Middle Manager Accelerator
Highly Targeted Leadership Experience for Managers Ready to Lead with Confidence
Middle managers sit at the center of communication, execution, and team culture—yet most are promoted without the training their role actually requires. The Middle Manager Accelerator is a 4-month, cohort-based program that builds the practical leadership skills organizations need and managers can use immediately.
4-month program • Monthly in-person sessions • Practical tools + Peer cohort • Built for working professionals
Applications are now closed!
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Who This Program Is For
- Emerging and mid-level managers
- Professionals leading people, projects, programs or cross-functional work
- Managers navigating “managing up,” accountability, and prioritization
- High-potential leaders preparing for their next career step
If you’ve ever thought “I wasn’t trained for this part of the job” – this program was built for you.
Program Investment
The Middle Manager Accelerator is a 4-month, cohort-based program designed for working professionals and the organizations that support them. Pricing is structured to support both organizations developing talent and individual managers investing in their own growth.
Investment options are available for:
-
Organizations sponsoring 1–2 managers, and
-
Individual participants applying independently
Pricing reflects the depth of the program experience, including facilitated sessions, tools, assessments, and peer cohort engagement.
A limited number of grants are available for Central Texas 501(c)3’s interested in sending individuals. Please contact us to learn more.
AYC Members
Founding cohort pricing
Community Members
Founding cohort pricing
Key Outcomes
Clear Communication
Reduce misalignment, misunderstandings, and last-minute escalations
Confident Leadership
Coach, delegate, and hold accountability without micromanaging
Sustainable Performance
Prioritize effectively and lead without burnout
Corporate Decision Makers
Develop confident middle managers who communicate clearly, lead effectively, and drive consistent execution across teams.
-
Stronger communication and fewer costly escalations
-
Managers who coach, delegate, and hold accountability
-
Reduced burnout and more consistent team performance
Designed for companies investing in leadership, retention, and workforce stability.
For Individual Managers
Build the confidence, clarity, and practical tools you need to lead your team without constant overwhelm.
- Navigate tough conversations with confidence
- Prioritize, delegate, and stop carrying everything yourself
- Lead your team effectively—even when things get messy
Built for working managers balancing people, priorities, and pressure.
Who is the ideal participant for this program?
Emerging and mid-level managers who oversee people, projects, programs, or cross-functional work. Participants should have at least one year of experience managing priorities or influencing others.
How is the program structured?
The cohort meets for four months in structured, monthly face-to-face sessions focused on communication, decision-making, coaching, prioritization, and leadership execution. Sessions are designed for immediate workplace application.
Can participants miss a session?
We recommend attending all sessions for continuity and impact. Make-up materials will be provided, and participants may review session summaries or exercises if an absence is unavoidable. Participants will be expected to complete any work missed during a session.
What happens if a participant leaves the organization/company during the program (and the company paid for their involvement)?
A replacement participant may be transferred into the program at no additional cost prior to Month 3. Replacement participants must complete the work missed in the prior sessions.
Does the program include assessments?
Yes. This program incorporates proven, research-informed assessments. Participants complete short leadership reflection tools throughout the program to track growth and gain insights into their communication, decision-making, and leadership behavior patterns.
Can organizations send more than one participant?
Yes. Many organizations choose to send a small cohort to strengthen collaboration and leadership alignment across departments. We request limited participation (1-3 participants) from a single company participate in the same cohort. However, if you would like to send more than 3 participants, please reach out to discuss options: ceo@austinyoungchamber.org
What is the time commitment?
Participants attend one structured, 2-hour learning session per month and complete short, practical application exercises between sessions (approximately 2 hours monthly outside regular meetings).
What outcomes can organizations expect?
Improved communication, clearer prioritization, stronger coaching, reduced conflict, better team accountability, and more confident leadership across departments.
How will we know participants are improving?
The program includes reflection tools, manager feedback prompts, and observable behavioral milestones that organizations can track over time.
- Personalized Insights Discovery Profile
- Ticket to the Austin Young Chamber’s LEAD Summit on Friday, May 8
- Monthly toolkits with frameworks, prompts, and how-to guides
- Practical application exercises between sessions
- Peer cohort experience with real-world leaders
- Online Community Platform to connect with cohort outside of sessions
- Certificate of Completion
- LinkedIn Badge to showcase your achievement
Dr. Stacy McCracken is a leadership strategist, organizational consultant, and founder of Impact and Lead, a leadership development firm focused on strengthening leadership capability through customized experiences, training, and coaching.
With a career spanning manufacturing, high-tech, and higher education, Dr. McCracken brings firsthand experience leading teams, navigating complex change, and translating strategy into operational reality. Her work centers on developing confident, adaptable leaders—particularly middle managers and emerging leaders who are responsible for results and people leadership but often lack formal development.
Dr. McCracken holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and a Doctor of Technology in Leadership, Technology, and Innovation from Purdue University, as well as an MBA from Auburn University. A certified leadership and business coach, Insights Discovery® Practitioner, and Stanford-trained design thinker, she blends research-informed insight with practical, experience-based application. She has designed and delivered leadership programs for thousands of professionals across for-profit and non-profit organizations in the U.S. and internationally.
Her approach emphasizes clarity, trust, and capability-building over theory or one-size-fits-all solutions.
What Organizational Leaders Say
“Stacy’s broad business background makes her a great resource for business and career coaching. She’s my first choice when I need C-suite-level, professional support.”
— Jen F., VP Sales, Executive Coaching
“Stacy drives to what is really needed and makes sure we’re working toward that end.”
— Karen R., CFO, Tech Sector
(Additional testimonials are available upon request.)
About Impact and Lead
Impact and Lead partners with organizations to strengthen leadership effectiveness, improve communication, and build the confidence required to lead through complexity and change. The firm specializes in leadership development for middle managers and emerging leaders—a critical population that directly influences engagement, execution, and retention.
Development experiences are designed to be:
- Grounded in organizational realities
- Backed by research and validated frameworks
- Immediately applicable to real leadership challenges
Programs integrate practical assessments, facilitated learning, and reflective tools, including Insights Discovery®, to help leaders better understand themselves, adapt to others, and translate insight into sustained behavior change.
Why This Partnership
Impact and Lead and the Austin Young Chamber share a commitment to developing confident, capable leaders at a critical stage in their careers. This program was developed collaboratively to address a persistent gap in leadership development: talented professionals stepping into greater responsibility without the support, tools, or confidence needed to lead effectively.
The program equips emerging and mid-level leaders with practical tools they can apply immediately—strengthening leadership capability across the Austin business community and supporting individuals, teams, and organizations as they grow.
- For Employers & HR Teams
-
Corporate Decision Makers
Develop confident middle managers who communicate clearly, lead effectively, and drive consistent execution across teams.
-
Stronger communication and fewer costly escalations
-
Managers who coach, delegate, and hold accountability
-
Reduced burnout and more consistent team performance
Designed for companies investing in leadership, retention, and workforce stability.
-
- For Individual Applicants
-
For Individual Managers
Build the confidence, clarity, and practical tools you need to lead your team without constant overwhelm.
- Navigate tough conversations with confidence
- Prioritize, delegate, and stop carrying everything yourself
- Lead your team effectively—even when things get messy
Built for working managers balancing people, priorities, and pressure.
- FAQs
-
Who is the ideal participant for this program?
Emerging and mid-level managers who oversee people, projects, programs, or cross-functional work. Participants should have at least one year of experience managing priorities or influencing others.
How is the program structured?
The cohort meets for four months in structured, monthly face-to-face sessions focused on communication, decision-making, coaching, prioritization, and leadership execution. Sessions are designed for immediate workplace application.
Can participants miss a session?
We recommend attending all sessions for continuity and impact. Make-up materials will be provided, and participants may review session summaries or exercises if an absence is unavoidable. Participants will be expected to complete any work missed during a session.
What happens if a participant leaves the organization/company during the program (and the company paid for their involvement)?
A replacement participant may be transferred into the program at no additional cost prior to Month 3. Replacement participants must complete the work missed in the prior sessions.
Does the program include assessments?
Yes. This program incorporates proven, research-informed assessments. Participants complete short leadership reflection tools throughout the program to track growth and gain insights into their communication, decision-making, and leadership behavior patterns.
Can organizations send more than one participant?
Yes. Many organizations choose to send a small cohort to strengthen collaboration and leadership alignment across departments. We request limited participation (1-3 participants) from a single company participate in the same cohort. However, if you would like to send more than 3 participants, please reach out to discuss options: ceo@austinyoungchamber.org
What is the time commitment?
Participants attend one structured, 2-hour learning session per month and complete short, practical application exercises between sessions (approximately 2 hours monthly outside regular meetings).
What outcomes can organizations expect?
Improved communication, clearer prioritization, stronger coaching, reduced conflict, better team accountability, and more confident leadership across departments.
How will we know participants are improving?
The program includes reflection tools, manager feedback prompts, and observable behavioral milestones that organizations can track over time.
- What's Included
-
- Personalized Insights Discovery Profile
- Ticket to the Austin Young Chamber’s LEAD Summit on Friday, May 8
- Monthly toolkits with frameworks, prompts, and how-to guides
- Practical application exercises between sessions
- Peer cohort experience with real-world leaders
- Online Community Platform to connect with cohort outside of sessions
- Certificate of Completion
- LinkedIn Badge to showcase your achievement
- About the Program Partner
-
Dr. Stacy McCracken is a leadership strategist, organizational consultant, and founder of Impact and Lead, a leadership development firm focused on strengthening leadership capability through customized experiences, training, and coaching.
With a career spanning manufacturing, high-tech, and higher education, Dr. McCracken brings firsthand experience leading teams, navigating complex change, and translating strategy into operational reality. Her work centers on developing confident, adaptable leaders—particularly middle managers and emerging leaders who are responsible for results and people leadership but often lack formal development.
Dr. McCracken holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and a Doctor of Technology in Leadership, Technology, and Innovation from Purdue University, as well as an MBA from Auburn University. A certified leadership and business coach, Insights Discovery® Practitioner, and Stanford-trained design thinker, she blends research-informed insight with practical, experience-based application. She has designed and delivered leadership programs for thousands of professionals across for-profit and non-profit organizations in the U.S. and internationally.
Her approach emphasizes clarity, trust, and capability-building over theory or one-size-fits-all solutions.
What Organizational Leaders Say
“Stacy’s broad business background makes her a great resource for business and career coaching. She’s my first choice when I need C-suite-level, professional support.”
— Jen F., VP Sales, Executive Coaching“Stacy drives to what is really needed and makes sure we’re working toward that end.”
— Karen R., CFO, Tech Sector(Additional testimonials are available upon request.)
About Impact and LeadImpact and Lead partners with organizations to strengthen leadership effectiveness, improve communication, and build the confidence required to lead through complexity and change. The firm specializes in leadership development for middle managers and emerging leaders—a critical population that directly influences engagement, execution, and retention.
Development experiences are designed to be:
- Grounded in organizational realities
- Backed by research and validated frameworks
- Immediately applicable to real leadership challenges
Programs integrate practical assessments, facilitated learning, and reflective tools, including Insights Discovery®, to help leaders better understand themselves, adapt to others, and translate insight into sustained behavior change.
Why This Partnership
Impact and Lead and the Austin Young Chamber share a commitment to developing confident, capable leaders at a critical stage in their careers. This program was developed collaboratively to address a persistent gap in leadership development: talented professionals stepping into greater responsibility without the support, tools, or confidence needed to lead effectively.
The program equips emerging and mid-level leaders with practical tools they can apply immediately—strengthening leadership capability across the Austin business community and supporting individuals, teams, and organizations as they grow.