- Is the Political Acumen Accelerator program online?
- Yes, it is 100% online and always has been since the first season launched in 2017.
- Who are the mentors on faculty?
- The Master Mentor faculty come from a distinguished cadre of current and former Canadian provincial, national and municipal politicians and bureaucrats, top academics and media experts. For full profiles go to: Mentors
- What is the program schedule?
- Starting in January 2022, a new module will open each week featuring a mentor panel conversation on the topic. All the live panels take place on Fridays from 10 - 11:30am pacific time. Full Program Outline & Schedule Here
- How do the mentor panel conversations work?
- Each module begins with a live master mentor panel that lasts for 90 mins. These panels are informal conversations between 3 mentors sharing stories about their experiences relating to the topic that week.
- Can I ask questions during the live mentor panel conversations?
- Yes the mentor panels are interactive and the audience can ask questions through a chat function. There is also an opportunity to send in advance questions.
- What happens if I can't make the live panels?
- All mentor panel conversations are recorded and available within 24 hours in the Resource Room.
- What's in the Resource Room?
- Each of the modules has a dedicated Resource Room where you will find the MP4 recording after a session has completed, short podcast interviews, a program E-Handbook, articles to download and links to other resources that have been curated to provide perspectives and further information on each topic.
- When does the next program start?
- Season #6 of The Political Acumen Accelerator starts January 5th, 2022.
- How much does the course cost?
- The program rate is $1697.
- Is there a Special Rate for Alumni members who want to take the program again?
- Yes! Alumni of the Political Acumen Accelerator program receive a special rate of $997 per person plus applicable taxes. Our members tell us there is great value in taking the program more than once as there are always new Master Mentors voices and different stories.
- How do I reserve my spot?
- Registration for Season 6 opens on November 1, 2021.
- What is the difference between the Political Acumen Accelerator, IPSL and the Mini-Master Classes?
- IPSL and the Political Acumen Accelerator are the same thing, just a new name for Season 6. The Mini-Master Classes are a specialized program offered once a year in May/June and take a deeper dive into a single module topic, such as Speaking Truth To Power. More on that coming in 2022.
- What are the full program dates?
- The live program begins on January 5th and the last live mentor panel conversation takes place on March 11. All registered participants have access to all program materials for an additional 6 months until October 2022.
- How long is the program?
- The program material is delivered weekly over 11 weeks with a break half way. You'll continue to have access to recorded materials and the Resource Room for an additional 6 months afterwards.
- How much time should it take to complete the course?
- It depends on how much additional study of Resource Room materials you choose to do but participants should expect to spend about 2 hours per week on the program including time spent watching the 90 minute mentor panels.
- Who would benefit from taking this course?
- Public Sector Leaders from all backgrounds, experiences, and educational levels will benefit from participating in the Political Acumen Accelerator. Program content is relevant to Federal, Provincial and Municipal leaders across Canada.
- How do I access the course?
- You will be given log in access to the program website with all course materials. Access is available 24/7 throughout the program. Information to access each live mentor panel conversation will be sent weekly.
- How long will I have access to the program materials?
- Season #6 program participants will have access to all materials until October 2022.
- What technology do I need to access the course?
- You will need an internet connection and a device with a camera and microphone - cell phone, Tablet, Mac or PC computer.
- Can I take the course with a group?
- Yes, our alumni members tell us that taking the program with other colleagues enhances the learning opportunities from the mentors. Everyone hears different things.
- Do you offer coaching/mentoring support during/after the program
- Coaching and mentoring support is an excellent way to further embed your learning and get the most out of the program. We have a number of leadership coaches affiliated with the program and some of our Master Mentors offer support services for a fee. You can find them HERE .
- What’s the best way for me as a senior leader to support my staff as they take the course?
- A good way is to attend with them so that you can lead the group through a quick conversation after each session. If you can’t attend, you can still put time aside at a weekly meeting to share real world/current stories and examples about each topic.