Career Development

Registration Open: 2026 Emerging Leaders Alliance Conference

SPE will send seven young professionals to the 3-day intensive leadership training course. The registration deadline is 31 March 2026.

Leadership
The ELA Conference provides YPs with personalized leadership training for engineering professionals.
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Registration is open for the 2026 Emerging Leaders Alliance (ELA) Conference. Founded in 2008, the ELA Conference fosters leadership in the engineering and scientific community. 

The ELA Conference is a 3-day intensive leadership training course run in collaboration with seven leading engineering societies, including SPE. The conference will take place 14–16 September 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Each year, every partner society sends seven of its leading young professionals (YPs) to receive in-depth, personalized leadership training led by professional development coaches.

Candidates must be SPE YP members (under the age of 35). SPE will provide registration and accommodation during the event; however, successful candidates must be able to make their own travel arrangements, including visas, and obtain permission from their employer to travel.

Registration is open until 31 March 2026.

Interested participants can read about YPs' experiences at the 2024 ELA Conference and 2025 ELA Conference.