HLI and IHF Partner to Invest in the Next Generation of Healthcare Leaders Worldwide

The second edition of the Leader-as-Coach professional leadership development programme officially began in May, bringing together 20 emerging healthcare leaders from around the world through the International Hospital Federation’s (IHF) Young Executive Leaders (YEL) Alumni Network.

Sponsored by the Healthcare Leadership Institute (HLI), participants were selected through a competitive application process to take part in this transformational learning experience designed to strengthen leadership and coaching capabilities in healthcare.

The Leader-as-Coach Academy combines six interactive two-hour sessions delivered throughout the year with mentoring and coaching circle activities that create space for reflection, growth, and real-world application. Through the programme, participants will gain practical tools and frameworks to develop effective coaching relationships, strengthen communication and active listening skills, facilitate learning and growth, support accountability, and guide others through meaningful professional development conversations.

As part of the experience, participants will actively coach fellow healthcare leaders, applying their learning in real time while expanding their impact within their organizations and communities. Throughout the programme, participants will also pay it forward by providing pro bono coaching, extending the impact of the experience beyond the cohort itself and creating meaningful development opportunities for other leaders in healthcare. Graduates who successfully complete the programme requirements will earn the Certified Leader-as-Coach (CLAC) designation.

Building on the success of the inaugural cohort, this second edition reflects the continued commitment of both the International Hospital Federation and HLI to developing emerging healthcare leaders worldwide.

For HLI, this programme represents more than professional development — it is an investment in the future of healthcare leadership and a reflection of its broader purpose: impacting humanity through uncommon leadership. By sponsoring this initiative, HLI is paying it forward for the next generation of leaders across the globe, creating opportunities for emerging healthcare professionals to access world-class leadership development, strengthen their ability to lead with purpose, and multiply their impact within the communities they serve.

Together, IHF and HLI continue to create meaningful opportunities for leaders to grow not only in capability, but also in their ability to empower and develop others — helping shape a stronger, more connected future for healthcare leadership around the world.