Engineering Leadership Institute
The Engineering Leadership Institute (ELI) is a premier collaboration between the University of Washington College of Engineering and the Foster School of Business. By combining technical excellence with business leadership, ELI equips professionals with the confidence, strategic perspective, and leadership skills needed to accelerate innovation, inspire high-performing teams, and drive organizational impact in a fast-changing world.

Lead the future of engineering
Flexible learning options
Online with graduation dinner
Cost
$9,950-$12,500
Duration
12 weeks
Next program date
March 22 – June 9, 2027
Explore the program
The ELI is designed for mid-career engineers and related technical teams across all disciplines and industries with a minimum of 5 years of experience. Ideal candidates are team leaders, project managers and high performing individual contributors.
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: Crafting stories with data, impactful communications, and presentation skills.
The ELI is a 12-week hybrid program. The program starts on March 22 with a virtual live orientation where participants can meet and get to know the cohort. The program directors from Foster School and Engineering will share key information and tips for getting the most out of the program. After that, the class will meet on Monday and Wednesday evenings (live virtual) from 6:00-8:00pm PT.
The last day of class gives you an opportunity to put your leadership skills to the test at an in-person case competition at the University of Washington, main Seattle campus. Tackle real-world engineering leadership scenarios and present your solution to a panel of faculty and industry leaders. A graduation dinner immediately follows the case competition.
5.0 CEUs are available. Please indicate your interest in receiving CEUs on your application. See more information about CEUs.
Admission and cost
What our graduates say
"I felt like the certificate really was a great way to continue learning, but without the big commitments that come with a master's program." - Begum Birsoz, Engineering Leadership Institute
“It really helped me take a step back and stop focusing on the nitty-gritty areas of my work and look at it the way that an executive would.” - Melissa Im, Engineering Leadership Institute
View more student testimonialsMark your calendar
Join us at our webinars
Learn more about the program, hear insights relevant to today's engineering leaders, and discover how ELI can support your professional growth.
Choose an upcoming date to register.