The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI) Scholarships
The Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition (PLDIC) Scholarships for The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI)
In 2022, the Pittsburgh Legal Diversity and Inclusion Coalition (PLDIC) announced the creation of scholarship opportunities with The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI) in order to fulfill the PLDIC’s mission of increasing the number of professionals from a variety of diverse backgrounds in the Pittsburgh legal community. TALI and the PLDIC recognize the need to retain more Black leaders and their allies in our Pittsburgh law firms and legal departments.
TALI’s mission is to strengthen companies, institutions, and communities by cultivating leadership through world-class executive education programs tailored to support, develop, and retain Black leaders and their allies. TALI was founded in 2016 in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University to create the Executive Leadership Academy (now the National Executive Leadership Academy) to educate, develop, connect, and position Black leaders and their allies for meaningful advancement in corporate and community roles.
In collaboration with TALI, the PLDIC created annual scholarship opportunities for PLDIC member employees for the National Executive Leadership Academy and for the Emerging Leaders Program.
Criteria for Selection
The National Executive Leadership Academy is for senior-level managers and executives, located regionally and nationally. Professionals with at least 10 years of work experience in corporate, nonprofit, government or entrepreneurial sectors with business functions in any US market are encouraged to apply. Candidates must have demonstrated leadership and a strong desire to achieve professional excellence.
The Emerging Leaders Program is for both strong individual contributors with supervisory aspirations and those in managerial positions who are growing in the leadership phase of their career. Applicants must have a minimum of 3-5 years of professional work experience in corporate, nonprofit, government, or entrepreneurial sectors. A Bachelor’s degree or 5 years of additional, equivalent, and relevant experience is required. Applicants should have a strong desire to achieve professional excellence.
Recipients of a PLDIC TALI Scholarship must be admitted to either TALI program and be employed by a PLDIC member organization. Preference shall be given to individuals from PLDIC member organizations who are unable to financially sponsor their employee’s TALI tuition.
Additional Benefits
In addition to the scholarship, PLDIC TALI Scholars will be introduced to the PLDIC members through the PLDIC newsletter, social media, and at the PLDIC Annual Members Meeting. As more individuals are named PLDIC TALI Scholars, the PLDIC will develop an alumni network for the recipients.
Scholarship Recipients
2025-2026
Imogene Cathey (National Executive Leadership Program)
Sidnee McDonald (Emerging Leaders Program)
2024-2025
Jacques Moye (Executive Leadership Academy)
Jesse Exilus (Emerging Leaders Program)
2023-2024
Danielle Mundekis (Executive Leadership Academy)
Nicole Rhodes (Executive Leadership Academy)
2022-2023
Kellie Ware (Executive Leadership Academy)
Derrick Maultsby Jr. (Emerging Leaders Program)
Applications for 2027 scholarship are open!