Today’s leaders—whether in schools, businesses, or community organizations—face unprecedented uncertainty. Traditional solutions no longer meet the complex challenges they encounter.
As a result, innovation in leadership has never been more critical. Those who drive real change are the ones who question outdated practices, think creatively, and turn bold ideas into actionable solutions.
The NYU Doctor of Education (EdD) in Leadership and Innovation equips forward-thinking professionals to lead with impact across education, business, government, healthcare, and nonprofit sectors. The program empowers students to grow both personally and professionally, welcoming those ready to think critically, apply their learning, and lead with purpose in their own communities and organizations. As alum Dr. Keane Johnson (22’) told incoming students, “This journey is not just an academic one—it’s a transformational one.”
Turn Bold Ideas Into Meaningful Organizational Change
Challenge the Status Quo Through Leadership and Innovation
What Does It Mean to Lead with Innovation?
Leading with innovation goes far beyond adopting new technologies. It means questioning outdated systems, applying research to real-world challenges, and developing creative solutions to complex problems. Innovative leaders identify what’s no longer effective and experiment with ideas that drive progress. Crucially, they also reimagine how an organization’s culture and structure can better support growth and change.
“A lot of what we’re going to do in Organizational Theory I is talk about how you move your culture forward—unpacking an organizational culture and thinking about the type of leader you want to be,” explains Dr. Jennifer Hawkins, faculty member in the NYU EdD program.
Students in the program apply these concepts to their professional settings. They explore leadership styles and develop strategies tailored to their organization’s needs.
The NYU EdD Approach: Blending Research with Real-World Impact
A hallmark of the NYU Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation is its emphasis on applying research directly to professional practice. Rather than stepping away from their careers, students engage in a Problem of Practice (POP)—a real challenge within their own organization—throughout the program.
The POP anchors each student’s academic and professional development. Throughout their coursework, students collaborate with faculty and advisors to continuously develop, analyze, and polish their chosen challenge, progressively moving it toward execution with every class. This hands-on approach enables them to test ideas in real time and develop research-based solutions that drive tangible results.
“It’s in real time—being innovative, not just theory… actually applying it along the way and seeing it flesh out,” according to NYU EdD student Juliet Neal.
By grounding learning in real-world problems, the POP framework equips students to become impact-driven leaders who can drive meaningful change in their organizations.
Stories of Innovation from NYU EdD Students and Alumni
Students in the NYU Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation program have applied their research and leadership skills in diverse ways to drive real-world change:
- Dr. Gisele Castro (EdD ’25) used her POP to strengthen her criminal justice reform work, refining a court advocacy model that helps judges vacate serious felony offenses and expand access to higher education for young people.
- Dr. Holly Halmo (EdD ’25) used predictive analytics in her POP to scale academic advising in higher education, helping more students stay on track.
Each student brings a unique perspective and purpose to the program, creating ripple effects across their organizations. As Dr. Halmo told incoming NYU EdD students, “You’re the butterfly effect. You being in this room is going to change the course of your organization.”
How the Program Cultivates an Innovative Mindset in Leaders
Innovation isn’t learned from a textbook. It emerges through collaboration, experimentation, and the freedom to test new ideas. The NYU Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation fosters this mindset by developing leaders who think critically, act courageously, and tackle complex challenges with creativity and purpose.
At NYU, a leader is someone who champions change and diversity while applying evidence-based solutions to strengthen communities. The program cultivates this leadership approach through several key elements:
- Interdisciplinary cohort model: Students from diverse backgrounds share unique perspectives, sparking dialogue and ideas that drive innovation across sectors.
- Faculty mentorship: Experienced faculty challenge conventional thinking to promote innovation while serving as student mentors and advocates.
- Research-driven application: From day one, students work on real-world problems, applying research directly to their professional settings.
In her keynote address to new students, NYU alum Dr. Nancy Lee Sánchez-Badillo (EdD ’21), a higher education leader with over 20 years of experience advocating for first-generation and underrepresented students, reflected on the power of the program. “This doctoral program allowed me to really take on the challenges that come with knowing something—trying to find a solution, having the data, and proving it,” she said.
Dr. Sánchez-Badillo shared how she has leveraged data and determination to advocate for community college students, challenging elitist assumptions in higher education and proving these students can thrive and even outperform their peers.
Her story highlights how NYU’s EdD program empowers leaders to challenge entrenched systems and utilize research as a catalyst for meaningful change.
Build Leadership Skills With an NYU EdD
Innovative leadership across public, private, and social sectors requires continuous learning, adaptability, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. The NYU EdD in Leadership and Innovation is designed to promote leadership in education, healthcare, nonprofits, public and governmental organizations, and for-profit companies.
Whether you’re asking, ‘What is educational leadership?’ in a broad sense, or evaluating the best leadership style in education, corporate, or healthcare spaces, this program offers the tools to find your answers through hands-on learning, real-world application, and collaborative support.
Graduates are equipped to lead change across diverse leadership tracks. The program brings together senior leaders—including chief executive officers, chief learning officers, military officers, and directors of behavioral health or educational assessment—from varied backgrounds, including:
- For-profit companies and healthcare organizations
- Higher education, Pre-K–12 schools, and districts
- Nonprofit, philanthropic, public, and governmental organizations
Students acquire the skills to demonstrate strong leadership in education and organizational strategy, enabling them to lead with purpose in any setting where they aim to make a positive impact.
Ready to take the next step? Start your application for the NYU Steinhardt EdD in Leadership and Innovation. To learn more about how the program can shape your leadership journey, connect with an enrollment advisor today.