How Kellogg’s Emerging C-Suite Leaders Program Accelerated Mike Lepper’s Growth

While serving as the CEO of Impact Networking for over a decade, Mike Lepper realized that to keep pace with the evolving market dynamics and customer expectations, he needed fresh perspectives and new skills. Through the Kellogg Emerging C-Suite Leaders Program, Mike gained the strategic perspective, high-performance leadership tools, and peer insights he needed to guide his organization in a fast-changing business environment.

“When you are making decisions like this around higher-level education, you need to look at the best, and Kellogg ranks right there at the top.”

—Mike Lepper

In this interview feature, Mike Lepper reflects on how the Kellogg C-suite leadership training program enabled him to continue raising the bar for his organization.

In Conversation With Mike Lepper

Q: What inspired you to join this Kellogg leadership development program?

Mike: I joined the program because our organization has always pushed to keep leveling up, and I knew we needed fresh ideas and external perspectives to continue progressing. I’ve been with Impact Networking since 2010, and while we have an incredibly loyal and experienced team, much of that experience is internal. I sought exposure to higher-level thinking and proven frameworks that I could apply to the business. Kellogg—with its strong reputation and history of delivering results for our team—seemed like the ideal place to gain that kind of advanced executive education.

Q: How important was the Kellogg brand in your decision to enroll?

Mike: The Kellogg brand was a major factor for me. When you’re choosing higher-level executive education, you want to learn from the best, and Kellogg consistently ranks among the top institutions in the country. I have always respected the prestige and the quality of leaders Kellogg attracts—people who have actually run businesses and bring real executive experience. We’ve also invested in Kellogg programs before and always seen a strong return, so continuing my development here felt like an easy, confident choice.

Q: How has the program supported your personal and professional growth?

Mike: The Kellogg Emerging C-Suite Leaders Program has helped me grow in both areas by pushing me to think differently and surrounding me with people who bring diverse experience and perspective. Being around executives who are smarter or more experienced in certain areas naturally makes you stronger as a leader. I picked up new frameworks and also reinforced things I knew but needed to revisit, and all of it has helped me better support my team. Since we want every mid-level manager and above to pursue executive-level education, this program has allowed me to set that example and bring those learnings back into the business.

Q: What specific learnings or aspects of the Kellogg C-suite leadership program were most valuable to you?

Mike: The frameworks were the most valuable part for me. I especially connected with the Five-Finger Rule, because I often see people trying to take on too much at once, and this reinforced the importance of focusing on just a few priorities that actually matter. I also appreciated the emphasis on execution—Kellogg’s idea that strategy is 10% and execution is 90% really aligned with how I operate. You can spend endless time researching and planning, but without execution, nothing moves forward. That reminder was powerful for both me and my leadership approach.

Q: What advice would you give other leaders considering the Kellogg Emerging C-Suite Leaders Program?

Mike: My advice is to invest in yourself because taking time for your own development will always pay off for you and your business. Even years after college, stepping back into a structured program like this gave me new clarity and tools I can use immediately. Surround yourself with people who challenge you, because being around leaders with broader experience pushes you to grow. And honestly, Kellogg is a world-class institution—every interaction reinforces the level of quality you are getting—so I would recommend it to any leader who’s serious about elevating their impact.

Program Highlights: Kellogg Emerging C-Suite Leaders Program

The Kellogg Emerging C-Suite Leaders Program is a seven-month hybrid leadership development program designed to prepare rising and current C-suite executives for the realities of enterprise leadership. It blends world-class faculty insights with practical tools to help leaders perform in high-pressure, high-stakes environments typical of the modern C-suite.

Even the most accomplished executives can unlock new levels of leadership perspectives, capabilities, and resilience with specialized guidance, and Mike Lepper’s journey through the Kellogg C-suite leadership training program is proof. For those ready to break through old barriers and lead with a fresh vision, Kellogg isn’t just a stepping stone—it is a launchpad for extraordinary impact at the very top.

Explore the Kellogg Emerging C-Suite Leaders Program for an enriching learning experience just like Mike Lepper’s.