About The Men’s Leadership Academy
The Men’s Leadership Academy exists to support the development of men who are willing to take responsibility for how they live, lead, and participate in the world.
We work with men who sense that traditional models of leadership — based on performance, control, or status — are insufficient for the challenges of contemporary life. At the same time, we reject reactionary or simplistic responses that substitute grievance or certainty for reflection and accountability.
Our work is grounded in a different premise - that leadership begins not with techniques or authority, but with how a person shows up — in conversation, in commitment, and in moments of challenge.
The Academy was created to offer a serious developmental environment where men can examine assumptions, interrupt limiting patterns, and cultivate leadership rooted in integrity, clarity, and responsibility. This is not about fixing men or telling them who to be. It is about creating the conditions for growth, maturity, and meaningful contribution.
We believe that when men develop these capacities, the impact extends beyond individual lives — strengthening families, communities, and civic life.
Our Approach
The Men’s Leadership Academy is grounded in an experiential approach to leadership development.
Rather than focusing primarily on advice, techniques, or self-improvement strategies, we work with the underlying assumptions, language, and habits that shape how men perceive situations and take action. When these foundations shift, new choices and results become possible.
Our work emphasizes:
Practice over theory — learning is applied directly to real situations
Inquiry over instruction — men are invited to examine assumptions rather than adopt answers
Responsibility over blame — agency is reclaimed without judgment
Accountability without coercion — commitments are honored because they matter
This approach creates leadership that is durable rather than performative, and personal development that is integrated rather than episodic.
The Academy’s work is intentionally relational. Leadership is not developed in isolation, but through conversation, reflection, and engagement with others who are equally committed to growth and integrity.
The Work We Do
The Men’s Leadership Academy offers multiple entry points into the work, each designed to support men at different stages of development while remaining grounded in the same core commitments.
The Leadership Course
A foundational program that introduces the core distinctions of ontological leadership and supports men in shifting how they show up in the areas of life that matter most. [Learn more →]
The Mentorship Program
An ongoing leadership environment for men who want to deepen and embody the work over time, applying leadership as a lived practice to real, current challenges. [Learn more →]
Small-Group Classes
Focused, experiential classes that allow men to work intensively on specific areas such as emotional reactivity, authenticity, communication, and life transitions. [Explore classes →]
Men Forward Advocacy
A public-facing initiative that extends the Academy’s commitments into civic and cultural life, supporting healthier expressions of masculinity, leadership, and responsibility in the broader community. [Explore MFA →]
About the Founder
The Men’s Leadership Academy was founded by Stu Faigen, whose work over several decades has focused on leadership development, experiential education, and the cultivation of integrity-based action.
The Academy reflects a long-standing commitment to creating environments where men can examine how they show up, take responsibility for their lives, and develop leadership that is grounded rather than performative. This work draws from multiple traditions of ontological inquiry, adult development, and group-based learning, while remaining practical and applicable to real-world challenges.
While the Academy has grown into a collaborative effort with multiple stakeholders, the founding intention remains central: to offer serious developmental work that respects men’s intelligence, honors their capacity for growth, and invites them into meaningful contribution.
The role of the founder within the Academy is not to serve as an authority figure, but as a steward of the work — responsible for maintaining its integrity, coherence, and depth.
Our Commitments
The Men’s Leadership Academy is guided by a set of commitments that shape how the work is offered and how the community is held.
We are committed to:
Integrity — honoring our word and taking responsibility for impact
Seriousness of Purpose — treating leadership and development as consequential, not casual
Respect for the Individual — engaging men as capable, complex, and accountable
Depth over Scale — prioritizing quality of engagement over expansion
Contribution — supporting leadership that serves families, communities, and civic life
These commitments are not aspirational statements. They are practices that guide decisions, shape programs, and define the culture of the Academy.