The CSIS Global Strategy Lab

Overview

In today’s fast-moving world, organizations are often left scrambling to catch up while their employees look to leaders for answers. Planning for change has become a critical leadership skill and a crucial indicator of organizational success, enabling leaders to respond rather than react.

The Global Strategy Lab is designed to equip seasoned professionals with the global acumen as well as leadership and communication skills to navigate times of uncertainty and significant change—with minimum disruption and maximum adaptability. These skills foster resilience, sharpen creativity to imagine what could come next, develop effective contingency plans, and empower leaders to create a flexible work environment that can adapt to new challenges. 

Participants will enhance their understanding of global trends and amplify their leadership and communication skills over one month, through both interactive virtual sessions and a four-day leadership lab focused on collaborative learning at the CSIS headquarters in Washington, D.C. At the end of the program, you will know how to:

• Connect current geopolitical shifts to your organization’s priorities and risk exposure
• Sharpen strategic communication skills to convey your message effectively to both internal and external stakeholders
• Employ simulations and competitive strategy exercises to project outcomes and improve decision-making
• Leverage a wide-ranging cohort of peers from across the private sector, government, and nonprofits

2026 Curriculum

The Global Strategy Lab is a blended virtual and in-person learning experience for resilient leaders and strategic thinkers who are navigating the world’s most complex challenges. By combining expert-led geopolitical analysis and crisis simulations with practical workshops on strategic communications and leadership frameworks, this program prepares leaders to tackle mission-critical issues together and advance their organizations’ strategic objectives through uncertainty and change.

The key pillars are:

• Leading through uncertainty and change
• Communicating with power and purpose
• Strategy and gaming
• Geopolitics and global insights

2026 Program Schedule

• Virtual Seminar (2:00 – 5:30 p.m. ET)
  • July 9
• Leadership Lab (at CSIS headquarters in Washington, D.C.)
  • July 13-16
• Change Challenge Sessions (Virtual, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. ET)*
  • July 22 OR July 23

* Dates and times subject to change.

Participants must attend the virtual seminar, the four-day, in-person Leadership Lab, and at least one of the two virtual closing sessions to obtain the program completion certificate. 

Eligibility

Corporate, nonprofit, U.S. and foreign government sponsors are invited to nominate up to three seasoned professionals driving strategy or policy analysis within the organization. Nominees should have at least 10 years of experience and the caliber to serve in senior executive positions. Nominees may be drawn from anywhere within the organization’s structure. Candidates may also apply directly.

How to apply

Use the button below to nominate a leader from your organization or to apply directly as an individual. Please complete your nomination(s) or application by May 15, 2026.