Executive Leadership Programme

Every year the modules of the course are designed in collaboration with leading academics and some of the UKs top executive and non executive leaders to stay up to date with the most relevant business school teachings as well as the practical skills and experiences Boards are looking for in their future leaders.

This years syllabus will cover:

• Adaptive Leadership in a Rapidly Changing World
• Building and Driving High Performance
• Formulating and Delivering Strategy
• Board Readiness and Governance
• Leading Transformation and Change
• How to Lead Successfully in a Polycrisis

The programme runs over the course of 3 months with sessions twice a month. The separate sessions use facilitated learning with a combination of professional and academic leaders, and are designed to encourage active learning where participants learn from one another as well as from these experts. Each module is designed around a theme particularly relevant to individuals in senior management and board positions, and offers tools or frameworks that can be put into practice immediately. In addition, during sessions participants will work together to discuss scenarios and case studies. The adjacent diagram captures the dynamic nature of the programme elements. Each session will be led by specialists in the subject matter from the University of Edinburgh Business School and will also involve business leaders from a variety of backgrounds, depending on each session’s topic, with relevant skills and experience pertaining to each. The level of teaching is Executive MBA and above and each session is video recorded for the exclusive use of delegates for continued learning and in case a session is missed. The style of learning and delivery will be practical workshops, case studies, and group work to enable practical learning at all times.

Every session will be held at the University of Edinburgh Business School and will be taught by both academics and experienced business leaders. Online course content, and recorded footage of each session will be available via the University Learning Hub.

Each session will be hosted by:

Session 1 – Tuesday 9 September 2025: Adaptive Leadership in a Rapidly Changing World

• Speaker: Louise Smith OBE, Chair, Innovate Finance
• Academic Lead: Dr Sarah Ivory, Senior Lecturer in Executive Education, Climate Change and Sustainability

Session 2 – Tuesday 23 September 2025: Building and Driving High Performance

• Speaker: Clive Miles, HR Director, Barclays UK Everyday Money Management and Life Moments
• Academic Lead: Prof. Susan Murphy, Chair in Leadership Development, University of Edinburgh Business School

Session 3 – Tuesday 7 October 2025: Formulating and Delivering Strategy

• Speaker: Euan Sutherland, Chief Executive Officer, AG Barr plc and Alison Gowen, Chief People Officer, AG Barr plc
• Academic Lead: Dr Winston Kwon, Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Social Innovation

Session 4 – Tuesday 21 October 2025: Board Readiness and Governance

• Speaker: Angela Seymour-Jackson, Chair, PageGroup
• Academic Lead: Prof. John Amis, Chair in Strategic Change Management and Organisation and Co-Director of the Centre for Strategic Leadership

Session 5 – Tuesday 4 November 2025: Leading Transformation and Change

• Speaker: Greg Michael, Non-Executive Director and Angel Investor; Formerly Group CEO of Menzies Distribution
• Academic Lead: Prof. John Amis, Chair in Strategic Change Management and Organisation and Co-Director of the Centre for Strategic Leadership

Session 6 – Tuesday 18 November 2025: How to Lead Successfully in a Polycrisis

• This session will be led by experts in this area.

• Targeted practical preparation for Board level leadership.
• An understanding of one’s leadership style through self awareness of strengths and opportunities for improvement.
• Enhanced executive leadership skills.
• A plan for developing one’s career.
• Improved confidence in one’s ability to lead in challenging business scenarios.
• Knowledge of the career progressions and success of a range of inspirational senior leaders and a practical understanding of how to use that knowledge in one’s own situation.
• A working network of senior level leaders locally and more broadly through various industries that can provide not only connections, but business decision and career support.
• Enhanced executive leadership skills.

• Those who have the potential to move to board appointments in their organisations.
• Those interested in learning the latest techniques in strategic management and change.
• Leaders who want to develop a working network of other high-level professionals for their career and business development.
• Those who wish to gain a practical understanding of boardroom governance and dynamics.
• Those interested in career insights from global business leaders in the UK today.