What is the Certified Leadership Specialist?

The Certified Leadership Specialist is a globally recognised professional certification by the Global Leadership Institute (GLI), designed to equip professionals with advanced competencies in Leadership & Management.

How long does this certification take?

The programme takes 10 Week and can be completed self-paced or with live virtual sessions.

Is this certification globally recognised?

Yes. GLI certifications carry CPD credits and are internationally recognised.

What level is this certification?

This is a Intermediate Level certification.

Email info@certifications.ac, WhatsApp +254 722 223 084, or fill in the enrolment form on this page.

What is included in the fee?

All study materials, study guide, examination, digital certificate and badge. Live option adds tutor sessions and priority support.

Certified Leadership Specialist (CLS)

Executive Summary

Certified Leadership Specialist

The Certified Leadership Specialist (CLS) is a globally recognised Intermediate-level professional certification by the Global Leadership Institute (GLI), purpose-built for professionals seeking to establish and demonstrate mastery in executive leadership, strategic management, and organisational transformation.

This 10 Week programme is structured around PMI Leadership, Kotter's Change Framework and CCL Standards, ensuring every graduate applies internationally validated methods to real-world challenges.

Graduates of the CLS programme are equipped to lead with authority, deliver results with precision, and navigate executive leadership, strategic management, and organisational transformation with confidence. The certification is valued by employers in the private sector, public service, NGOs, and international organisations worldwide.

Programme Overview

Certification at a Glance

Certification

Certified Leadership Specialist

Acronym

CLS

Who Should Enrol?

Department Heads and Team Leaders
Entrepreneurs and Business Owners
Strategy and Transformation Professionals
Academic and Institutional Leaders

Programme Inclusions

Everything Included in Your Enrolment

All study materials and study guide
Access to GLI online learning portal
Online examination and assessment
Digital certificate and digital badge
Physical certificate (shipped to you)
CPD credits for professional bodies
GLI alumni network membership
Facilitator and tutor support
Resource downloads and reference library
Automatic enrolment confirmation

Certification Benefits

Why This Certification Matters for Your Career

Leadership Capability

Develop executive leadership skills to lead organisations through complexity and change

Career Advancement

Unlock senior management, director and C-suite career opportunities

Strategic Thinking

Build the strategic thinking, analysis and execution skills of world-class leaders

Organisational Impact

Transform teams, departments and entire organisations through principled leadership

Personal Excellence

Develop emotional intelligence, resilience and authentic executive presence

Global Employability

Leadership credential recognised across Africa, the Gulf and international markets

Competency Framework

Core Competencies You Will Develop

✦Strategic Leadership and Vision

✦Change and Transformation Management

✦Team Leadership and Development

✦Emotional Intelligence and Influence

✦Executive Communication and Presence

✦Governance and Ethical Leadership

Course Curriculum

Programme Modules

Click any module to explore the detailed curriculum topics included in this certification.

Foundations and Strategic Context of Certified Leadership Specialist

Certified Leadership Specialist: industry context, trends and professional standards
Organisational resilience and adaptive strategy
Strategy execution and balanced scorecard
Strategic leadership models and frameworks
Vision, mission and strategic intent
Strategic analysis: PESTLE, SWOT, Porter's Five Forces
Competitive strategy and positioning
Business model innovation
Leading with purpose and values
Strategic decision-making under uncertainty
Board and C-suite dynamics

Foundations of Leadership Excellence

Certified Leadership Specialist: industry context, trends and professional standards
Agile change management
Change management models: Kotter, ADKAR, Lewin
Diagnosing organisational readiness for change
Building a compelling case for change
Stakeholder mapping and change coalition
Communication strategy in change programmes
Resistance management techniques
Culture change and embedding new behaviours
Change measurement and sustainability
Leading large-scale transformation

Strategic Thinking and Decision Making

Certified Leadership Specialist: industry context, trends and professional standards
Team diversity and inclusion
Delegating effectively for team growth
Team performance reviews and coaching
Team effectiveness models (Tuckman, Lencioni)
Building psychological safety in teams
High-performance team design
Cross-functional team leadership
Virtual and remote team management
Managing team conflict constructively
Team communication and collaboration tools

Emotional Intelligence and Authentic Leadership

Certified Leadership Specialist: industry context, trends and professional standards
Personal values and ethical leadership
Well-being and sustainable high performance
Emotional intelligence (Goleman's model)
Self-awareness and leadership identity
Empathy, active listening and trust-building
Authentic leadership and vulnerability
Servant leadership principles
Mindfulness and executive resilience
Leading with courage in difficult conversations
Building executive presence

Change Management and Organisational Agility

Certified Leadership Specialist: industry context, trends and professional standards
GROW model and coaching conversations
Feedback frameworks: SBI, 360 feedback
Developing leaders at all levels
Succession planning and talent acceleration
Creating a coaching culture
Managing performance through coaching
Coaching challenging team members
Measuring coaching ROI
Executive coaching fundamentals
Coaching vs mentoring distinction

High-Performance Team Leadership

Certified Leadership Specialist: industry context, trends and professional standards
Strategic decision-making under uncertainty
Board and C-suite dynamics
Organisational resilience and adaptive strategy
Strategy execution and balanced scorecard
Strategic leadership models and frameworks
Vision, mission and strategic intent
Strategic analysis: PESTLE, SWOT, Porter's Five Forces
Competitive strategy and positioning
Business model innovation
Leading with purpose and values

Stakeholder Management and Communication

Certified Leadership Specialist: industry context, trends and professional standards
Resistance management techniques
Culture change and embedding new behaviours
Change measurement and sustainability
Leading large-scale transformation
Agile change management
Change management models: Kotter, ADKAR, Lewin
Diagnosing organisational readiness for change
Building a compelling case for change
Stakeholder mapping and change coalition
Communication strategy in change programmes

Ethical Leadership and Corporate Governance

Certified Leadership Specialist: industry context, trends and professional standards
High-performance team design
Cross-functional team leadership
Virtual and remote team management
Managing team conflict constructively
Team communication and collaboration tools
Team diversity and inclusion
Delegating effectively for team growth
Team performance reviews and coaching
Team effectiveness models (Tuckman, Lencioni)
Building psychological safety in teams

Coaching, Mentoring and Developing Others

Certified Leadership Specialist: industry context, trends and professional standards
Emotional intelligence (Goleman's model)
Self-awareness and leadership identity
Empathy, active listening and trust-building
Authentic leadership and vulnerability
Servant leadership principles
Mindfulness and executive resilience
Leading with courage in difficult conversations
Building executive presence
Personal values and ethical leadership
Well-being and sustainable high performance

Strategic Thinking, Innovation and Business Transformation

Certified Leadership Specialist: industry context, trends and professional standards
Feedback frameworks: SBI, 360 feedback
Developing leaders at all levels
Succession planning and talent acceleration
Creating a coaching culture
Managing performance through coaching
Coaching challenging team members
Measuring coaching ROI
Executive coaching fundamentals
Coaching vs mentoring distinction
GROW model and coaching conversations

Stakeholder Engagement and Executive Communication

Certified Leadership Specialist: industry context, trends and professional standards
Business model innovation
Leading with purpose and values
Strategic decision-making under uncertainty
Board and C-suite dynamics
Organisational resilience and adaptive strategy
Strategy execution and balanced scorecard
Strategic leadership models and frameworks
Vision, mission and strategic intent
Strategic analysis: PESTLE, SWOT, Porter's Five Forces
Competitive strategy and positioning

Governance, Ethics and Responsible Leadership

Certified Leadership Specialist: industry context, trends and professional standards
Stakeholder mapping and change coalition
Communication strategy in change programmes
Resistance management techniques
Culture change and embedding new behaviours
Change measurement and sustainability
Leading large-scale transformation
Agile change management
Change management models: Kotter, ADKAR, Lewin
Diagnosing organisational readiness for change
Building a compelling case for change

Learning Outcomes

What You Will Achieve

Develop a comprehensive understanding of Certified Leadership Specialist principles aligned with PMI Leadership, Kotter's Change Framework and CCL Standards
Manage evidence-based strategies to improve executive leadership, strategic management, and organisational transformation outcomes
Design risk management frameworks and compliance requirements relevant to Certified Leadership Specialist
Create stakeholder engagement plans and professional communication strategies
Manage data-driven decision-making tools and performance measurement systems for Certified Leadership Specialist
Implement internationally recognised best practices from PMI Leadership, Kotter's Change Framework and CCL Standards into daily professional work
Apply a professional development portfolio demonstrating mastery of Certified Leadership Specialist competencies
Build cross-functional teams and organisational systems aligned to Certified Leadership Specialist principles
Create emerging trends, technologies and innovations relevant to Certified Leadership Specialist
Transform governance, accountability and ethical standards within your area of practice
Optimise continuous improvement processes using globally validated quality frameworks
Analyse professional networks and collaborate with peers across Africa and internationally

Enrolment Process

How to Get Certified

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Step 1: Select Certification

Choose the Certified Leadership Specialist from GLI's portfolio of 1,990+ professional certifications.

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Step 2: Choose Your Package

Select Self-Paced, Live Virtual, or Corporate Group training to match your schedule and budget.

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Step 3: Complete Registration

Fill in the online enrolment form with your personal and professional details.

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Step 4: Make Secure Payment

Pay via Paystack, M-Pesa, Bank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard or other accepted methods.

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Step 5: Receive Confirmation

Get your enrolment confirmation, learning portal access credentials, and study materials.

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Step 6: Start Learning

Access your course content, engage with facilitators, and begin your certification journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions

What is the CLS certification?

The Certified Leadership Specialist (CLS) is a Intermediate-level professional certification awarded by the Global Leadership Institute (GLI). It is designed to equip professionals in executive leadership, strategic management, and organisational transformation with practical skills, internationally recognised frameworks, and the credentials needed to advance their careers.

Who should enrol in the CLS?

This certification is ideal for Department Heads and Team Leaders, Entrepreneurs and Business Owners, Strategy and Transformation Professionals, and other professionals seeking to formalise their expertise in certified leadership specialist with a globally recognised credential.

How long does the CLS certification take to complete?

The programme is structured over 10 Week and offers flexible learning modes. Self-paced learners can progress at their own schedule, while live virtual participants follow a structured cohort schedule with facilitator-led sessions.

Is the CLS internationally recognised?

Yes. GLI certifications are recognised across 85+ countries and are aligned with PMI Leadership, Kotter's Change Framework and CCL Standards. Graduates receive a digital certificate, physical certificate, and digital badge, all valid for professional use internationally.

What is the cost of the CLS certification?

The Certified Leadership Specialist is offered in two formats: Self-Paced at USD 399 and Live Virtual at USD 599. Corporate group rates are available for organisations enrolling 5 or more participants. Contact GLI for a bespoke corporate training quotation.

What does the CLS certification include?

Enrolment includes all study materials and study guides, access to GLI's online learning portal, online examination, digital certificate and badge, physical certificate (posted), CPD credits, GLI alumni network membership, and ongoing facilitator support.

What is the assessment format for the CLS?

The Certified Leadership Specialist is assessed through an online examination consisting of multiple-choice questions, case study analysis, and practical application assignments. The assessment is designed to evaluate real-world competency, not just theoretical recall.

What CPD credits do I earn from the CLS?

The Certified Leadership Specialist carries Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits, which can be applied towards professional body requirements including SHRM, CIPD, CIPS, PMI, IIA and other recognised professional associations.

Can I study the CLS while working full-time?

Absolutely. The self-paced option is designed for busy working professionals and allows you to study when and where it suits you. Live virtual sessions are typically scheduled in the evenings or on weekends to accommodate professional commitments.

What career outcomes can I expect from the CLS?

CLS certified professionals report significant career advancement, including promotions, salary increases, and expanded responsibilities. The credential positions you as a qualified expert in executive leadership, strategic management, and organisational transformation, opening doors to senior roles in the private sector, public service, NGOs, and international organisations.

Graduate Voices

What Our Alumni Say

“

The curriculum was directly applicable to my daily work. I immediately applied what I learned and saw results within weeks of completing the programme.

Managing Director

Private Sector

“

GLI's certification is the most practical professional programme I have attended. The international frameworks gave me credibility with my employer and clients.

Senior Manager

NGO Sector

“

I earned my CLS while working full-time. The self-paced format made it possible, and the quality of the content is genuinely world-class.

Executive Director

Government

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Certified Leadership Specialist

Certified Leadership Specialist

Certification at a Glance

Who Should Enrol?

Everything Included in Your Enrolment

Why This Certification Matters for Your Career

Core Competencies You Will Develop

Programme Modules

What You Will Achieve

How to Get Certified

Common Questions

What Our Alumni Say

Payment Options

Enrol in Certified Leadership Specialist

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