Have a rising star on your team? The free Accelerate program offers mid-level professionals the mentorship and exposure they need to advance
If you’re a senior-level incentive planner looking to develop your team—and maybe even line up your eventual successor—the IRF Accelerate program offers a golden opportunity to support and elevate the emerging leaders in your ranks.
Run by the Incentive Research Foundation, (IRF) this year-long professional development initiative is tailor-made for mid-level professionals (typically at the manager level) who are ready to deepen their industry involvement, sharpen their skills, and expand their network.
The 2026 IRF Accelerate cohort will include 8–10 talented individuals from across the incentive ecosystem—program owners, third-party planners, and suppliers—who will participate in a structured program designed to accelerate their growth and impact.
Why Nominate a Team Member?
The Accelerate program isn’t a class or a course—it’s an immersive leadership experience that includes:
- Mentorship from an IRF Board of Trustees member.
- Hands-on involvement in an IRF volunteer committee.
- Collaboration on an industry research paper.
- Hosted attendance at the 2026 IRF Invitational.
- Orientation and networking with other rising stars in early 2026.
- And here’s the kicker: there’s no cost to participate.
This is a high-value, low-barrier investment in your team’s future—and in the future of the industry itself.
Who Should Apply?
This program is designed for professionals currently in incentive-focused roles who are aiming to move into director-level positions in the next 2–3 years. Both buyers and suppliers are encouraged to apply. Ideal candidates are curious, engaged, and ready to contribute to the broader conversation around recognition, motivation, and rewards.
Timeline at a Glance:
Applications due: September 12, 2025
Interviews: November 2025
Class announced: December 2025
Program kicks off: January–February 2026
FURTHER READING: SITE NITE AT IMEX FRANKFURT
Your Role? Share the Opportunity
If you manage or mentor someone with potential, now’s the time to act. Send them this application. Recommend them for the program. Give them the tools—and the vote of confidence—they need to thrive.
Because the best leaders don’t just rise. They lift others along the way.
Learn more and apply here.
Any thoughts, opinions, or news? Please share them with me at vince@meetingsevents.com.
Photo by Eduardo Ramos For Unsplash+
