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:

• The Modern Principles of Leadership – New Ways of Working and Leading in A Hybrid Working World
• The Modern Principles of Leadership – Leading in a Data and Technology driven world
• Developing and Implementing Strategy
• Decision Making and Strategic Thinking
• How to be effective in the Boardroom
• Driving Sustainability Effectively for Business and Environmental Benefit
• Crisis Management: Leading through Adversity
• Managing your Career and Fulfilling Ambitions

The programme runs over the course of 5 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:

The Modern Principles of Leadership – New Ways of Working and Leading in A Hybrid Working World

• Speaker: Rosemary McGinness, Chief People Officer, The Weir Group Plc
• Academic Lead: Dr Lila Skountridaki

The Modern Principles of Leadership – Leading in a Data and Technology driven world

• Speaker: Graeme Smith, Senior Director of Engineering, YouTube
• Academic Lead: Professor Susan Murphy

Developing and Implementing Strategy

• Speaker: Simon Pitts Chief Executive Officer, STV Group plc
• Academic Lead: Professor Chris Carter

Decision Making and Strategic Thinking

• Speaker: Ana Stewart, Founder, NXD & Investment Partner
• Academic Lead: Dr Winston Kwon

How to be effective in the Boardroom

• Speaker: Fiona Macleod, Chair, Scottish SPCA
• Academic Lead: Professor John Amis and Judy Wagner

Driving Sustainability Effectively for Business and Environmental Benefit

• Speaker: Samantha Barber, Managing Director Europe; Board Effectiveness and Sustainability, Accenture
• Academic Lead: Dr Sarah Ivory

Crisis Management: Leading through Adversity

• Speakers: Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive Officer, Edinburgh Airport
• Mike Crow, Group Head of Public Affairs, NatWest Group

Managing your Career and Fulfilling Ambitions

• Speaker: Malcolm Kpedepko, Partner at Panoramic Growth Equity
• Academic Lead: Professor Susan Murphy

• 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.