FWB Launches 2024 Executive Leadership Programme

FWB and the University of Edinburgh Business School are delighted to launch their 2024 Executive Leadership Programme. Back for its fourth year, the programme was established following the successful launch of both the Executive Women in Leadership and Non-Executive Development Programmes, all of which have now supported over 600 delegates in furthering their careers. The ELP is designed at enabling the next generation of leaders across multiple ownership classes or organisations within a broad range of private, public and non-profit sectors.

Executive education has become increasingly vital in the post-COVID hybrid working environment, where remote leadership and data-driven decision-making are paramount. The shift towards even more technology-enabled leadership necessitates a deeper understanding of digital tools and analytics to drive strategic initiatives effectively. With the increasing amount of data available, leaders need to be skilled in using data to make informed decisions. They must understand how to gather, analyse, and interpret data, and use it to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities – the importance of judgement and consultative business partnering becoming even more important. Moreover, the heightened focus on people strategy and leadership development underscores the need for executives to foster strong, adaptable teams in diverse, virtual settings. This means fostering a culture of collaboration, communication, and teamwork, and providing the tools and resources needed to enable team members to work effectively together, regardless of their location. Developing one’s leadership identity through tailored executive education programmes helps leaders gain the essential skills and experience needed to navigate these complex challenges and position themselves as board-ready candidates. By investing in continuous learning, executives can stay ahead of industry trends, enhance their strategic thinking, and lead their organisations with confidence and innovation in an ever-evolving business landscape.

The ELP, an interactive, MBA level programme, has been designed for participants developing their careers in senior and executive management based on their own leadership and career goals. It will build on existing leader development activities such as identifying competency gaps and individualised  development plans, as well as supplying the tools, strategies, and networks to support and challenge participants as they develop their careers in senior and executive management.

“Some educational experiences are focused on the WHY of Leadership such as climate change, broader sustainability challenges or how we make AI something to embrace not fear. Other programmes are all about teaching participants WHAT to do eg developing and implementing strategy, designing robust financial models or ensuring good meeting governance. Many training events spend time entirely on the HOW of leadership including how to mentor and motivate, how to make wise risk based decisions, how to engage and build strong teams. The unique thing about ELP is it gives a unique combination of all three- the WHY, the WHAT and the HOW of leadership. Attendees will come back to their respective organisations with a deeper and broader external perspective on why change and improvement is necessary; what it takes to set the right course with confidence and how to bring peers and colleagues with them on the journey. The range of speakers and the fact based insights allow participants to debate and push the boundaries of the challenges facing their own businesses. Having been involved with ELP as a guest lecturer since its inception and having nominated leaders in my teams to participate, I can wholeheartedly recommend the programme. ELP provides a set of perspectives, skills and new networks. These give leaders the crucial confidence to not just respond to, but also to shape, the future.”

Fiona A MacLeod. Chair of Scottish SPCA, Senior Independent Director Denholm Energy Services, past Non Executive Director of Virgin Money plc and SThree Plc.

This year’s ELP will run from August – December 2024 with sessions designed to cover relevant development areas for those recently taking up senior leadership positions or for those with senior leadership and Board potential.

The programme will include learnings and practical experience from business leaders supplemented with academic learning frameworks. Individual modules will involve case studies and discussion, with each session led by a senior Business School Academic who is an expert in the topic, and a successful C-Suite leader (Chair, CEO, CIO, CPO etc) who will describe very frankly and honestly their own challenges and successes in dealing with germane issues throughout their career.

“The FWB Executive Education Programmes offer an essential route into executive learning and development. I know as a previous speaker that all those involved bring current thinking and much practical experience to the debates you will have and leave you better equipped to deal with the situations over which you have responsibilities. Across the Executive Women’s Network, The Executive Leadership Programme for developing senior leaders and the Non Executive Academy, there is a developing suite of programmes’ on offer for leaders looking to develop themselves.“

Norman Murray CBE CA FRSE Chairman, ICAS Foundation (Formerly Chairman Cairn Energy, Petrofac, The Edrington Group and Scottish Ballet. Past President ICAS , Past Chairman BVCA)

The topics have been curated on feedback from CEOs and Chairs based on the knowledge, insight and curiosity they believe their senior leaders and aspiring Board members should seek to develop. The programme has been designed to be very interactive with group discussions, plenary sessions and informal Chatham House Rules Q&A with the guest speakers. The delegates, who come from a variety of sectors and functional areas, will gain a great deal of practical advice about succeeding in business in a very interactive format, not only from the Academics and Keynote speakers, but also from each other, which will lead to a strong, influential and diverse network which will continue to grow, enabling them to develop strong relationships for business and personal development.“The value in hearing from and meeting like-minded professionals across industry and sector was extremely valuable and reassuring when considering my own development and professional network going forward.”“The range of topics was extremely current, valuable and preparatory for my future executive and non-executive learning and development.”

“The value in hearing from and meeting like-minded professionals across industry and sector was extremely valuable and reassuring when considering my own development and professional network going forward.”

“The range of topics was extremely current, valuable and preparatory for my future executive and non-executive learning and development.”

“I found the combination of both academic and industry expertise extremely valuable, being able to explore, challenge and understand better both the theory and execution of the critical business topics covered.”

“As a 2021 delegate I have not only been able to put much of the learning into practice but perhaps even more valuably been able to really make use of the network and connections I made throughout the course as I have continued my development within my professional network.”

Delegate Feedback from 2021-2023

This year we are delighted to welcome speakers in the form of some of the UK’s top leaders across Private and Public Sector, Disruptive Entrepreneurs, Experienced NXDs and some of the UK’s top academics on topics that include

• Developing and Implementing Strategy
• Creating and Leading Business Transformation
• A Plan For Living and Leading with Artificial Intelligence and Increased Technology Innovation
• Driving Sustainability Effectively For Business and Environmental Benefit
• Building and Driving High Performing Teams
• Board Readiness And Governance
• Managing Your Career and Fulfilling Ambitions

Details of the programme and syllabus can be found here or to arrange a discussion with one of our Course Organisers please contact elp@fwbltd.com.