As workplaces grow increasingly diverse and interconnected, HR professionals play a critical role in shaping environments where everyone can thrive. JIBC’s new Inclusive Leadership Associate Certificate offers a practical, value-driven approach to leadership, helping participants see how workplace systems influence people’s experiences and where opportunities for positive change exist.
To give you a closer look at what makes JIBC’s new Inclusive Leadership Associate Certificate unique, we spoke with Georganne Oldham, a senior faculty member and lead curriculum developer for the program. Georganne shares insights on how the program equips leaders to navigate complex workplace dynamics, apply inclusive practices, and foster equity, belonging, and well-being in their teams and organizations:
Q: The upcoming webinar is tailored for CPHR members — what will they take away from it, and how does it connect to the foundational course LEAD-1120: Essentials of Inclusive Leadership?
A: Participants will take away a practical way to see workplace systems more clearly, noticing where processes create barriers and where they hold potential for change. Along the way, they’ll gain a shared language for reflection, and practice applying it to safe, hypothetical HR scenarios. Most importantly, they’ll leave with at least one concrete idea to bring back to strengthen equity and belonging in their own workplace. This connects directly to LEAD-1120 (Essentials of Inclusive Leadership), where leaders begin by examining their values, lived experiences, and impact, grounding their leadership in awareness and intentional practice.
Q: Why is inclusive leadership training, with its focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigenous ways of being, so necessary in today’s workplaces and communities?
A: Our workplaces are increasingly diverse and interconnected, but many of the systems we rely on still carry patterns of exclusion. Inclusive leadership training helps leaders recognize those patterns and take action to shift them. In practice, that means learning to pause, ask better questions, and invite more perspectives into decision-making. By drawing inspiration from Indigenous teachings that emphasize connection and interdependence, alongside equity and anti-racism practices, leaders can begin to create workplaces where people feel safe, respected, and able to contribute fully.
Q: How does this new certificate differ from JIBC’s previous leadership offerings, and what gaps in leadership education does it aim to address?
A: This program puts inclusion at the center. Every course is grounded in values, equity, and cultural humility. What makes it different is how it integrates values-based leadership, utilizing reflection, dialogue, Indigenous-informed practices, and real-world scenarios for a coherent learning journey. The program fills a gap in leadership education by moving beyond technical or compliance-focused skills. It asks leaders to reflect on themselves and the systems they influence and equips them with practical approaches for leading in ways that are relational, ethical, and adaptive.
Q: What impact do you hope graduates of this program will have in their organizations and communities?
A: Graduates of the Inclusive Leadership Associate Certificate will bring both a deeper self-awareness and a stronger ability to lead with values that foster meaningful relationships and influence. They will be able to recognize how systems shape people’s experiences, and they’ll have the skills to create more inclusive practices, navigate conflict constructively, and support well-being for themselves and others. In their organizations, this means influencing culture and decision-making in ways that build trust, belonging, and resilience. In their communities, we hope they carry these same commitments into broader relationships, helping to create spaces where diverse voices are heard, and change is possible.
How JIBC’s Leadership Training Benefit HR Professionals
HR professionals are uniquely positioned to observe how organizational systems affect people and to guide meaningful change. By practicing inclusive leadership, leaders can create environments where individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute fully—conditions that allow both people and organizations to thrive.
JIBC’s LEAD-1120: Essentials of Inclusive Leadership provides a foundational framework for understanding how personal values, lived experiences, and leadership practices intersect to influence workplace culture. Building on this foundation, the Inclusive Leadership Associate Certificate offers a practical, immersive learning journey that integrates reflection, dialogue, Indigenous-informed practices, and real-world scenarios. Together, these programs equip HR professionals and emerging leaders with the skills, language, and strategies needed to foster equity, inclusion, and belonging across their teams, organizations, and broader communities.