Online Training

Dharma Institute

Mindful Leadership Training

This certificate training program is open to and designed for leaders and aspiring leaders in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. We will cultivate mindful and compassionate leadership skills and practices to embody our care for ourselves and others, with a mindset of service to community and the world. A core pedagogical approach of this program is participating in and co-learning with a supportive community of like-minded peers both in the large group and small group monthly meetings. Through lectures, group discussion, guided meditations, readings, reflections, experiential exercises, and personal meditation practice, we will cultivate skills and behaviors that can be applied directly to our personal and professional lives. Developing and incorporating these intentional practices, we will strengthen professional relationships and workplace environments, expanding our impact beyond our own learning for the broader benefit of our work and organization(s).

Teaching Team

Nikki Mirghafori, PhD

Nikki Mirghafori, PhD

Teacher

Nikki Mirghafori, PhD, is a Buddhist teacher and Artificial Intelligence scientist. She was empowered by the living Burmese meditation master Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw, with whom she practiced the jhanas and detailed analytical vipassana. She serves as a Stewarding Teacher and on the Board of Directors at Spirit Rock.

Marc Lesser, MBA

Marc Lesser, MBA

Teacher

Marc Lesser is a CEO, executive coach, and Zen teacher. He founded and was CEO of 3 companies, and helped develop a mindfulness program inside of Google's headquarters. He is the author of Finding Clarity. Marc was a resident of the San Francisco Zen Center for 10 years.

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