American Express Hosts Eleventh NYC Academy for Next Generation Nonprofit Leaders

The Global Training Program Invites Community to Participate in Live Stream

NEW YORK -- American Express today welcomed the eleventh class of nearly 50 emerging nonprofit leaders to the American Express Leadership Academy. The American Express Leadership Academy is a global training program designed to develop the next generation of leaders in the nonprofit and social sectors.

Participants are trained on the personal, business and leadership skills needed to run a successful nonprofit organization in the “new normal” of today’s complex economic climate. By the end of 2013, American Express will have hosted over 35 Leadership Academy sessions in six countries, including the United Kingdom, India, Japan, Mexico and Canada, benefitting more than 1,200 nonprofit and social sector leaders.

Held this week near the company’s New York headquarters, participants in the week-long program will hear from American Express senior executives, including the company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Kenneth I. Chenault and Dan Schulman, American Express Group President of Enterprise Growth. Other speakers include Karen Brooks Hopkins, president of the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

American Express is live streaming Mr. Schulman’s session from the Academy on Thursday, November 21 from 4:00 pm EST – 5:00 pm EST. Mr. Schulman will share his leadership insights and discuss how emerging technologies can be used to provide services to segments of the market that are sometimes underserved by traditional financial systems. Register at https://zeitcaster.net/amex/login/ with the access code AMEX2013 and use the hashtag #amexleads to ask questions or participate in the conversation via Twitter.

“The Leadership Academy is an effective demonstration of how we’re enabling nonprofit leaders to better achieve their stated missions in service of their communities,” said Timothy J. McClimon, president, American Express Foundation. “Recognizing the difference that strong leadership can make, American Express is dedicated to training the next generation of nonprofit and social sector leaders to take up important 21st century challenges.”

Launched in 2008 to address the need created by a growing deficit of leadership talent in the nonprofit sector, the Academy brings together emerging leaders from a diverse set of nonprofit organization twice per year in New York. After being nominated by national and local nonprofit partners, participants are selected based upon a competitive application process. Attendees to this week’s Academy come from organizations including The International Rescue Committee, Asian Americans for Equality, The Kresge Foundation, Old Globe Theatre, America’s Promise, Central Arizona Shelter Services and Museum of Discovery Science- Fort Lauderdale.

Designed in partnership with the Center for Creative Leadership, the program curriculum features individual Myers Briggs and 360 degree assessments, leadership training, experiential exercises, individual executive coaching, and team activities. Participants will also have the opportunity to join a growing network of past Academy participants.

American Express: Developing New Leaders for Tomorrow
One of American Express’ three platforms for its philanthropy is Developing New Leaders for Tomorrow. Under this giving initiative, which recognizes the significance of strong leadership in the nonprofit and sectors, American Express is making grants focused on training high potential emerging leaders to tackle important issues in the 21st century. More than 10,000 emerging nonprofit and social sector leaders worldwide have benefitted from American Express leadership programs. Launched in 2008, the American Express Leadership Academy addresses the growing deficit of leadership talent in the nonprofit sector. The Academy brings together emerging leaders from a diverse set of nonprofit, social sector and non-governmental organizations.

About American Express
American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, foursquare.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/companies/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.

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About the Center for Creative Leadership
The Center for Creative Leadership (CCL®) is a top-ranked, global provider of executive education that accelerates strategy and business results by unlocking the leadership potential of individuals and organizations. Founded in 1970 as a nonprofit, educational institution, CCL serves clients through an array of programs, products and other services. Ranked among the world’s Top 10 providers of executive education by Bloomberg BusinessWeek and the Financial Times, CCL is headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., with offices in Colorado Springs, Colo.; San Diego, Calif.; Brussels, Belgium; Moscow, Russia; Singapore; New Delhi-NCR, India; Shanghai, China; and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.