Provide high-impact development at a fraction of the cost of many leadership programs.
Recognize and invest in your top emerging leaders.
Retain top talent by showing them you value their growth and future potential.
The Greater Brookfield Chamber of Commerce presents the Rising Stars Program, in partnership with Better Culture — a professional development experience built specifically for young professionals and early-career employees.
This program helps participants strengthen their leadership skills, deepen their emotional intelligence, and understand how their actions contribute to a thriving workplace culture.
Better Culture’s 20 Tenets of Culture offer practical, research-based guidance that employees can apply immediately in their day-to-day interactions.
Learn more about Better Culture here: https://betterculture.com/
This high-impact program includes eight interactive sessions throughout spring 2026, giving early-career employees practical tools to positively impact their organization from day one.
The 2026 Rising Stars cohort will meet in person on the following dates:
February 19, 2026
March 5, 2026
March 19, 2026
April 2, 2026
April 16, 2026
April 30, 2026
May 14, 2026
May 28, 2026
Sessions focus on leadership development, communication, accountability, and building strong workplace culture using the Better Culture framework.
Tuition for the 2026 Rising Stars Program:
$655 — GBCC Investors
$855 — Non-Investors / Guests
Tuition includes all eight sessions, program materials, and access to Better Culture’s 20 Tenets of Culture curriculum.
All sessions will be held at the GBCC Office; 8:30AM -10:00AM
The Rising Stars curriculum is built around Better Culture’s 20 Tenets of Culture, a proven framework used by organizations nationwide to strengthen workplace culture.
Participants will explore topics such as:
Being coachable and open to feedback
Building trust and accountability
Effective communication and collaboration
Developing an ownership mindset
Strengthening personal leadership habits
Growing influence through integrity and respect
Participants will leave with actionable insights that improve how they lead, communicate, and contribute to team success.
The Rising Stars Program includes:
Eight interactive, discussion-based sessions
Facilitator-led conversations and guided reflection
Exposure to Better Culture’s 20 Tenets of Culture
Practical tools and take-home exercises
Networking with peers from other organizations
Real-world application of leadership principles
Growth in communication, confidence, and emotional intelligence
The 20 Tenets curriculum helps participants build stronger professional and personal relationships, increase self-awareness, and better understand how their actions shape workplace culture.
Great workplace cultures are strengthened not only by leadership, but by engaged employees at every level. The Rising Stars Program helps emerging leaders become those culture-builders.
In partnership with Better Culture.
John Burke, PhD, is a Certified StoryPathing™ Coach who works in partnership with the Narrative Research Group. His academic career focused on Classical languages, literature, and history, providing a strong foundation in critical thinking, communication, and leadership development.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Burke has taught in a wide range of learning environments, including high school and collegiate classrooms, as well as international settings in Rome. This breadth of experience has shaped his ability to engage learners at different stages of their professional and personal growth.
John’s longstanding passion for teaching, mentoring, and helping individuals discover their potential makes him a natural fit to facilitate the Rising Stars program. In his current coaching practice with Odyssey Coaching Group, he draws on decades of experience supporting individuals across athletics, music, and academics, guiding them to build confidence, purpose, and leadership capacity.