Program Development
The Leadership Intensive was created by Toni Gagliardi, an education innovator with over 12 years of experience designing transformative educational programs. Toni's own formal education was completed with the honors college at Arizona State University, Johns Hopkins University, and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Her professional experience in educational program development includes partnerships with top institutions such as NASA, Intel, the Phoenix Suns, and several universities.
Toni's passion for empowering young leaders was ignited during her research under Nobel Laureate Dr. Leland Hartwell, where she studied the elements and drivers of leadership and success in high-achieving students. Motivated by her findings, Toni designed The Leadership Intensive to equip ambitious high school students with the skills, experiences, and mindsets needed to thrive in college and beyond.
Program Information
Five weeks | 30 hours | March 15 - April 19
Designed to fit into students’ school-year schedule in the Greater Phoenix Metro Area
Week 1: Students participate in a two-day weekend kick-off focused on personal storytelling and Impact Asset design, solidified over the week
| Saturday & Sunday sessions: 4 hours each | Tuesday & Thursday after-school sessions: 90 minutes each
Weeks 2-4: Participants bring their Impact Asset to life through after-school workshops, peer feedback sessions, and 1:1 mentoring
| Tuesday & Thursday after-school sessions: 90 minutes each | Weekend 1:1 check-ins: 30-60 minutes each
Week 4: Students receive a personalized Recognition Campaign that showcases their work and story to relevant audiences and opportunities
| Ad-hoc meeting with parent/guardian depending on Recognition Campaign: 20-45 minutes
Week 5: The Leadership Intensive culminates in an Impact Symposium where students present their leadership journey and project achievements
| Tuesday & Thursday after-school sessions: 90 minutes each | Saturday Impact Symposium: 2 hours
The program is currently offered at a special Spring 2025 rate of $935 (regularly $1,250), with an additional $100 discount available through student referrals and financial assistance options for eligible families. There is no application fee and tuition is not collected until student acceptance.
Application Requirements
Students
Must be a high school junior or senior
Currently have a cumulative 3.4 GPA or higher (shown in transcript)
Submit between 250 - 400 words total answering:
What do you hope will be your unique contribution to the world?
Describe a time when you demonstrated leadership. What motivated you and what was the outcome?
Parents/Guardians
Submit no more than 7 sentences on what makes your teen an emerging leader and why they would benefit from this Leadership Intensive.
Must be available to attend the Impact Symposium at the end of the five-week cycle.