As President of Evergreen Solutions, Dr. Jeffrey Ling spends his days advising public sector organizations on some of their most complex challenges. With more than three decades of consulting experience and a background that spans academia, policy, analytics, and organizational strategy, Ling is no stranger to leadership. But when he stepped fully into the CEO role five years ago, he recognized something important: leading at the top requires a different kind of preparation.

That realization is what ultimately led Ling to MIT Sloan Executive Education's Advanced Certificate for Executives (ACE) program, a multi-course journey designed to help experienced leaders sharpen their leadership signature, broaden their strategic perspective, and apply cutting-edge management thinking in real time.

“Stepping into this role required more than just executing strategy,” Ling says. “It demanded the ability to lead with purpose, authenticity, and agility. The ACE program proved instrumental in helping me navigate that transition with confidence and clarity.”

From Academia to the C-Suite

Ling’s career path has never followed a straight line. He began as an academic, teaching and conducting research while consulting part time during summers. Over time, that consulting work grew into a full-time calling. After working at a larger firm, he helped found Evergreen Solutions more than 20 years ago, initially serving as Executive Vice President before becoming President when his business partner retired.

Evergreen focuses on human resources consulting for state and local governments and higher education institutions, an area where Ling’s expertise in data analysis, policy development, compensation, and organizational design has made him a trusted advisor to more than 1,000 clients worldwide.

Despite his extensive experience, Ling was candid about what he did not yet have.

“I had been number two for many years,” he explains. “I had held executive roles before, but I had not been a CEO. I felt it was important to invest in my own development as I took on that responsibility.”

Discovering MIT Sloan Executive Education

Ling was already familiar with MIT Sloan. Years earlier, he had considered attending MIT and had taken one or two courses along the way. When he began exploring executive education more seriously, MIT stood out.

“I was impressed with the breadth of the course offerings and familiar with many of the faculty,” he says. “I had read their books and followed their contributions to the field of management.”

Initially, Ling did not set out to complete the Advanced Certificate for Executives (ACE). Instead, he began by taking individual courses, starting with a self-paced leadership program that fit seamlessly into his demanding travel schedule.

“That first course worked very well with being on the road,” he says. “After the second or third course, I decided to go ahead and complete the ACE.”

That flexibility, the ability to mix self-paced, live online, and in-person courses, proved essential.

Learning Across Formats and Borders

Over the course of his ACE journey, Ling experienced the full range of MIT Sloan Executive Education formats. He completed online courses from his office in Florida, participated in live virtual classrooms, and traveled to Cambridge for immersive, in-person learning.

One highlight was a summer visit to MIT, where Ling stayed through the weekend to take two back-to-back courses: Business Model Innovation for Organizational Transformation and Building Game-Changing Organizations.

“It was really nice to be there without rushing back,” he says. “I finally had time to explore the city, run along the Charles River, and experience Cambridge beyond meetings and client work.”

Just as impactful as the setting, however, were the classroom experiences themselves.

Courses That Changed How He Leads

Several ACE courses stood out for Ling, both for their content and their immediate applicability.

Data-Driven Teams: The Art and Science of Winning, taught by Ben Shields, left a lasting impression. While the course uses sports analytics as a storytelling framework, Ling says its true power lies in how effectively it translates performance measurement across industries.

“Ben has an incredible ability to draw people into the conversation,” Ling says. “He invited participants to share real examples from their organizations and gave thoughtful, real-time feedback. We took many of those tools back and applied them directly at Evergreen.”

Another standout was Innovator’s DNA: Mastering Five Skills for Innovative Disruption, led by Hal Gregersen. Ling was already familiar with Gregersen’s research, but the in-person experience exceeded expectations.

“I enjoyed it so much I bought another iPad just to keep up with the visual notes,” he laughs.

Beyond innovation frameworks, the course sparked meaningful personal connections. Ling and Gregersen bonded over a shared interest in photography, an exchange that reinforced one of the program’s defining features: faculty who bring intellectual rigor and human curiosity into the classroom.

Ling also credits courses like Unlocking Your Leadership Signature and Leading Organizations for High Velocity Performance with helping him think differently about how he shows up as a leader and how organizations sustain momentum.

“These weren’t abstract ideas,” he says. “They were actionable. I used them right away with my leadership team and even adjusted how we approach innovation company-wide.”

The Power of a Diverse Peer Network

One of the most surprising and valuable aspects of the ACE experience, Ling says, was the diversity of participants.

“In the same classroom, you might have leaders from manufacturing, healthcare, environmental organizations, and professional services,” he explains. “The faculty were incredibly effective at drawing out the common challenges we all face, regardless of industry.”

That diversity led to powerful peer learning moments, including a memorable connection with a hospital CEO from Latin America.

“We talked every day about managing highly educated professionals,” Ling recalls. “Different industries, but very similar challenges. We’ve stayed in touch ever since.”

Those relationships have continued well beyond the classroom. Ling regularly meets ACE peers for lunch in Washington, DC, stays connected with colleagues across the US, and exchanges insights and data with contacts as far away as Indonesia, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.

“In one class, someone even started a LinkedIn group,” he says. “I may not post often, but I love seeing what people are working on and celebrating their promotions and milestones.”

A Journey Worth the Commitment

Ling is candid about the demands of the ACE journey. Balancing executive responsibilities with coursework is not always easy.

“There are times where you think, do I really want to do this?” he admits. “But it absolutely pays dividends.”

What ultimately sets MIT Sloan Executive Education apart, he says, is the balance between breadth and depth.

“You don’t have to choose a program narrowly focused on your industry,” Ling explains. “MIT’s approach helps you see the common threads across leadership, strategy, innovation, and performance, while still giving you those industry-specific insights you can take back and use.”

Leading Forward

Today, Ling is Evergreen’s first ACE holder and an enthusiastic advocate for the program. He has already encouraged colleagues to enroll and sees executive education as a strategic investment, not just for himself, but for the firm’s future.

“The ACE experience was intellectually enriching and professionally transformative,” he says. “It strengthened how I lead, how I make decisions, and how we serve our clients.”

For executives considering the ACE, Ling offers simple advice.

“Treat it as a journey,” he says. “Commit to it, stay curious, and be open to learning from people very different from you. The return is well worth the effort.”

Learn more about the MIT Sloan Advanced Certificate for Executives (ACE).