Global Leadership Institute

What Global Leadership Institute does

Global Leadership Institute (GLI), operated by A Leaders Company, is a private Winnipeg-based leadership development company founded in 2013 as the Lean Leadership Institute by George Trachilis and Dr. Jeffrey K. Liker, and rebranded under its current name in 2018. The firm delivers a proprietary Leadership Development Model (LDM/LLDM) — a two-phase framework grounded in Toyota Way and Lean philosophy — through a catalog of 12 active individual courses (with 8 in development), leadership coaching, EQ-i 2.0 / EQ 360 assessments, custom enterprise programs, and two multi-tier certification tracks.

Its core technology stack comprises a proprietary Learning Management System (course.aleaderscompany.com) that supports scheduled cohort delivery, 1:1 coaching, self-paced video, quizzes, and certification tracking. Content is delivered by a global network of ICF-certified coaches spanning 4 continents and 8 languages, with co-founder Jeffrey Liker contributing 25+ hours of video content. The curriculum is anchored by Shingo Prize-winning IP and a belt-level certification ladder (Yellow through Master Black) with an online re-certification mechanism at $195 USD.

GLI operates a hybrid revenue model spanning one-time course licenses ($899–$6,499 USD), hourly coaching ($150 USD/hour in 5/10/20/40-hour packages), enterprise custom programs (starting at $9,950 USD), and multi-year certification contracts (starting at $17,950 USD for 125+ hours; an 18-month Advanced Leadership Certification covers 300+ hours). Customers include both individual professionals pursuing certifications and enterprise clients in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, financial services, construction, and professional services (e.g., ESPEC North America, TransX, Trailer Wizards, SRAM, RUAG, KBC, PCL Construction). The company is bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding, has 11–50 employees, and serves markets in Canada, the US, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Morocco, and Brazil (in development).

Name

Global Leadership Institute

Legal name

Global Leadership Institute

Website

https://aleaderscompany.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Global Leadership Institute is a Winnipeg-based private leadership development company that delivers Lean and Toyota Way-based training, coaching, assessments, and multi-tier certifications to individuals and enterprises globally through a proprietary LMS and a 4-continent network of ICF-certified coaches.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Leadership Development Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate & Leadership Development (BPACANAA), Executive Education & Corporate Programs (Non-degree) (EDAHAHAN), Talent Management & Leadership Advisory (Succession, Performance, Culture) (BPACAJAH)

Keywords

• Leadership development training
• Executive coaching services
• Lean Six Sigma certification
• Corporate leadership programs
• Professional certification courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Course Sales: GLI sells individual leadership courses ranging from $899 to $6,499 USD. Courses span Lean Introduction, Lean Practitioner, Developing Lean Leadership (Levels 1-3), Lean Six Sigma (White through Black Belt), Toyota Business Practice, Emotional Intelligence, and others. Delivered via scheduled cohort sessions or non-scheduled self-paced formats.
2. Leadership Coaching Services: ICF-certified coaches provide hourly leadership coaching at $150 USD per hour, with packages of 5, 10, 20, and 40 hours available. Coaching addresses developmental barriers at any organizational level.
3. Leadership Assessment Services: Assessment programs using EQ-i 2.0 and EQ 360 tools to provide insights on emotional intelligence, leadership skills, and risk tolerance, starting at $360 USD. Includes pre/post assessments for certification programs.
4. Leadership Certification Programs: Two certification levels: Leadership Certification (125+ hours, starting at $17,950 USD) and Advanced Leadership Certification (300+ hours over 18 months). Programs include multiple required and elective courses, coaching, assessments, and improvement projects.
5. Custom Programs for Organizations: Tailored leadership development programs for organizations, starting at $9,950 USD. Includes branded content, organizational needs analysis, and turnkey deployment.
6. Book Sales (Bulk): Bulk sales of three books: 'Developing Lean Leaders at All Levels' ($1,497.50 for 50 copies), 'OEM Principles of Lean Thinking 2nd Edition' ($1,347.75 for 50 copies), and 'Standard Work is a Verb' ($897.75 for 50 copies). Available in multiple languages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Global Leadership Institute delivers leadership development programs built around its proprietary Leadership Development Model (LDM), combining ICF-certified coaching, EQ-i 2.0 assessments, individual courses, and dual-tier certification programs. Offerings span short single courses (from $899 USD) to 300+ hour Advanced Leadership Certification (from $17,950 USD) and customized enterprise programs (from $9,950 USD), delivered globally via a proprietary Learning Management System across 8 languages with a network of certified coaches on 4 continents.

Product overview

Global Leadership Institute offers a comprehensive leadership development ecosystem built around its proprietary Leadership Development Model (LDM). The core offering consists of five interconnected service pillars: Leadership Coaching (ICF-certified), Leadership Assessments (EQ-i 2.0 and EQ360), Individual Courses (20+ courses ranging from $899-$6,499), Custom Programs for Organizations (starting at $9,950), and Leadership Certification programs (starting at $17,950). The product portfolio includes structured courses like Lean Introduction/ Practitioner (Levels 1-2), Developing Lean Leadership (Levels 1-3), Lean Six Sigma certifications (White through Black Belt), Toyota Business Practice, and specialty courses on Emotional Intelligence, Coaching, and Strategy Deployment. The institute also offers an online Learning Management System with self-paced options and published books including the Shingo Prize-winning 'Developing Lean Leaders at All Levels'. All offerings are delivered through certified coaches with global reach across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Leadership Coaching ICF-certified coaching services available in 5, 10, 20, and 40-hour packages that provide personalized leadership development support for leaders at any organizational level.
• Leadership Assessments EQ-i 2.0 (Workplace and Leadership reports) and EQ360 assessments for evaluating emotional intelligence, leadership skills, and development needs, starting at $360 USD.
• Individual Courses A la carte leadership courses ranging from 4 hours to 20 weeks in duration, covering self-development, coaching, continuous improvement methodologies, and strategy, delivered live online in virtual classrooms.
• Custom Programs for Organizations Tailored leadership development programs designed for specific organizational needs, accommodating groups of 10-100 participants with online, onsite, or hybrid delivery, starting at $9,950 USD.
• Leadership Certification Comprehensive certification program with EQ-i 2.0 assessments, three required courses, three elective courses, and 125+ hours of coaching, starting at $17,950 USD.
• Advanced Leadership Certification 18-month intensive certification for emerging leaders including 300+ hours of coaching, 3 improvement projects, coaching sessions for staff, and three leadership assessments, starting at $17,950 USD.
• Lean Introduction: Level 1 Entry-level continuous improvement course covering Lean principles, Toyota Way, waste elimination, visual management, 5S, and standard work, with 16 hours of theory and application-based coaching at $1,999 USD.
• Lean Practitioner: Level 2 Intermediate Lean course reinforcing Level 1 theory with an experiential applied project, covering visual management, 5S implementation, process mapping, and strategy deployment at $3,799 USD.
• Developing Lean Leadership - Level 1 Foundational leadership development course based on the Leadership Development Model (LDM) and the Shingo Prize-winning book, covering leadership values, self-development, coaching techniques, and team alignment at $1,799 USD.
• Developing Lean Leadership - Level 2 Advanced leadership course focusing on Phase 2 of the Leadership Development Model with coach-supported project, including 25+ hours of theory and 20-31 hours of coaching at $3,799 USD.
• Developing Lean Leadership - Level 3 Highest-level leadership course with 40-44 hours of coach-supported theory and application-based coaching at $6,499 USD, focused on philosophy and values-based behavioral change.
• Toyota Business Practice (TBP) Problem-solving methodology course introducing Toyota values and a structured 8-step approach, covering root cause analysis, countermeasures, and process monitoring at $2,499 USD.
• Lean Six Sigma: White Belt Introductory Lean Six Sigma course covering Six Sigma methodology basics, Lean Enterprise concepts, and process definition fundamentals at $899 USD.
• Lean Six Sigma: Yellow Belt Entry-level participant course covering Six Sigma fundamentals, waste identification, process mapping, and statistics foundations at $1,799 USD.
• Lean Six Sigma: Green Belt Intermediate Lean Six Sigma course for project leaders covering DMAIC phases, process improvement, and team leadership at $3,799 USD.
• Lean Six Sigma: Black Belt Advanced Lean Six Sigma course preparing leaders to mentor others on projects, covering hypothesis testing, Design of Experiments, and statistical process control at $6,499 USD.
• Art of Coaching Leadership coaching course teaching frameworks for inspiring motivation and growth, covering coaching models, questioning techniques, and emotional intelligence at $3,799 USD.
• Emotional Intelligence Focused Mindset Course building on leadership fundamentals for recognition and use of emotions, including EQ-i 2.0 personal evaluation and 19 hours of coaching at $1,999 USD.
• Goal Setting & Self-Reliance Goal achievement course based on the Harada Method, covering motivation harness, purpose evaluation, and 5-step goal setting with 18 hours of coaching at $2,799 USD.
• Importance of Vulnerability Leadership course exploring vulnerability and trust-building, covering self-deception, ego's role, and creating collaborative environments at $1,599 USD.
• Strategy Deployment Strategic planning course teaching alignment of company goals with employee actions, covering strategic tools, change management, and organizational flexibility at $1,999 USD.
• Facilitation Style and Techniques Course training leaders to manage group discussions with focus, respect, and empowerment, covering session preparation, group dynamics, and consensus strategies at $3,799 USD.
• Creating a Leadership Mindset Course centered on the Four Mindsets framework for influencing and motivating high-performance teams, covering emotional intelligence, whole brain thinking, and engagement at $1,999 USD.
• The Art of Storytelling Communication course teaching leaders to influence through stories, covering storytelling frameworks, business storytelling, and organizational narrative at $1,999 USD.
• Developing Lean Leaders at All Levels - Certification Program Coach-centric online course with the Leadership Development Model (LDM), including 25+ hours of video content by Jeffrey K. Liker and a 12-week applied project component at $499 USD.
• Standard Work is a Verb (Book) Book by John Allwood on Lean Standard Work perspective, chronicling history from Taiichi Ohno's methods through Western manufacturing, available in bulk orders of 50 copies.
• Developing Lean Leaders at All Levels (Book) Shingo Prize award-winning book by Jeffrey K. Liker on Lean leadership development, available in bulk orders of 50 copies in English, German, Dutch, Spanish, Korean, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and Mandarin.
• OEM Principles of Lean Thinking 2nd Edition (Book) Book by George Trachilis based on the online course for the Government of Canada, which educated over 300 organizations and 100,000 students from 60 countries, available in bulk orders of 50 copies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000 students educated globally across 60 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jeffrey K. Liker (Liker Lean Advisors / Toyota Way Academy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Dr. Jeffrey K. Liker, retired professor at the University of Michigan and author of 'The Toyota Way', is a co-founder of the Lean Leadership Institute (2013). He collaborated with George Trachilis to create the Leadership Development Model and the Shingo Prize-winning book 'Developing Lean Leaders at All Levels'. He continues as a thought leader and key content contributor, providing video content (25+ hours) and ongoing academic credibility to GLI's programs.
• George Trachilis (Co-Founder)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013George Trachilis is co-founder and past CEO (2013-2017) of the Lean Leadership Institute, which later became the Global Leadership Institute. He collaborated with Jeffrey Liker to create the Leadership Development Model and co-authored Shingo Prize-winning book 'Developing Lean Leaders at All Levels'. He also authored 'OEM Principles of Lean Thinking' and produced the Government of Canada online course that reached 100,000 students.
• TransX Group of CompaniesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013TransX Group of Companies is a transportation and logistics company where Chad Bisko (current CEO of GLI) serves as VP Maintenance and Procurement. This dual role creates a practical testing ground for GLI's leadership methodologies and a reference customer for the coaching programs.
• Norman Bodek (The Godfather of Lean)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Norman Bodek, known as the 'Godfather of Lean', encouraged George Trachilis to adopt a deeper understanding of Lean stretching back to Toyota's origins. Bodek's mentorship contributed to the development of the Leadership Development Model and GLI's foundational philosophy.
• Government of CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006The Government of Canada commissioned George Trachilis to create an online course teaching Lean principles. This course educated over 300 organizations and eventually reached 100,000 students globally. It became the basis for the book 'OEM Principles of Lean Thinking' and established GLI's predecessor's global reach.
• Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology (MITT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChad Bisko, CEO of GLI, serves as an Instructor at MITT, creating an educational partnership that extends GLI's leadership development reach into institutional education.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• FranklinCovey: FranklinCovey is a publicly-traded broad leadership and organizational performance provider offering The 7 Habits, leadership development, and enterprise training. It competes with GLI's custom enterprise programs and individual courses, but at much larger scale and across many frameworks beyond Lean.
• DDI (Development Dimensions International): DDI is a global leadership and talent development firm offering assessment, training, and coaching at enterprise scale. It competes with GLI in the leadership certification, assessment, and enterprise custom program categories, but with a much broader portfolio and substantially larger sales organization.

Direct peers

• Center for Creative Leadership: CCL is a globally recognized leadership development research and training institution offering executive education, assessment, and coaching. It is comparable to GLI's Advanced Leadership Certification and coaching portfolio in target buyer (mid-to-senior leaders) and methodology (assessment-driven leadership development).
• Ken Blanchard Companies: Ken Blanchard Companies is a long-established leadership development and training provider built around the Situational Leadership model. It overlaps with GLI's leadership certification and coaching offerings and serves a comparable enterprise buyer seeking structured leadership programs with named thought leader credibility.
• Lean Enterprise Institute: Lean Enterprise Institute is the most direct peer to GLI, providing Lean methodology education, training, and certification to individuals and organizations globally. Both organizations serve overlapping audiences interested in Lean transformation and operational excellence content, though LEI emphasizes Lean enterprise broadly while GLI focuses on Lean leadership development.
• Gemba Academy: Gemba Academy is an online Lean and continuous improvement training provider offering self-paced courses and certification programs. It competes most directly with GLI's Individual Courses catalog and LMS-delivered Lean Six Sigma belt-level certifications, though at lower price points and a broader operational excellence scope.
• TBM Consulting Group: TBM Consulting Group provides Lean and operational excellence consulting and leadership development programs to manufacturers and supply chain organizations. It directly competes with GLI's enterprise custom programs serving manufacturing, aerospace, and logistics clients.
• Crucial Learning: Crucial Learning (formerly VitalSmarts and Crucial Conversations) combines leadership, communication, and performance training with research-based content. It overlaps with GLI's Art of Coaching, Emotional Intelligence, and Importance of Vulnerability courses and serves a similar enterprise and individual leadership development buyer.
• Liker Lean Advisors: Liker Lean Advisors is owned by GLI co-founder Dr. Jeffrey K. Liker and offers Toyota Way consulting, executive workshops, and the Toyota Way Academy. It overlaps directly with GLI in Lean leadership education and is effectively a sister entity competing for the same Lean leadership training buyer.

Emerging players

• Shingo Institute: The Shingo Institute awards the Shingo Prize and offers workshops, conferences, and the Shingo Academy for operational excellence education. It is both a credentialing body for GLI's award and an adjacent education provider whose workshops overlap with GLI's Lean leadership curriculum.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lean-leadership-institute
• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Global-Leadership-Institute/pfbid0

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Global Leadership Institute