LeaderShape

LeaderShape is a four-day leadership retreat for NIU students, held annually as part of our commitment to developing strong, values driven leaders.

The 2026 retreat will take place January 5–8 at Casa Iskali in Des Plaines, Illinois.

This immersive experience is designed to help you:

• Build skills to help you lead with passion and integrity
• Explore your personal values and how they connect to your community
• Develop your vision for creating a more equitable and caring world

This year, Northern Illinois University is collaborating with the University of Illinois Chicago and Northeastern Illinois University to offer a shared LeaderShape experience for students across all three campuses.

Eligibility and Registration

Participation in LeaderShape is free. However, if you register for the retreat and do not end up attending, your student account will be charged $150. Registration will be open until spots are filled.

To register, you will need to create an account on the LeaderShape website. Once you have created an account you can finish your registration.

Registration is now open. Visit the LeaderShape website to register. The deadline to register is November 14, 2025.

Activities and Themes

You’ll participate in self-assessment, simulations and small group discussions led by trained facilitators, as well as other activities.

Each day focuses on a specific theme:

• Day one: Living and Leading with Integrity
• Day two: Challenging What Is, Looking to What Could Be
• Day three: The Value of One, The Power of All
• Day four: Living in Possibility

About LeaderShape

LeaderShape is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating transformational leadership experiences. They offer programs focused on developing confidence, integrity and care for community in participants. Thousands of people have benefited from their leadership retreats.

What Students Say about LeaderShape

“I highly recommend LeaderShape because it’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with like-minded students and build meaningful relationships. At the same time, it helps you develop your leadership skills in ways you might not have expected.” – Olivia King, Marketing

“I’ve learned that there is a strong collaborative aspect to leadership that is most easily employed when there are other folks interested in furthering the objective as well. Moving forward I plan to involve more people with any efforts for my student organization or events to have a more meaningful result.” – Nam Pham, Illustration

“I have been recommending this experience to all my peers, and those wanting more leadership involvement. This program truly changed how I acted as a leader and student on campus. I learned how to work well with others, advocate for myself in all aspects, and how to handle misunderstandings within my organizations in a respectful manner.” Inara Perryman, Political Science