Research at National Leadership Academy
NLA aspires to become a leading research-focused leadership institute — an area research center that supports MBA-level students at every stage of study, and publishes citable, evidence-based work on how leadership is actually taught, coached, and practiced across the US and MENA regions.
Research at National Leadership Academy
Most leadership advice is anecdotal. NLA’s Research Center exists to close that gap — testing the frameworks taught in our courses and coaching practice against real outcomes, and publishing what we find so it can be checked, cited, and built on by others.
Every course update, coaching methodology, and psychometric tool NLA uses is expected to trace back to something studied here first — not the other way around.
Read Our PublicationsInnovation in Leadership Research
Innovation is central to NLA’s vision of becoming a research-led leadership institute serving the US and MENA regions. With dedicated support from the academy, coaching practice, and publishing arm, we help turn founder-led teaching into fundamental research — and translate that research back into benefits for students, coaching clients, and organizations. NLA is keen to foster academic and commercial research collaborations toward this aim.
Collaborate with us →Where NLA research is concentrated
Leadership Psychology & Behavior
How leadership habits form, break, and get rebuilt — the research base behind the DISLEADERSHIP course.
Coaching Effectiveness
Measuring what actually changes in executives and teams through structured, Maxwell Method-based coaching.
Organizational Change & Transformation
How leadership training holds up — or doesn't — once it meets a real organization's culture and incentives.
Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
The link between self-awareness, regulation, and measurable leadership outcomes across roles and industries.
Youth & Family Leadership Development
How leadership habits taught early — through The Young Leader and the children's book line — carry into adulthood.
Leadership in the MENA Business Context
What changes, and what doesn't, when US-built leadership frameworks are taught and coached across the MENA region.
An area research center for every level of MBA study
Research support, mentorship, and citable output
NLA’s Research Center works directly with MBA students — from those just starting out to doctoral-level candidates — offering thesis support, data access, co-authorship opportunities, and a body of published work students can cite directly in their own research.
Our first papers are in preparation
The Research Center is preparing its first working papers and case studies, drawn from the academy’s courses, coaching engagements, and The Young Leader curriculum. Published titles will be listed here with full citations and a one-click copy for your reference manager.
Researchers, MBA candidates, and organizations interested in collaborating on this work — or in being notified when the first papers are released — are welcome to get in touch.
Meet the research faculty
Research at NLA is currently led directly by the founder, Dr. Alex Jones — professor, certified John Maxwell coach, and author — with the Research Center growing to bring in additional faculty and MBA co-authors as its publication base expands.
Meet the FounderCite it, study it, or contribute to it
Whether you’re an MBA student, a researcher, or an organization evaluating your own leadership programs — NLA’s Research Center is built to be used, not just read.