Certified Thought Leadership Producer

Join us for a dynamic, one-day certification course designed to equip you with the essential skills and competencies outlined in the Thought Leadership Standard from the Global Thought Leadership Institute (GTLI) at APQC. This course is designed for experienced professionals responsible for thought leadership production across the lifecycle – those who play strategic and operational roles in creating, managing, and advancing thought leadership. A critical feature of this course is the emphasis on introducing a defined, structured approach to thought leadership production, based on the Global Thought Leadership Institute (GTLI) Standard for Thought Leadership.

A defined, structured approach to producing thought leadership

Built on a standard.

AI has lowered the barrier to content creation, making it harder than ever to distinguish rigorous insight from noise. Organizations are investing heavily in thought leadership, yet many struggle to prove ROI, establish trust, and evaluate quality—while executives continue to rely on insights to guide high-stakes decisions.

Build consistency across teams, contributors, and projects
Strengthen the end-to-end production process (from ideation to sustained impact)
Ground your work in a proven framework and shared language

Learning Outcomes

After completing the GTLI Thought Leadership Producer certification, participants will be able to apply able to demonstrate their expertise in applying standardized approaches to thought leadership production in their own practice, including:

Apply a proven framework to develop and execute high-quality thought leadership across the value chain, with consistent results and demonstrable value.
Evaluate thought leadership readiness and future-state aspirations through the lens of the GTLI maturity model.
Demonstrate how the thought leadership lifecycle stages inform and guide the production of thought leadership content in an ever-changing landscape of emerging technologies.

Who Should Attend

Leaders and executives who oversee thought leadership strategy, operations, and research direction.
Subject matter experts (SMEs) who contribute specialized knowledge and shape organizational perspectives.
Researchers and analysts who design studies, conduct surveys, and translate data into actionable insights.
Writers and editorial content creators responsible for crafting narratives and producing high-quality thought leadership content.
Marketing and communications professionals who drive distribution, engagement and audience reach.
Thought leadership program managers who coordinate processes, workflows, and timelines across the life cycle.
Legal and compliance teams ensuring accuracy, authenticity, and credibility in all published thought leadership.
Individuals who identify as thought leaders or aspire to strengthen their expertise and voice.

Best for experienced professionals who already touch thought leadership and want a shared standard and operating model