In January, Organizational Effectiveness & Development (OED) proudly launched the fifth cohort of the Leadership 20XX program — Leadership 2036 — welcoming 20 talented leaders from across UCLA Administration.
This 18-month talent initiative is designed to align mid-level leadership development with UCLA’s future organizational strategy and direction. Leadership 20XX strengthens the administrative talent pipeline by growing critical leadership capabilities while increasing cross-functional understanding, visibility and organizational impact.
The Leadership 2036 cohort represents a dynamic cross-section of the organization, including participants from Digital & Technology Solutions, Facilities Management, Housing & Hospitality, the Office of the Administrative Vice Chancellor, Administrative Marketing & Communications and the UCLA Police Department. Bringing together leaders from diverse operational areas fosters meaningful collaboration and strengthens connections across UCLA Administration.
The first 12 months of the program focus on a structured curriculum centered on three core domains: leading the self, leading others, and leading the organization. After completing the first year of development, the final six months are dedicated to a cohort capstone project. During this phase, participants identify a meaningful organizational opportunity, often surfaced through shared dialogue and insight gained throughout the program, and work collaboratively to develop and implement recommendations. The capstone experience allows the cohort to translate learning into tangible impact while strengthening trust, problem-solving skills and collective leadership.
The program also promotes the visibility and exposure of internal talent to senior leadership, reinforcing UCLA’s commitment to developing leaders from within. By investing in mid-level leaders today, UCLA Administration is preparing for tomorrow’s strategic needs.
As Leadership 2036 begins its journey, this cohort joins a growing alumni network of Leadership 20XX graduates who continue to shape the organization in impactful ways. Together, they represent a sustained commitment to leadership excellence, collaboration and a shared responsibility for UCLA’s future.
Among them is John Buckley, facilities manager, hospital systems, who was part of the Leadership 2029 cohort. Buckley joined UCLA Facilities Management in 2016 as hospital systems manager and was promoted to UCLA Health in October 2025 to work at the new Stuart and Lynda Resnick Behavioral Health Campus, which is scheduled to open later this year.
“This latest endeavor is particularly exciting for me because I’ve been able to get back to my roots as a construction manager while the campus is under construction,” said Buckley.
Buckley said Leadership 2029 helped him identify his strengths and weaknesses and gave him insight into the similarities in the struggles all middle managers experience at UCLA. He said the program also gave him a much deeper understanding of emotional intelligence, which has helped him approach adversity productively and navigate disciplinary issues with his team in a balanced way, with an eye toward both empathy and accountability.
“I find this approach helps me to identify problematic behaviors before they get out of control. It has also helped me to read people in job interviews with much more clarity, resulting in good hires,” said Buckley, noting that he is greatly appreciative of the culture of professional development and support that he has experienced at UCLA.
