Women's Executive Leadership Program
The Women's Executive Leadership (WEL) Program empowers business leaders of all genders to make a difference through a distinct professional development experience. Through facilitated discussions, executive forums, one-on-one coaching, and experiential activities, you will advance your leadership skills to drive organizational change.
Supportive Network
Leadership can feel lonely. Connect with leaders from various industries and backgrounds in a collaborative culture where every voice is heard. Together, you will share insights, overcome challenges, and celebrate success. If you want to grow as a leader and build a strong network, this program is for you.
Personal & Professional Growth
WEL pushes you to be confident in your personal and professional life. Discover a renewed sense of purpose in your career, meet leadership challenges head-on, and drive positive change. You will learn how to speak with confidence and clarity, lead with strategy and empathy, and welcome opportunities instead of hesitating. If you've ever questioned whether you're "ready" for a leadership role, WEL is your answer.
Invest in Your Organization
Why do our partners choose Duquesne University to empower their workforce?
WEL molds your executive team into confident and resilient leaders that inspire innovation.
When business leaders develop their skills in a holistic environment, they lead with
intention, resulting in a more resilient and productive workforce. Invest in your
organization today!
Tuition: $17,500 (limited discounts available)
Degree
Certificate
"People say knowledge is power, but I don’t think that's true. Knowledge is a
tool, but action is the true power. WEL renewed my confidence in myself and gave me
the courage to implement my leadership style. I’m already seeing the rewards of leaning
into my strengths."
The cohort meets monthly in person, except in January, which features a Zoom session.
Please note that dates are subject to change.
Tentative 2025-2026 Schedule
September 10-12, 2025 — Strong Leaders, Strong Stories | Kickoff Retreat: Seven Springs
October 16 & 17, 2025 — High Performance Leadership | Duquesne University
November 13 & 14, 2025 — Making Decisions and Getting Results in an Organization | Duquesne University
December 12, 2025 — Executive Presence and Personal Brand | Duquesne University
January 16, 2026 — Negotiation and Finance | Online (Zoom)
February 12 & 13, 2026 — Developing the Future and Graduation Celebration | Duquesne UniversityProgram Contact
David Fortna
2025-2026 Instructors
Featured content
Angela Arrington
Angela Arrington has over 20 years of experience in leadership coaching, training, and team development. She consults and serves as a leadership coach within clinical research, engineering/safety, real estate services, media/technology, defense/aerospace, and energy industries. She has worked with CoStar Group, General Dynamics, Parexel, Comcast, MSA Safety, and Equitrans Midstream. Angela is the former Director of Corporate and Executive Education at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, where she led the design and launch of the Women’s Executive Leadership Program (WEL). Prior to Duquesne, she had a rich career with Westinghouse in supply chain, new business development, and strategy. Angela holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from the University of Tennessee and a MS in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University. She and her husband, Michael, reside in Pittsburgh and have four amazing children.
David Fortna, MEd, PC
As the Director of Executive Education and Leadership Development at Duquesne University, David oversees the career and professional growth of One-Year MBA students and delves into the intricacies of leadership styles and their impact on management practices. His curiosity drives him to explore the nuanced differences between leadership and management, enriching his approach to guiding graduate students and executives toward success. Having previously served as Chief External Relations Officer at Sewickley Academy, David led initiatives in enrollment, brand engagement, alumni relations, and fundraising. With a consistent track record across prestigious institutions like Duquesne University, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Pittsburgh, David remains dedicated to driving strategic initiatives, amplifying brand presence, and fostering collaborative teams while advancing his understanding of effective leadership.
Amanda Gabarda, EdD, MPH
Dr. Amanda Gabarda is a dynamic leader, educator, coach, and advocate for health and well-being. With a diverse background spanning education, public health, and behavior change science, Dr. Gabarda offers a unique perspective on integrating health principles into leadership practices. Her expertise lies in designing and implementing coaching and education programs that empower individuals to achieve their highest potential in all aspects of their lives. Passionate about fostering resilience and longevity, she believes that health is our most valuable resource. Currently, Dr. Gabarda is the Senior Director of Clinical Training and Education for a healthcare organization where she is responsible for designing, scaling, and evaluating evidence-based training, quality assurance, and health behavior change interventions for health coaching and care management. She runs her own coaching and consulting practice, serves as adjunct faculty at multiple universities, and is an avid volunteer in the community.
Diane Ramos
Diane Ramos provides executive development and marketing advisory services to corporations and coaches women and minority-owned businesses. Across three decades, she taught graduate marketing, communication, and live problem-solving project courses at Duquesne University where she anchored the design, launch and management of a full-time MBA program that ranks among the best in the world for preparing graduates to manage social, environmental, and financial resources. She also served as Associate Director of Graduate Business Programs, led international study trips, coached MBA competition teams, and published on sustainability, curriculum design and communication topics. Her background includes a progression of management roles in multinational corporations where she oversaw new products, systems integration, and work culture defining efforts during mergers and acquisitions. Diane earned her BA and MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.
Michael Haid, MBA
Michael Haid is a successful senior executive who is well-versed in international business development, aligning talent strategy with business strategy, organizational and talent development, product innovation and management, marketing, sales, and business processes. He is a seasoned expert in integrated assessment and talent management systems and senior-level consulting. Michael is recognized as a thought leader in the talent management sector. He has been quoted in MSNBC, CNNMoney, Fortune, Industry Week, Human Resource Executive, Leadership Excellence, T+D Magazine, MSNCareers, HR Magazine, Toronto Globe and Mail, Canadian HR Reporter, Benefits Canada and HR.com.
Jennifer Kennedy
Jennifer Kennedy is an engaging and dynamic global trainer and coach who is dedicated to helping individuals use communication to achieve personal and professional success. She is an educator and trainer with over 20 years of experience supporting the K-12, education technology, nonprofit, and health care industries. She is a Credentialed ATD Master Trainer and holds an ACC credential from the International Coaching Federation. Her work involves partnering with organizations to improve team and interpersonal dynamics, consulting with organizations, delivering customized learning programs, and providing coaching engagements. Jennifer’s mission is to support individuals in tapping into self-leadership by using their authentic and unique voices. In acknowledgment of her work, she was awarded the HR One award in 2022 from UPMC for exemplifying UPMC values and the Teacher of the Year award in 2010 for excellence in teaching. She loves being outdoors and traveling and has visited all 50 states!
Susan Eppley
Susan Eppley is a Former Executive with Hewlett-Packard where she led teams selling and delivering major consulting, application implementation and outsourcing projects. She served as Executive-in-Residence in Marketing and Management for the School of Business for six years and is currently the Director of the Center for Leadership in Professional Selling.
Jessica Gusmar
Jessica Gusmar is the Director of Finance, Americas at MSA Safety, where she has held varying roles and increased responsibilities since 2011. In her current role, she leads a team that develops and executes the financial strategy, works with leadership on achieving both short-term and long-term financial success, identifies opportunities for growth while driving long-term profitability, and delivers data-driven insights to business and executive stakeholders. Additionally, she partners with the business to respond timely and appropriately to changing economic conditions and geopolitical affairs while considering resources, market drivers, organizational values, and emerging economic trends. A CPA by trade, Jessica joined MSA as an Internal Auditor after five years in public accounting. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh’s with a degree in Accounting and a Certificate in International Business.
Peter Gabriel, PCC, BCC
Peter Gabriel is President of Key Leadership LLC, a firm specializing in executive & team coaching and leadership development. Peter is a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation and helps C-suite executives, managers, and emerging leaders change their behaviors and develop skills to be more effective leaders. Peter has extensive experience in the corporate environment. Before Key Leadership LLC, Peter spent 19 years working with corporate clients at Vanguard, a global investment manager. Peter oversaw 12 teams with 4-5 employees each. His clients varied across diverse industries, such as financial, manufacturing, legal, and entertainment. Peter is the Co-Director of Duquesne University’s Professional Coach Certification Program and teaches Leading Change to Duquesne MBA students. He holds a doctorate in business administration from Drexel University and a doctorate in education from Creighton University.