The Emerging IT Leaders Boot Camp (EITL BC) is a fully virtual 4-week program designed for the public sector’s IT workforce with a focus on developing critical skill areas required for our future IT leaders. This is an exciting opportunity for those who are interested in growing and expanding their leadership skills.

Candidates for the EITL BC should be working, at minimum, within the IT Supervisor I or II classifications (or similar classification levels within our cities and counties) or should be serving in a demonstrated lead capacity. Those who have recently promoted into a new IT managerial position, and/or those who are new to supervision or management within State service are also ideal candidates for this program.

While the program can be viewed in some ways as a “pre-IT Leadership Academy (ITLA),” it certainly can be completed as a standalone experience. In addition, while completion does not guarantee a spot within our traditional ITLA program in the future, it serves as excellent preparation if this is a future goal.  

Finally, potential registrants should not view this program as a “mini-ITLA.” Those who possess more significant supervisory/managerial experience (three years or more) are encouraged to apply for ITLA instead, or, if they still choose to attend this program, do so with the understanding that they will be in the company of students with significantly less knowledge and experience since the curriculum for the EITL BC has been specifically designed to meet the needs of those newer to supervision or management in the public sector.

The program cost is $3,500.

This cost does not include a 22% cost distribution fee charged by the Department of Technology (CDT) which is our standard practice and will be included in the direct billing to the student’s department. For more detailed information regarding this additional charge, please see CDT’s Service Rates webpage.

All training sessions will be conducted online using Zoom as the remote delivery platform. Participants are expected to have a functioning camera and microphone and should commit to attending all class sessions.

The delivery model incorporates courses that will be taught by experienced vendor partners and IT executives. Throughout the program, participants will learn and grow through contributions to group discussions, shared experiences, and exposure to critical concepts impacting government entities, such as the state’s budget, IT project and IT procurement processes, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, and presentation skills.

To assist with planning, the Program Schedule and Calendar will be provided to all students who have successfully registered for this year’s EITL BC once the program is full. Registrants should carefully review these documents with the understanding that exceeding the maximum number of allowable absences in the program (1) will result in being withdrawn.  

Participants will complete courses intended to increase their knowledge, skills, and abilities in a variety of areas. Experiencing these carefully selected classes as a cohort also provides the opportunity for participants to develop a strong network of like-minded, passionate individuals across many unique departments and state entities who are committed to strengthening their foundational leadership skills.

There are 20 spots available in this program, and participants must currently be serving in a supervisory, managerial, or demonstrated lead capacity. Before registering for this program, participants must secure permission from their direct supervisor/manager and should discuss the commitment level involved. Interested participants should register via the California Department of Technology’s (CDT) open registration process.

Questions about the EITL BC can be directed to WFD@state.ca.gov. Questions regarding the open registration process can be directed to training@state.ca.gov.

What is the cost for the EITL BC?

The cost for the 2025 EITL BC is $3,500 per student and is paid for by their department/agency.

This cost does not include a 22% cost distribution fee charged by the Department of Technology (CDT), which is our standard practice and will be included in the direct billing to the student’s department. For more detailed information regarding this additional charge, please see CDT’s Service Rates webpage.

When does the EITL BC start and end?

The EITL BC starts on October 6 and ends October 31, 2025.

How many class sessions are scheduled each week?

Participants should expect to be in class 4 days per week, for the duration of the program. The Office of Professional Development (OPD) will send all registered participants the Program Schedule and Calendar for planning and discussion with their supervisors once the roster has been finalized.

What are the technical requirements for attending, and how will sessions be conducted?

All participants should possess a microphone and camera for virtual sessions.

The EITL BC will be using Microsoft Teams to serve as the communication hub for the program and to house all course documents, and Zoom will be the medium for delivery. Therefore, participants must be able to access these platforms.

What are the core hours for the EITL BC?

The core hours for the training are 9am – 3:30pm. In order to verify connectivity, class sessions will open at 8:30am. Participants are also encouraged to log in to sessions early to network and chat with one another.

Do I need to have supervisory or managerial experience to register?

The EITL BC has been developed to target those who are currently in a new IT supervisory/managerial position or serving in a demonstrated leadership capacity. Therefore, the curriculum has been chosen to include topics that are of most interest to those who are newer to these roles and wish to strengthen their skill set. More experienced supervisors and managers (three years of experience or more) are encouraged to apply for the IT Leadership Academy (ITLA) or register for this program with the understanding that they will be in the company of students who are less experienced.

What topics are covered in the curriculum?

The course topics have been carefully selected to provide valuable knowledge, skills, and abilities critical for the state’s up and coming leaders. Below is a tentative course listing for the 2025 program, which includes either full or half-day sessions to address these topics. Please note that course topics may be subject to change and that circumstances beyond our control may require adjustments to the program schedule. In addition, it is important to note that refunds will not be provided after the onset of the program (see below for further details on our refund policy).

• Leadership Foundations
• Emotional Intelligence
• Organizational Change Management
• Conflict Resolution
• The State’s Budget Process
• Decision Making and Communication
• What Leaders Need to Know About IT Projects*
• What Leaders Need to Know About IT Procurement*
• Presentation Skills
• Maximizing Performance
• Data Communication
• SOQ Improvement*
• Interview Skills Improvement*

(*2 or 3-hour sessions)

Will I be expected to complete assignments outside of my regular schedule?

While the majority of class sessions will not involve any advance preparation or pre-work, some instructors may assign short reading assignments or activities to be completed before a class session. These should take no longer than 30 minutes to complete, at most. The Presentation Skills class will also require the preparation of a speech before the session so there is significantly more time allowed for feedback and discussion during class time.

What if I want to register and the program is full?

Once the EITL BC is filled, a waitlist will be created. In the event someone drops, the first person on the waitlist will be offered a spot in the program.

Do I have to attend all the remote training sessions to remain in the program?

The EITL BC was designed to be a compact experience; therefore, a great deal of curriculum is covered within its 4-week timeframe. As a result, a considerable time commitment is expected and required for this program upon enrollment. We understand that absences are unavoidable (e.g., illness) but the maximum allowable absences is one. Students who exceed this limit will be withdrawn from the program.

Due to the rigor associated with this program, interested participants are strongly encouraged to have a frank conversation with their immediate supervisor about the commitment level associated with this program and the likelihood that their workload will need to be redirected.

If I drop out of the program after it starts or if I am withdrawn due to excessive absences, will my department receive a refund?

Participants who wish to drop out must do so no later than ten business days before the program’s start date or your department will be charged the full program amount. Those who drop from the program less than ten days from the program start date, or who are withdrawn due to excessive absences, will also incur charges to their department for the full amount of the program.

Where do I direct my questions?

Boot camp questions can be directed to WFD@state.ca.gov. Questions regarding the open registration training process can be directed to training@state.ca.gov.

What if I need a reasonable accommodation?

The OPD is dedicated to providing an inclusive, welcoming environment for all academy and boot camp students. If a student accepted into the program needs a reasonable accommodation, s/he should make this request as soon as possible to allow our team sufficient time for planning and preparation before the start of the program.