program to round out some of the skills I missed out on by not having a formal business education, and to increase my level of confidence in my leadership skills. I felt like I was making wise strategic decisions and running my business well, but without anything to compare it to or a more experienced partner to bounce ideas off of, self doubt and second guessing often crept up on me. Taking the HPL program at Daniels was honestly pretty pivotal in both my personal and professional development. It gave me reassurance that my instincts often lined up with what the experts at Daniels advised and also provided an easy way round out of some of the areas I knew I was lacking in, like sales and finance, by being able to pick and choose some of the courses to take. There's no doubt it helped me to become a better leader and more confident business owner."
Frequently Asked Questions
Microcredential Benefits
The High Performance Leadership Program (HPL) micro-credential, backed by the University of Denver's more than 150 years of excellence, demonstrates competency in leadership, business acumen, and building teams. Upon completion, participants receive a digital badge, a clickable image that houses information validating these skills and that can be shared on social media, digital resumes and e-portfolios to increase marketability. Find more information about the University of Denver's digital badging program here.
Who Should Participate
This flexible program is designed for professionals who wish to take their leadership and business acumen skills to new levels. If you are looking to upskill in today's dynamic business landscape, HPL offers courses tailored to your goals and schedule.
Program Structure
Workshops can be taken in any order with any frequency. Programs and workshops generally occur twice a year, but schedules are subject to change. Reference the Executive Education Workshops page for more details.
The HPL program must be completed within five years.
Program requirements
There are no prerequisites or applications required to participate. Participants are not required to have completed an undergraduate program or be enrolled at DU.
Program Cost
HPL is a pay-as-you-go business and leadership microcredential. The total program cost is determined by which workshops are included. The average cost is between $9,000 and $11,000, which includes a 15 percent discount on all classes.
How to Enroll
This program does not require separate registration. Every time you register for and complete one of our applicable courses, you'll automatically gain credits towards your HPL badge.
Advance Your Career at DU
Have other questions?
Connect with Jennifer Landers,
Director of Partnerships,
Executive Education