House of Golde · Institute of Identity Leadership

Chief Identity Strategist™ Certification

An executive designation for leaders who architect identity, reputation, and narrative systems— not just brands and campaigns.

Apply to the Founding Cohort View Program Overview

Invite-only founding cohort · 8–12 seats · Live-taught by Golden J. Johnson, Chief Identity Strategist™

What Is a Chief Identity Strategist™?

While designers create visuals and marketers create campaigns, Chief Identity Strategists architect the behavioural, narrative, and reputational systems that define how leaders and organizations show up—and how they’re remembered.

This is not

  • A branding course
  • A marketing certification
  • A “grow your followers fast” program

This is

  • An executive-level professional designation
  • A discipline: Identity Strategy & Identity Leadership
  • A structural approach to reputation, culture & legacy

Who This Is For

You already carry responsibility. You want language, structure, and authority around identity—not just better content.

Founders & CEOs Brand & Marketing Directors Creative & Strategy Leads Executive & Leadership Advisors Consultants & Agency Principals Culture, People & Comms Leads

How Level 1 – Certified Identity Strategist™ Works

01

Application & Selection

You submit an application outlining your experience, role, and why this work matters to you. Seats are intentionally limited and curated.

02

8–10 Weeks of Live Training

You move through eight executive modules on identity systems, governance, narrative design, and reputation architecture—live, with replays.

03

Capstone: Identity Audit & Defense

You build a full identity architecture for a real leader, brand, or organization and defend it in a 30-minute strategic review.

04

Designation & Directory Listing

On successful completion, you earn the Certified Identity Strategist™ credential and are listed as a CIS™ professional through House of Golde.

What You’ll Learn

Eight focused modules. No fluff. Everything is built to be applied directly to live organizations, leaders, and teams.

Module 1 · Identity as Executive Discipline

Identity vs brand vs reputation. Identity drift. The role of the Identity Strategist inside leadership.

Module 2 · The Identity House Architecture

Essence, purpose, values, personality, voice. How identity becomes an internal operating system.

Module 3 · Strategic Personality & Behaviour

Personality as strategy, not aesthetics. Behavioural consistency across leaders, channels, and decisions.

Module 4 · Identity Governance Systems

Scorecards, standards, and governance that keep identities stable through growth and pressure.

Module 5 · Organizational Alignment

Aligning leadership, culture, and communication so people inside and outside experience the same identity.

Module 6 · Reputation & Crisis Architecture

Reputation risk, crisis identity, and long-term legacy thinking in real time.

Module 7 · Strategic Narrative Design

Story infrastructure for leaders and institutions. Narrative systems, not one-off campaigns.

Module 8 · Identity-Led Positioning & Transitions

Identity-led positioning, and identity due diligence during mergers, pivots, and leadership transitions.

Investment

This is priced as an executive designation, not a short course. It’s designed to sit beside your title for years.

Founding Cohort

$2,500–$3,000 USD

One-time founding rate for the first 8–12 professionals in the room.

  • 8–10 weeks of live strategic training
  • Workbooks, frameworks & templates
  • Capstone identity audit & strategic defense
  • Certified Identity Strategist™ designation (on passing)
Apply Now

Standard Tuition (Future Cohorts)

$4,500 USD

Once the certification is fully established and evergreen, tuition moves to the standard executive rate.

Employer sponsorship is welcome. Many participants recover tuition through a single strategic engagement or project.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this for me if I’m “just” a creative or strategist?

If you’re already shaping brands, leaders, or communication—yes. This certification gives you the structure and authority to sit at the leadership table, not just in the execution lane.

How much time do I need each week?

Plan for ~3–4 hours per week: live session time plus applying the frameworks to a real case.

Will sessions be recorded?

Yes. All live sessions are recorded and stored in your private learning hub. Founding cohort members receive lifetime access to updated recordings.

Can my employer sponsor my seat?

Absolutely. You’ll receive a formal program outline and invoice that fits professional development, leadership training, or innovation budgets.

Is acceptance guaranteed once I apply?

No. Seats are intentionally limited. The application helps keep the cohort sharp, invested, and aligned with the level of work we’re doing.

Apply to the Founding Cohort

Complete the application below. If accepted, you’ll receive next steps to secure your seat, arrange payment, and access the orientation materials.

Next step: Add a Squarespace Form Block directly under this section in the editor. Use the fields: Name, Email, Role, Organization, LinkedIn, Location, Years of Experience, “Why do you want to become a CIS?”, “How will you use this certification?”, and a confirmation checkbox.

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Most brands chase trends.

We refine brands that outlast them.

We refine three levers that compound together: visual direction, content for discoverability, and positioning strategy. The result: clarity others can feel, and proof the internet can find.

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