Leadership Academy
Success Begins Here
A year-long experience designed to cultivate strong, compassionate leaders within the funeral and deathcare profession.
Grow the Leader Within.
We'll Show You How.
Our Leadership Academy begins November 17, 2025, and continues for 12 months. Registration opens in late June.
Our Women’s Leadership Academy exists to grow women’s leadership abilities and address the unique needs and challenges women experience in the death care and funeral profession so they can become successful future leaders, managers and owners.
Years
This academy begins with a yearlong experience. Once the first year is completed, there’s an option to continue on to a second year.
Year One
Year One focuses on students growing and improving themselves and their own leadership attributes and skills.
Year Two
Year Two focuses on students becoming effective communicators and learning how to lead, develop, and support others.
Year Two registration will open in December of each year. Completion of year one of the academy is required to advance to the second year.
Tracks
Attendees will choose to follow either Track One or Track Two during Year Two.
Track One
Track One is for those desiring to manage teams and to become managers or are managers.
Year Two Tracks
Track Two is for those whose desire is to improve their skills in managing people and to learn to become owners in the future. This track is also designed for attendees who are already owners and wish to refine their leadership and management skills.
This yearlong experience begins with an exclusive kickoff event on Nov. 16 in Scottsdale, Arizona, before our Wellness Summit Nov. 17 – 19.
Meet the Dean of the Leadership Academy
Kristen Ernst is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and the Owner and Operator of the Center for Hope and Healing, LLC, a mental health facility dedicated to providing support to individuals navigating grief and traumatic loss. With a deep commitment to fostering healing, Kristen has developed specialized programs aimed at assisting those who have experienced profound loss, including grief from suicide, Covid, opioid addiction, child loss, miscarriage, and more.
Throughout her career, Kristen has been a trailblazer in creating aftercare programs for funeral homes across the country. She has facilitated grief support groups for various types of loss, including Survivors of Suicide Loss, Widow and Widower Support, Heroin and Opioid Loss, and Child and Infant Loss. In addition to facilitating virtual and in-person groups, she has presented Memorial Services for the community, including Holiday Remembrance Programs, Veterans Day Programs, and Seeds of Hope Programs.
Kristen has also served as a keynote speaker and presenter at numerous conferences and events within the funeral service and hospice industries, including the Greater St. Louis Hospice Organization Conference and the Women in Funeral Service Program at Selected Independent Funeral Homes. As a contributor to leading funeral industry blogs and podcasts, Kristen has played a pivotal role in educating and raising awareness about grief and loss.
Her dedication extends to community outreach, where she has spoken at national events such as the National Share Organization for Infant and Pregnancy Loss and served as a retreat director for the Angel Moms Organization. Kristen is also a passionate advocate for suicide prevention and mental health awareness, contributing to podcasts and programs focused on these critical issues.
As an expert in bereavement and trauma recovery, Kristen’s unique blend of clinical expertise and community-based support has made her a trusted leader in grief counseling and mental health advocacy.
In her role as Dean of the Women’s Leadership Academy, Kristen brings her decades of experience to support the development of rising leaders in funeral service. She helps women strengthen their leadership through meaningful learning experiences by sharing insights, tools, and strategies that empower them to lead with empathy, clarity, and resilience. Whether through group workshops, one-on-one coaching, or tailored training sessions, Kristen creates spaces where women can grow both personally and professionally. Her compassionate and practical approach helps others lead with confidence while supporting families and communities through life’s most difficult moments.
Event Highlights
Meet the people coming together to unleash the power of women in the death care and funeral profession. Our team is composed of dedicated advocates from inside and out of the death care profession, who bring decades of experience in their fields to ensure our women get the support they need.
Sign Up
Get on the early-bird list to receive registration information and updates about our Wellness Summit.
Take the Next Step in Your Leadership Journey
Ready to grow, lead, and make a difference? Join the Funeral Women Lead Leadership Academy and connect with a community of ambitious women dedicated to professional excellence and personal transformation. Register now to secure your place in this transformative program.
