Leading Thriving Organizations Certificate - Center for the Advancement of Well-Being

Employees across all professional industries today are stressed, even to the point of burnout. Rapid change, overloaded schedules, and increasingly complex workplace environments are key factors fueling stress at work today. As a leader, it is more critical than ever to understand how the science of well-being applies to your organization, and how it impacts your success. The Leading Thriving Organizations certificate program will teach you tools, frameworks, and strategies for building individual well-being and establishing a thriving organizational culture that prioritizes health and well-being. You will learn how the best companies think about well-being, and discover how your organization measures up. After the Leading Thriving Organizations course, you will be ready to integrate well-being into your workplace, and you’ll feel more confident about building a more resilient, competitive, and high-performing workforce at your organization.

We will open the application period soon for our next cohort, which will take place on Fridays, from April 17 to May 15, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST

We can customize the Leading Thriving Organizations program for your organization’s schedule. Contact us for details.

Questions? Contact us at [email protected] or 703-993-6090.

Program Format

100% virtual with live instruction via Zoom

Program Dates and Times

Fridays, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST, from April 17, 2026 to May 15, 2026

Program Modules

Day 1 – April 17

Module 1: Introduction to the Science of Well-Being, Rachel Wernicke, Ph.D.
Module 2: Stress and Well-Being, Ali Weinstein, Ph.D.

Day 2 – April 24

Module 3: Evidence-Based Well-Being Practices and Interventions for Leaders, Suzie Carmack, Ph.D.

Day 3 – May 1

Module 4: Humanity at Work, Anjali Bindra Patel, J.D., CDE

Day 4 – May 8

Module 5: Workplace and Organizational Well-Being, Mandy O’Neill, Ph.D. or Lauren Kuykendall, Ph.D.

Day 5 – May 15

Professional Panel Discussion and Capstone Project, Sonya Henry

Tuition

$2,850

The cost of digital course texts/readings is included
10% Mason full-time employee discount
10% Mason alumni discount
10% discount for organizations that send three or more participants

Program Prerequisite

You can benefit most from this program if you have a minimum of 5 years of professional experience. You must be fluent in written and spoken English.

Application Information

You can apply by submitting the following items:

Current professional resume
Short essay that addresses the questions below:
- What attracted you to the Leading Thriving Organizations program?
- What is your leadership philosophy and how does it align to support organizational well-being?
- How do you intend to apply this course material to enhance your individual and organizational well-being?

Please note: The above items can only be submitted electronically through the student portal. They will not be accepted via email or mail.

We look forward to considering your application. If you have not received a response from the program within two weeks of submission, please contact us at [email protected].

Program Features

Connect with George Mason University faculty who have expertise in organizational cultures, leadership, the science of well-being, and health sciences and communication
Learn the health determinants of well-being, employee well-being, the changing nature of work, and positive emotions and behaviors
Understand evidence-based well-being practices and interventions for individual and organizational well-being
Discover how to embed well-being in your organization’s culture
Engage in question-and-answer sessions with a panel of industry leaders
Plan how to strengthen workplace well-being, including how to create a psychologically safe workplace and unleash employee talent for greater engagement and productivity