We’re excited to have you join us! Please read this entire page as it includes key information about the program.

NextUp’s Leading with Financial Fluency is an accelerated, four-week learning experience designed to build confidence in financial thinking and enterprise-level decision-making. Through hands-on case work, CEO-led discussions, and collaborative learning, you’ll practice applying financial frameworks to real business scenarios and strengthen your ability to engage in strategic conversations.  Rather than focusing on theory alone, this program emphasizes application—equipping you with practical tools, structured frameworks, and executive insight you can immediately use to evaluate business performance and inform decisions.

Important Note: This is a fast-paced program. Participants are encouraged to dedicate the outlined time each week to fully engage and get the most value from the experience.

Program Outcomes  By participating in Leading with Financial Fluency, you will be prepared to:

• Interpret and connect core financial statements
• Apply the NextUp 3R Financial Framework (Revenue, Ratios, Return on Invested Capital)
• Analyze business performance and trade-offs with greater confidence
• Contribute more effectively to strategic, data-driven discussions
• Strengthen an enterprise-level financial mindset across roles and functions
• Use AI-enabled tools to support financial analysis and inform decision-making

Making the Most of Your Experience

To ensure you get the most out of Leading with Financial Fluency, we encourage you to fully engage in each component of the program. Below are a few ways to maximize your learning:

• Complete the pre-work on time. The self-directed pre-work builds shared financial language and prepares you for live discussions and case work.
• Attend the Optional Pre-Work Walkthrough. A facilitated walkthrough of the pre-work, get clarity on key concepts, and start the program feeling confident and prepared.
• Come prepared for live sessions. These sessions are highly interactive, come ready to think, discuss, and practice executive-level decision-making in real time.
• Actively participate in group collaboration. Case analysis and peer discussion are central to applying concepts and deepening insight.
• Bring real business questions. Think about current challenges, decisions, or financial conversations where these tools could be applied.
• Reflect and apply between sessions. Small, intentional application during the program strengthens confidence and retention.

Program Details

Virtual Session Calendar Holds 

We understand that calendars fill up quickly, and advance planning is essential. Please take a moment to click on the links provided below to download the .ics files for all virtual sessions and add them to your calendar. See the schedule above for virtual session dates and times.  Once downloaded, save the file and follow your calendar application’s guidelines for importing them. Alternatively, each virtual session can be accessed with the following meeting information:

Zoom Meeting Details

Important: This program includes two separate calendar holds and two different Zoom meetings.

Pre-Work Walkthrough (Optional)

Monday, March 9, 2026 | 1:00-2:00 PM ET
Zoom Link: https://newonline-org.zoom.us/j/89005957166
Meeting ID: 890 0595 7166
One tap mobile
+12063379723,,89005957166# US (Seattle)
8884754499,,89005957166# US Toll-free

Program Sessions (Sessions 2–4)

 This Zoom link will be used for all program sessions.

Wednesday, Mar 11 | 12:00 -2:00 PM ET
Wednesday, Mar 18 | 12:00 -2:00 PM ET
Wednesday, Mar 25 | 12:00 -2:00 PM ET
Zoom Link: https://newonline-org.zoom.us/j/81242524145
Meeting ID: 812 4252 4145
One tap mobile
+12063379723,,81242524145# US (Seattle)
8884754499,,81242524145# US Toll-free

Virtual Session Descriptions

Week 1: Self Directed Pre-Work

Wednesday, March 4 – Tuesday, March 10

In this self-paced pre-work, you’ll build familiarity with key financial terms, concepts, and the components of the Business Report Card, creating a foundation for topics explored during the live sessions.

Pre-Work Walkthrough (Optional)

Monday, March 9 | 1:00-2:00 PM ET

Start your financial fluency journey strong! This optional, facilitated session walks through the pre-work, answers questions, and helps you build a solid foundation in the key concepts and tools, so you’re confident, prepared, and ready to lead with financial insight from day one.

Week 2: Live-Hosted Session

Wednesday, March 11 | 12:00-2:00 PM ET

In this interactive, CEO-led session with Lisa Baird and George Fotiades, you’ll hear how executives evaluate financial statements, assess business performance, and make strategic decisions. Together, we’ll explore how financial data reveals a company’s health and future direction, and how you, as a leader, can ask smarter questions, frame better decisions, and drive sustainable growth.

Week 3: Group Working Session

Wednesday, March 18 | 12:00-2:00 PM ET

In this session, you’ll put financial fluency into practice. In this hands-on session, you’ll collaborate with your pre-assigned group to analyze a Case Study, apply financial frameworks, test strategic thinking, and align on clear, data-informed recommendations.

Week 4: Debrief & Insights Session

Wednesday, March 25 | 12:00-2:00 PM ET

In this lively, dynamic, and fast-paced final session, you’ll present your case recommendations and pressure-test them through an executive lens. Together, we’ll examine tradeoffs, surface leadership insights, and apply frameworks and tools to connect financial decisions to real-world business impact.

Program Access & Learning Platform: NovoEd

You will receive a “Welcome to NextUp Leading with Financial Fluency- Spring 2026!” email from NovoEd, our learning platform, sent from: noreply-lwff_sp26@novoed.com on March 3, 2026.

NovoEd is your central hub for the program journey. Within the platform, you’ll access program content, key resources, discussion boards, and direct links to weekly live Zoom sessions—all in one convenient space. The platform also provides opportunities to engage with peers and build meaningful connections throughout the program.

Questions or Concerns? 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at learning@nextupisnow.org.