Management Foundations Cohort Program 

The Management Foundations Cohort Program (MFCP) equips MIT people managers with the foundational leadership and management skills needed to excel in their roles.

About the Program

The MFCP was developed to meet the needs of new managers (both those who are new to managing and those who are new to the Institute) and provide an opportunity for experienced managers to refresh their essential skills. Topics include giving and receiving feedback, building trust and effective communication with direct reports, understanding performance development and developing strategic decision-making and delegation abilities. Practice sessions are interspersed with interactive workshops over the course of two months.  

MFCP participants will learn and practice relevant and useful tools for managing themselves and their direct reports more effectively and efficiently.  

Features

  • Cohort format to facilitate shared learning and peer engagement 
  • On-the-job application of program learning 
  • Tools and frameworks that participants can use to support their own growth and the development of their direct reports 
  • Practice sessions to consolidate learning and practice new skills and behaviors 

Schedule

Unless otherwise noted, the in-person sessions will be in NE49-5000 (MIT Human Resources).

Session Date Time and Location
Session 1:
Kickoff		 Tuesday, October 7 In person, 9:30 to 11 a.m.
Session 2:
Your Role as a Manager		 Tuesday, October 14 Zoom, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Session 3:
Understand and Manage Your Emotions		 Thursday, October 16 Zoom, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Session 4:
Receiving and Offering Feedback (Part 1)		 Tuesday, October 21 Zoom, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Session 5:
Building Trust with Your Direct Reports		 Tuesday, October 28 Zoom, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Session 6:
Practice Session		 Thursday, October 30 In person, 9:30 to 11 a.m.
Session 7:
Receiving and Offering Feedback (Part 2)		 Tuesday, November 4 Zoom, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Session 8:
Direct Report Communication		 Thursday, November 6 Zoom, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Asynchronous – Performance Review online module 
Session 9:
Performance Review Practice Session		 Thursday, November 13 In person, 9:30 to 11 a.m.
Session 10:
Decision-Making and Delegation for Managers		 Tuesday, November 18 Zoom, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Session 11:
Final Session		 Thursday, November 20 In person, 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Applying to MFCP

The application window for the 2025 cohort is closed. 

Have Questions?

Contact manager-foundations-admin@mit.edu.