Building the Next Generation of Engineering Leaders: Inside the ACEC Arizona LEAP Program

Leadership in the engineering industry doesn’t happen by accident, it’s built with intention, experience, and the right opportunities to grow. That’s exactly what the ACEC Arizona LEAP Program delivers.

What is LEAP?

The Leadership Education & Advancement Program (LEAP) is ACEC Arizona’s premier leadership development initiative designed specifically for emerging leaders within member firms. It brings together rising professionals from across the state to build the skills, confidence, and perspective needed to lead teams, win work, and advance the engineering profession.

LEAP is more than a training series, it’s an investment in the future of Arizona’s engineering industry.

What is LEAP Designed to Do?

At its core, LEAP is focused on developing well-rounded leaders who can thrive in both technical and business environments. The program is designed to:

• Strengthen leadership and communication skills

• Build confidence in client interaction and business development

• Develop a deeper understanding of team dynamics and personal leadership styles

• Prepare participants to transition from technical roles into leadership roles

• Create a network of connected, engaged professionals across ACEC Arizona member firms

A Strong Start: This Year’s LEAP Cohort

This year’s LEAP class is already off to an impressive start, demonstrating strong engagement and a clear commitment to growth.

The program launched with a January kickoff event and Session One, where participants focused on introductions, setting program goals, and gaining a better understanding of themselves and others. Using the Real Colors curriculum, participants completed a structured self-assessment that provided valuable insight into communication styles, personality traits, and how to work more effectively within teams.

From there, the cohort transitioned into one of the most critical areas for career advancement in the consulting engineering industry:

Marketing & Business Development – How to Win Work

In this session, participants explored what it truly takes to win work in today’s competitive environment, including:

• Understanding client decision-making

• Crafting compelling stories and value propositions

• Using persuasion and positioning strategies

• Improving proposal development approaches

• Leveraging AI tools to enhance marketing and business development efforts

This session reinforced a key truth: technical excellence alone is not enough—successful leaders must also know how to communicate value and build trust with clients.

Communicating to Lead

The cohort also completed Communicating to Lead, a session focused on strengthening leadership presence and communication effectiveness. Participants worked on:

• Building confidence and executive presence

• Refining their communication style

• Delivering messages with clarity and impact

• Developing the skills needed to lead teams and influence outcomes

New Session Highlight: Relationship Building & Networking

One of the newest and most impactful sessions in this year’s program focused on relationship building—a cornerstone of long-term success in the engineering industry.

Participants explored how strong professional relationships are built intentionally over time, not just during pursuits or project delivery. The session emphasized that trust, consistency, and authenticity are key drivers of lasting client and industry connections.

Key networking components included:

• Being intentional – approaching networking with a purpose, not just attendance

• Listening first – understanding others’ needs before promoting your own services

• Adding value – sharing insights, making introductions, and being a resource

• Following up – turning initial conversations into meaningful, ongoing relationships

• Building a personal brand – ensuring consistency in how you show up and communicate

This session reinforces that successful leaders are not just technically strong, they are relationship builders who create opportunities through trust and connection.

What’s Ahead

As the program continues, participants will build on this strong foundation with additional hands-on, practical learning experiences.

Sessions so far have included:

• Transitioning to Leadership – focusing on the shift from individual contributor to team leader

• Winning Work: Keys to Project Interview Success – preparing participants to perform in high-stakes client interviews

• Team Interviews – a capstone-style experience where participants apply what they’ve learned in a realistic interview setting and receive direct, actionable feedback

Looking ahead into April and May, the LEAP program continues to expand its scope with sessions covering:

• Artificial Intelligence and its evolving role in the engineering industry

• Project Management fundamentals and best practices

• Negotiating and Active Listening as core leadership skills

• Leadership development and decision-making

• Legal and Legislative insights impacting the profession

These sessions are designed to move beyond theory and into real-world application—ensuring participants leave the program ready to step into leadership roles within their firms.

Investing in the Future of Engineering in Arizona

Programs like LEAP are essential to the long-term success of the engineering industry. By equipping emerging professionals with leadership, communication, and business development skills, ACEC Arizona is helping ensure that member firms—and the industry as a whole—remain strong, competitive, and forward-thinking.

The impact goes beyond individual participants. LEAP strengthens firms, builds industry connections, and reinforces ACEC Arizona’s commitment to developing the next generation of leaders.

As this year’s cohort continues its journey, one thing is clear: the future of engineering leadership in Arizona is in very good hands.