Lead the future of engineering. The Engineering Leadership Institute (ELI) equips you to lead with confidence — building the skills you need to drive innovation, manage high-impact teams and influence senior decision-makers in a rapidly changing environment.
Next start date: March 2, 2026
Created through a partnership between the College of Engineering and the Foster School of Business, ELI equips you with the skills to combine your technical expertise with powerful communication, strategy and leadership skills.
Apply nowLOCATION
Online with welcome and graduation dinners
DURATION
15 weeks
COST
$9,950-$10,500
NEXT START DATE
March 2, 2026
Program highlights
The Engineering Leadership Institute is designed for engineers across all disciplines and industries. Whether you’re ready to take on your first leadership role or looking to increase your impact as a manager, the ELI can serve as a force multiplier in the course of your career.
Learn from the best in business and engineering
Gain insights from world-class faculty and seasoned industry leaders at the heart of one of the nation’s most innovative engineering hubs.
Lead at the pace of change
Harness emerging technologies — AI, machine learning, big data and data visualization — to drive innovative and impactful leadership.
Showcase leadership in action
Put your skills to the test in a dynamic case competition. Tackle real-world engineering leadership challenges and present your solutions to a panel of industry leaders.
Who is this program for?
The ELI is designed for mid-career engineers across all disciplines and industries with a minimum of 5–15 years of experience. Ideal candidates are team leaders, project managers and high performing individual contributors ready to step into a management role.
Learning outcomes
Build on your communication and project management expertise
Learn to communicate across product, business and technical teams. Manage project deliverables and strategic initiatives.
Course concepts: Business strategy for engineers. Communication, negotiation and presentation skills. Collaborating across teams.
Make business decisions with confidence and context
Learn how to leverage AI to solve engineering problems, influence leadership decisions and implement organizational strategy.
Course concepts: The business of AI. Innovation and creative thinking. Leadership and organizational change. Financial strategy.
Learn how to use data to tell convincing stories that drive your strategy forward
Use data to craft compelling, high-impact presentations that effectively sell your vision.
Course concepts: Storytelling with data. Communication, negotiation and presentation skills.
Apply by December 1 and receive $550 off
The priority application is due December 1, 2025. If admitted, you will receive $550 off your total tuition cost.
Curriculum
The ELI is a 15-week hybrid program. The program starts with a welcome dinner on the University of Washington campus in Seattle with faculty and local engineering executives. After that, sessions will be held live virtually twice per week (Monday/Wednesday, 6-8 pm PST).
The last day of class gives you an opportunity to put your leadership skills to the test at an in-person case competition on the Seattle campus. Tackle real-world engineering leadership scenarios and present your solution to a panel of industry leaders. A graduation dinner immediately follows the case competition.
Important dates
- March 2, 2026: Welcome dinner at the University of Washington (6–8pm)
- March 4–June 8, 2026: Online classes are held Monday and Wednesday each week (excluding Memorial Day) (6–8pm PST)
- June 10, 2026: Case competition and graduation dinner at the University of Washington (6–8pm)
Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
6.0 CEUs are available. Please indicate your interest in receiving CEUs on your application. See more information about CEUs.