Background
NYU’s Rudin and C2SMART Centers are partnering with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) to develop an Executive Leadership Training Program (ELTP).
This initiative will invest in public agency mid-level professionals and develop the leadership skills which will enable them to positively impact their organizations. Furthermore, the ELTP will promote collaboration between different regional organizations to allow for more holistic planning and policy.
The program, which will take place over 8 days over the course of 4 months in early 2026, will cover topics such as emerging technologies, seminars with executive leaders, and best practice exchanges with professionals from other cities. Participants will also participate in site visits of local infrastructure facilities for experiential learning.
This program builds on the NYU Rudin Center’s Executive Leadership Training Program that ran 2008-2011, and helped to produce some of the region’s top leaders in mobility.
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Application
The 2026 program will take place from March through June, with eight full-day in-person sessions at the NYMTC offices in downtown Manhattan. The program is being designed and supported by New York University’s Rudin Center for Transportation and C2SMART Transportation Center.
Apply at this form by December 8, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Overview
The program will provide participants with seminars with executive leaders, networking opportunities, and site visits of local infrastructure facilities for experiential learning, all structured around the following topics:
- March: Days 1 & 2: Executive Operations Management – Fundamentals and Applications
- April: Days 3 & 4: Technology Innovation – Fundamentals & Applications
- May: Days 5 & 6: Regional Executive Leadership – Challenges and Opportunities
- June: Days 7 & 8: Professional Development – Strategy and Implementation
Timeline (subject to change)
- November 3, 2025 | Applications open
- December 8, 2025 | Applications due
- January 12, 2026 | Admissions notice sent
- January 26, 2026 | Participant confirmation
Details
- The program is open to public sector professionals with at least 10 years of experience or equivalent.
- The program is geared toward public-sector professionals working in the NY metropolitan area; we are unable to subsidize travel or lodging.
- The program does not require a fee.
- PE and AICP continuing education credit pending.
- Participants must be able to attend the entire program in person.
- Please contact rudin.center@nyu.edu with any questions.
Research Impacts
This program’s goals are twofold: First, it aims to develop leadership skills of public agency rising mid-level professionals who are poised to make positive change within their organizations as executives. Second, it seeks to break down silos between different organizations in the region, forming connections and collaborations to promote more holistic planning and policy.
The Executive Leadership program will cover the following areas: introduction to new and emerging technologies; best practice exchanges with professionals from other cities; management and leadership; learning sessions with local executives; contract development; risk assessment; emergency preparedness; procurement; communications and political positioning. Site visits to local infrastructure facilities for experiential learning will be core to the learning enhancement.
Personnel
Sarah M. Kaufman
DIRECTOR, NYU RUDIN CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION
Sarah Kaufman is the Principal Investigator for this project