Step 1 – Establish Relevance: Pinpoint the intersection of your and your key stakeholders’ most urgent priorities

Step 2 – Position Possibilities: Convey and present compelling, win-win options from which to choose

Step 3 – Implement Disruption: Execute selected option with a “wow” factor that goes viral

Step 4 – Confirm “The Next”:  Gain agreement on what is next on the horizon for all stakeholders

Throughout the E.P.I.C. Leadership Accelerator, your participants will be coached through each of the 4 steps in order to maximize their individual development of the 7 critical competencies of high potential leadership (Intellectual Horsepower, Stakeholder Savvy, Intrapreneurship, Courageous Agility, Executive Presence, Strategic Decision Making, and Drive for Results).

Who is a High Potential Employee (HIPO)? 

Possesses the “ACA” Criteria:

• Aspiration:  To rise to senior roles
• Ability:  To be effective in roles of broader scope and responsibility
• Commitment:  To commit to the organization’s ever-evolving needs
         – Corporate Leadership Council (2005)

Other Attributes:

• Has the respect of managers, peers, and subordinates
• Has a high level of technical/functional competence
• Ensures that goals are achieved within ethical guidelines
• Is open to feedback and criticism
• Has a bias for action & is a catalyst for change
• Self manages effectively in a way that fosters followership and high performance
• Develop 3 times faster when collaborating with other HiPos
• Averages 1400% ROI to organization when placed in a high impact, group-based leadership development program                                                        -Global Consulting Partners – 2010

Download our Quick Reference Guide on considering high potential candidate criteria.

The E.P.I.C. Leadership Accelerator currently is limited to 30 participants.
(15 participants in each of the 2 career stages)

We expect these professionals to be on succession slates to be future executive leaders in your organization.

The experience offers in-depth training on the most currently in-demand leadership competencies, with an intense focus on participants actually putting the competencies into action via real-world leadership labs.

During the leadership labs, each participant will be grouped in a cohort of 4-5 peers at a similar stage of their career, to work together to accomplish the work of the leadership lab.

The 2 type of cohorts and the common profile of successful participants in each are as follows:

Each leadership lab works with an established non-profit organization, with whom E.P.I.C. has partnered, to provide leadership on an urgent business problem they are experiencing. Participants are excited and energized to practice their new-found skills on rewarding social good projects!

Need help determining the right cohort for your participant?  Contact us to further discuss.

The E.P.I.C. Leadership Accelerator

After sponsoring organizations register their high potential leaders for the upcoming class, there will be pre-activities to begin helping cohorts get acquainted and begin building trust with one another.  This is also the period when they will take their assessments and be oriented about the expectations of their participation in the E.P.I.C. Leadership Accelerator.

The first major component of the Accelerator is the E.P.I.C. Leadership Symposium, which is a week-long in-person experience where participants focus on the topic of differentiated leadership.  They will attend workshops, based on their assigned cohort, and will begin work on their real-world leadership labs (supporting selected non-profit organizations).

During the next 2 1/2 months, the cohorts will work together (in a virtual environment) in their E.P.I.C. Leadership Labs, with an action learning coach to help guide their progress.  They will also participate in virtual, live leadership events and work on career development planning with a leadership/career coach.

During Month 4, participants will come back to their 2nd and final week-long in-person experience, called E.P.I.C. Live!  During this week, they will receive training on executive presentations and will use their new skills to present the results of their leadership labs to an executive panel of mentors and representatives of the non-profits.  The week will culminate with a Leadership Awards and Graduation Celebration Luncheon, to which the public will be invited.

During Month 5, each participant will be required to make a Capstone Presentation of their reflections, learnings, and development to key stakeholders at their own organizations. Shockingly Different Leadership will also provide a high level summary of our reflections of the participant’s progress and any noted areas of opportunity for improvement.  Once the Capstone Presentation is completed, the participant will officially join the E.P.I.C. Alumni Network, where they will be able to continue to network with the E.P.I.C. family and will be invited to future E.P.I.C. events.

The first in-person session will be held at the Hotel Indigo Atlanta Vinings.  (The Atlanta location of the 2nd in-person session in March will be communicated to all participants during the beginning of the program.)

Hotel Indigo Atlanta – Vinings  

2857 Paces Ferry Rd SE, Atlanta, GA 30339;  770-432-5555

Participants are responsible for booking and paying for any required travel & entertainment.

Accommodations are available at the Hotel Indigo Atlanta – Vinings Hotel. The link to the Shockingly Different Leadership room block will be sent to all registrants.

Parking: Parking at the hotel is FREE.

Check-in/Check-out Times:  

• Check In: 3:00 PM
• Check Out: 12:00 PM

Internet Access:  Complimentary

Directions from Hartsfield-Jackson Airport:

• From the airport, bear left onto Camp Creek Pkwy.
• Travel 3.3 miles and take ramp for I-285 N / GA-407 N.
• Travel 15 miles and exit at Exit 18 (Paces Ferry/Vinings)
• At exit 18, take ramp right at Paces Ferry Rd East
• Turn right at the stop light and travel 1/2 mile.
• You will see the hotel on your left, across from a QT gas station.

Additional Information

Transportation Options:  If you are local to Atlanta or will be renting a car, we are happy to provide complimentary parking at the hotel.  Taxis, Uber, Lyft and other transportation network companies (TNCs) widely operate in metro-Atlanta and are available to get around during the EPIC Leadership Accelerator in-person sessions.

Suggested Attire:  We suggest that you wear business casual attire. Be sure to bring a jacket or sweater as session rooms can be on the cool side.

One advantage of a cross-industry offering, such as the E.P.I.C. Leadership Accelerator is that all sponsoring companies share in contributing just a fraction of the development and implementation costs!

E.P.I.C. is by far not the most expensive high potential leadership development offering, nor is it the least expensive.  However, our offering is extremely competitive when compared with other world-renowned programs, many of which contain just a fraction of the development days that we offer.

 See a snapshot of cost comparisons below:

Also, here is a snapshot of our participant feedback from previous offerings and a few additional facts to consider:

As an additional resource, please use this draft “Letter to Direct Supervisor” and Program Overview to assist with justifying your participation in the program.

Partnership/Sponsorship Opportunities: Every potential partner has different goals, and we are proud to provide flexible packages that best fits your budget, including in-kind opportunities.

Download the PDF version of our current Sponsorship Packet.

To discuss pre-packaged or custom packages, please contact Shockingly Different Leadership at service@shockinglydifferent.com.

Thank you for your interest in next year’s EPIC Live!

We are currently curating speakers for our upcoming conference regarding best practices and megatrends of successful high potential leaders.

An EPIC Live! speaker is typically a thought leader, an innovative thinker and/or an industry influencer who ties their topic to leadership ultra-achievement (raising the bar of leadership performance in order to deliver more impact than ever thought possible).

To provide you an overview of the EPIC Live! speaking experience, we have provided a Speaker Services Quick Reference Guide.

To submit your proposal, please click HERE.  Most information will submitted via the online form.  Any desired supplementary attachments may be sent to service@shockinglydifferent.com.

Missed or not ready for this Call for Speakers opportunity? Sign up for EPIC Live!  Call for Speakers notifications.

Contact the EPIC Live! team regarding any additional questions via service@shockinglydifferent.com.