Transits Next Leader Institute

Tuition: $2,500 Per Fellow; Does not include Travel or Housing
     Tuition covers in-person sessions 1, 3, & 6, breakfast & lunch, and sessions 1 & 6, dinner. Session 3 dinner is in your cohort groups and paid on your own. 

Application Closes December 12, 2025

Champion Endorsement Mandatory

You MUST be able to obligate yourself to the timeline below.  Plan accordingly, and your Champion should sign off on this timeline and make the time for you. 

Program Overview:
This program is open to mid-level and senior emerging leaders who are WSTA member organizations. A new class of 25 fellows is established each year to participate in this selective program. Fellows must be nominated by their agency or organization leadership and approved for participation.

TNLI fellows participate in a robust 8-month learning and development program that combines the most current expert leadership development with high-quality transit experts to provide a dynamic learning environment for transit leaders.

Synchronous Learning Sessions:
The backbone of the TNLI program is the six learning sessions that all fellows attend. These are a combination of in-person and virtual sessions. The program does not utilize the hybrid model – everyone attends in person for the in-person sessions, and everyone is virtual for virtual sessions.

Each session has a specific leadership theme and an emerging transit industry focus.

• Leadership Themes
• Emerging Industry Focus
• Leading Self
• Transit Fundamentals
• Leading Others

Fellows learn specific tools, practices and resources for each leadership theme that can be immediately implemented on the job. In addition, transit experts within the region and across the country attend as guest speakers on specific transit topics.

1:1 Leadership Coaching:
Coaching is a confidential 1:1 conversation designed to help individuals grow and develop as a leader. TNLI fellows receive 3, 1-hour coaching sessions during the program. Coaching sessions are customized for individual needs and can include support on understanding and applying program information, addressing a specific business challenge, building a strong leadership identity, interpreting assessments and other feedback tools, support, and guidance for the TNLI capstone project.

Peer Networks:
Peer networks are groups of 5-6 fellows who meet regularly throughout the program. Each fellow is assigned to a peer network and stays with that network throughout the program. During in-person sessions, peer networks meet with a structured agenda to provide coaching and support for each other. 

Online Learning Platform:
All fellows are provided free access to this platform. Learning assignments are posted before and after each learning session to help fellows prepare and reflect for the group sessions. Assignments include articles, worksheets, videos, and personal reflections that help fellows process topics and transfer learning to their everyday work routines.

TNLI Capstone Project:
Every TNLI fellow is required to complete a capstone project that benefits their organization and/or local community. Group projects are not permitted. Projects allow fellows to use the knowledge gained in this program and apply it to their agency or organization and community and present to their organizational leadership (Executive Team or Board) and at a Leadership Symposium sponsored by WSTA.

Project SharkTank:
Mid-way through the program, fellows participate in SharkTank. During this virtual session, fellows have 15 minutes to present their project concept to a “shark” (WSTA Board member, CEO or GM) and answer questions about the project purpose, approach, and viability. 

TNLI Leadership Symposium:
At the end of the program, two virtual events will be held where all the fellows will provide a 10–15-minute visual aid presentation on their Capstone Project. Fellows will then have 5 minutes for questions from the audience. This event is open to the transit industry, including agency or organization CEOs, Managers, and the private sector. There will be a pre-symposium Q&A to allow for fellows to ask questions regarding the format and get last-minute advice on their presentations.   

Important Dates and Locations:
The events below are mandatory to complete the program. We encourage you to build these into your work and personal calendar, especially the overnight in-person sessions. Champions should be aware of these dates and allow the time off without using vacation/PTO. Do note dinners for the in-person sessions 1, 3, and 6 are part of the program and are mandatory, and guests are not welcome to join.