Elevate+

Elevate+: a live virtual leadership development program for leaders of leaders at GitLab, focused on strengthening leadership identity, mastering GitLab business acumen, building and executing team strategy, maintaining effective cross-functional partnership, and efficient change management.

Leaders at GitLab enable our mission that everyone can contribute. We need to equip our people leaders with the skills to lead globally dispersed, all-remote teams to support our business growth at scale.

This page outlines the current format of Elevate+,

Duration & Format:

5 Executive Discussion Workshops (60 minutes each)

Individual coaching sessions (4-5 sessions, 60 minutes each, flexible scheduling)

Workshop Topics:

1. Communicating the Vision

2. Inclusive Leadership in Action

3. Managing Up to the C-Suite

4. Crafting Successful Strategies

5. Mobilizing Teams Around Strategy

Workshop Detail:

Communicating the Vision: A compelling vision means nothing if it isn’t clearly communicated. This executive-level discussion empowers senior leaders to translate bold ideas into actionable direction by effectively communicating a strategic vision. Participants will explore the VISION Cascade, a structured approach to articulating impact, aligning stakeholders, and inspiring commitment across the organization.

Inclusive Leadership in Action: The most effective leaders don’t just talk about inclusion—they model it daily. This executive-level discussion challenges senior leaders to examine how their everyday behaviors shape inclusion, trust, and collaboration across teams. Through guided reflection and a leadership self-audit, participants will identify patterns that either reinforce or hinder inclusive practices at the individual, interpersonal, and systemic levels.

Managing Up to the C-Suite: This executive-level discussion focuses on the critical leadership competency of managing up; an essential driver of organizational influence and strategic alignment. Effective upward communication and collaboration are vital for accelerating initiatives, shaping company direction, and fostering stronger executive partnerships.

Crafting Successful Strategies: This executive-level discussion explores effective strategy development, focusing on strategic clarity, assumption testing, and risk mitigation. Through discussions, case studies, and hands-on exercises, participants will learn to define strategy, conduct TOWS analysis, and pressure-test assumptions to ensure success.

Mobilizing Teams around Strategies: This executive-level session empowers senior leaders to close the gap between strategy and execution by effectively mobilizing their teams. Participants will explore what true mobilization looks like—and why it’s essential for driving business results, boosting engagement, and sustaining momentum. Using a guided self-audit, leaders will assess their current practices across four key pillars: gaining buy-in, securing commitment, managing resources, and driving aligned execution.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does success in Elevate+ look like?

To earn the final Elevate certification, participants must:

1. Attend or makeup all live sessions
2. Complete all async intersession work

Is my participation in Elevate+ required?

Yes, this and Elevate are both a required training for all people leaders at GitLab.

Where do I communicate my questions, concerns, and feedback as I go through the program?

When the program begins, you’ll be added to a Slack group that includes all members of your cohort. You can also reach out directly to your manager or the Learning and Development team.

I missed, or cannot attend, a live session. What do I do?

It’s a requirement to make up missed sessions within each month to ensure that you’re learning each new skill and moving through the program in the appropriate order. Please make every effort to attend live sessions as scheduled. Please reach out to your Learning and Development team for any questions.

We’re committed to working with you to find a solution that let’s you successfully complete Elevate. If you must miss one live session for personal reasons, you need approval from your manager. Additional missed sessions will result in an incomplete Elevate status.

When I complete this program will I earn a certificate?

Yes! Upon successful completion of the program, including attendance to all required live sessions, asynchronous learning participation, and Executive coaching sessions, participants will be awarded the GitLab Elevate+ certification.