Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY)

Building Leadership Capacity

The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) aimed to develop a comprehensive Leadership Development Program to prepare over 3,600 supervisory personnel to lead the agency’s uniformed and civilian membership in a complex, high-stakes, and diverse public safety environment. The Department sought a scalable internal capacity to foster an inclusive, well-functioning teamwork culture. It also wanted to sustain the program autonomously in the years ahead.

Challenge

Cora Group and its partners designed a Leadership Development Program tailored to FDNY specifications and unique workplace contexts and situational challenges. Four foundational leadership principles guided the initiative:

  • Authentic Leadership

  • Cultural Awareness

  • Compassionate Conflict Resolution

  • Effective Communication

The program, grounded in adult learning theory and best practices in organizational development, incorporated a robust Train-the-Trainer component for continuity beyond initial implementation. Cora Group's interdisciplinary team then facilitated experiential learning and dialogue among FDNY members across ranks.

Solution

The program helped FDNY build a shared leadership language and skills-based practice, laying the groundwork for a leadership culture centered on trust, inclusivity, and adaptability. By aligning leadership practices with FDNY’s mission and values, supervisory personnel gained tools to meaningfully:

  • Facilitate inclusive team learning and mentoring

  • Foster psychological safety and cross-cultural understanding

  • Integrate diverse perspectives into everyday problem-solving

  • Lead with clarity, empathy, and strategic intent

This work positioned FDNY to sustain a high-performing, inclusive work culture where members are equipped to meet today’s public safety challenges and to develop tomorrow’s leaders.

Outcome