Senior leaders in affordable housing can sharpen their leadership skills and boost their career trajectory through the NAHMA Emerging Leaders Learning Series (NELLS), an exclusive virtual program offered by the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA). Tailored for senior organizational managers and leaders, the NELLSExecutive course delivers cutting-edge strategies, expert coaching, and a collaborative learning environment designed to elevate leadership performance. Enrollment is limited—register by July 10 to join the 2025 cohort, which begins on Aug. 7.
NELLSExecutive focuses on three dimensions: leading yourself, leading teams, and providing business leadership. Through group sessions and individual coaching, each participant will learn how to best enhance their personal leadership competencies by developing the professional habits and skills necessary to achieve desired outcomes.
The executive-level group sessions will address leadership-related topics relevant to day-to-day business and operational challenges, including Management vs. Leadership, Adaptive Leadership, Authority vs. Influence, Growth Mindset, Effective Delegation, Navigating Uncertainty and Preparing for Disruption.
The virtual course is a blended program that combines the benefits of cohort learning with executive coaching. In addition to three group sessions, each participant will have two one-on-one coaching sessions with the course facilitator to tailor program content to their specific requirements. All sessions are conducted using the Zoom videoconferencing platform. Group sessions are 90 minutes, except for Session I, which is 120 minutes and includes program orientation. All group sessions begin at 2 p.m. Eastern.
The orientation and first session for NELLSExecutive are scheduled for Aug. 7. Session II will take place on Aug. 28, and the final session is set for Sept. 18. The two 60-minute one-to-one coaching sessions will be scheduled individually with participants. The class size is limited to five-15 participants, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Tuition is $1,250 per person.
NAHMA, in cooperation with course facilitator Brenda Harrington, founder of Adaptive Leadership Strategies LLC, created the NAHMA Emerging Leaders Learning Series course family to include two virtual programs designed to meet you where you are in your professional development: the original NELLSExecutive and the NELLSManager. The NELLSManager course focuses on topics relevant to first-line professionals, including property managers, leasing managers, maintenance managers and compliance specialists. The NELLSExecutive program focuses on issues relevant to senior organizational managers and leaders, typically at the director, regional, officer levels and above.
Successfully completing a NELLS course will earn an individual five Continuing Education Units (CEUs) toward their annual requirement of six CEUs to maintain their NAHP or NAHP-e credentials. Additionally, successful completion of a NELLS course will earn an individual a complimentary two-year NAHMA Associate membership.
Brenda Harrington, PCC, is a Certified Executive Coach and former property management executive. She works with clients across a variety of industry sectors to help develop the professional competencies required for effective 21st-century leadership. To learn more, please visit www.adaptiveleadershipstrategies.com.