Mid-Career Accelerator Program (MCAP)  

Sponsored by:

Fueling the Journey: Developing HR Professionals for What's Next

Who:
MCAP is designed for HR professionals who are ready to move their careers forward and are preparing to step into the next level.

What:
A cohort-based professional development program built by HR professionals, for HR professionals. MCAP blends group learning, peer and professional career coaching, and sessions led by industry experts focused on the most critical topics HR leaders face today.

Time Commitment:
Manageable 8 one-hour virtual sessions, complemented by a small number of in-person meetings featuring expert panels and facilitated discussions designed to support growth without overwhelming already full schedules.

Why:
MCAP creates value at both the individual and organizational level. For participants, the program builds self-awareness, confidence, and practical leadership capability—helping HR professionals grow into expanded roles with clarity and credibility. For organizations, MCAP strengthens internal leadership capacity, improves decision-making, and reduces reliance on outside consultants and resources by developing trusted, business-ready HR leaders from within.

Credits:
Participants may earn up to 12 continuing education credits.

Applications for the 2026 cohort are now open! 

Visit the MHSHRM table at the Denver SHRM Conference to learn more, ask questions, and explore whether MCAP is the right next step in your leadership journey.

Program Cost: 

• Member Price: $750
• Non-Member Price: $1,000

MCAP is designed to be accessible and reflective of the value provided through coaching, expert-led sessions, and cohort-based learning. Many participants receive organizational support or professional development funding by requesting support from their company’s leadership. A support letter is available to help guide that conversation. Financial assistance may be available upon request.

Encourage your organization to support you with this template: MCAP Support Letter (click to download).  

Applications for the 2026 cohort are OPEN!  Individuals who have applied will be notified.

Speakers & Coaches

Speakers: Jeremy Edmonds, Tracy Graf, Dayanne Izmirian,  AJ Lauer, Emily Tishner, and Courtney Murphy

Coaches: Yvette Costa, Gillian Faith, AJ Lauer, and Rachel Lucas

2025 Cohort

Learn more about our 2025 participants.

MHSHRM  Mid-Career Accelerator Program for HR Professionals 

Fueling the Journey: Strengthening Self, Skills & Stewardship

Fueling the career journey isn’t about speed it’s about clarity, sustainability, and knowing when to pull over so others can take the wheel.

Foundations of Modern Leadership: Redefining What Great Managers Do

Stop 1 on the Journey: Checking the Engine, because before you hit the road, you need to know how your engine runs.

-Upgrading your leadership operating system
-Leadership truths grounded in organizational psychology
-Ethics, credibility, and earning a seat at the table

Introducing Your Imposter Monster: Understanding and Reframing Imposter Syndrome

Stop 2 on your Journey: Quieting the Dashboard Warning Lights, those warning lights don’t mean the car is broken—they mean it’s time to pay attention.

-Why imposter syndrome shows up
-Reframing self-doubt as a growth signal
-Turning inner resistance into strategic awareness

High Impact Communication

Stop 3 on your Journey: Learning the Rules of the Road, clear signals prevent collisions.

-Communication styles and self-awareness

-Assertive clarity through I-messaging

-Feedback that builds trust and drives performance

-Real-world HR application

Relationships, Influence & Organizational Dynamics

Stop 4 on your Journey: Navigating Traffic & Taking the Right Exits, It’s not just about the destination—it’s about how you move through the system.

-Building strategic relationships

-Understanding informal power networks

-Managing up and personal branding

-Influence as trust currency and how it earns you a seat at the table

Thrive in Success: Sustainable Performance for Emerging Leaders

Stop 5 on the Journey: Rest Stops, Refueling & Sustainable Speed, you don’t win a road trip by never stopping.

-THRIVE factors for professional wellbeing

-Boundaries as leadership behavior

-Aligning values, purpose, and performance

-Designing sustainable success—for yourself and others

Strategic Contributor: Maximizing HR’s Business Impact

Stop 6 on the Journey: Reading the Map Like a Strategist, knowing where you’re going—and why—changes how you drive.

-Business acumen for HR leaders

-Data and analytics as decision tools

-Building business cases and securing buy-in

-Translating HR insight into business value

Leveraging AI to Optimize Organizational Effectiveness

Stop 7 on the Journey: Using Smart Tech & Navigation Tools, technology doesn’t drive for you—but it can help you avoid wrong turns.

-Practical AI tools for HR today
-Ethical considerations and bias awareness
-Using AI to amplify—not replace—human judgment
-HR’s role as steward of responsible innovation

Expand Your Role: Leading People, Projects & the Future of HR

Final Destination of the Journey: Passing the Keys & Charting What’s  Next, leadership is about preparing others to drive, not just holding the wheel.

-Leading through change and uncertainty
-Stewardship of people, culture, and decisions
-Developing others and expanding influence
-Closing the journey on earning—and sustaining—a seat at the table

Applications for the 2026 cohort are now open! Apply Here!

Individuals who have applied will be notified.

MCAP Testimonials

"Providing me with examples via classroom instruction or just listening to others in the group allowed me to realize my worth and professional expertise to become an advocate for myself. I initially thought, I will go through this class and think about where in my career I want to be next. However, and fortunately, I switched jobs one month in and that was the best move I could make. I am a much stronger HR professional now than what I was prior to the class starting. Thank you for this opportunity!" - Karen Piper, PHR/SHRM CP, HR Manager for Tipping Point Solutions 

"The MCAP program helped me build a community of HR professionals to learn from and engage with. As a department of one for most of my career community is vital. I also believe this program really helped me grow my confidence level and improve my interactions with C-Suite level leaders at my company and other organizations. I have been taking more risks, more chances and benefiting immensely." - Ashley Rawling Director of People and Purpose FBC Remodel 

"Mile High SHRM's MCAP had a profound effect on my career and personal development. Each month, we had the opportunity to learn new ways of thinking and challenge our assumptions on what it takes to be a human resources leader. The connections made are ones I'll value throughout my career and the lessons have helped me to grow and open myself up to new and exciting possibilities." - Meghan Kandel, HR Manager at McREL International 

Past MCAP Cohorts

Learn more about our 2025 participants.

Learn more about our 2024 participants.

Learn more about our 2023 participants.