Companies have faced a dazzling range of challenges in the 21st century, including financial and monetary crises, the rise of cybercrime and AI, a pandemic, geopolitical challenges, and the looming threat of climate change. Creating A Sustainable Mindset, 21st Century leaders in your organisation will help directors develop the understanding, outlooks and strategies they need to address known and unknown challenges.
“No plan survives first contact with the enemy” applies to business life as much as the military realm. Hence boards need to be prepared to act in an agile, innovative fashion in response to challenges. “This masterclass is about understanding the disruptions being caused by the climate, biodiversity crisis, health and social crises, geopolitical disruptions and more, and understanding the interconnections,” said Raymond Schadeck, an ILA Certified Director and ex ILA chair. “As well as the ‘why’ this course will give ideas of best practices of how business models could transition,” he added.
“This course features the creation of a strategy template, a unique element,” said Ravi Fernando, a senior chair, board member and CEO, and teacher with the INSEAD Aspiring Directors Programme. “Creating a Sustainable Mindset, 21st Century leaders in your organisation Masterclass has a dynamic, up-to-the-moment curriculum, which is updated with input of every cohort.”
The MasterClass will be delivered in 7 face-to-face modules, complemented by panel discussions covering ALL Emergencies and ALL Disruptors. Each Module is a key building block to help the participants to end the MasterClass with a 21st Century Strategy for the organization. Every module is addressed through a sustainability lens.
• Introduction to the “21st Century Board Leadership model and strategy template” and the reality of Global risks.
• The Climate Emergency and response strategy
• The Health and Social Emergency and response strategy
• The Economic Emergency and response strategy
• New Technology Disruption and Strategic Opportunities
• Geo-Political Disruption – Challenges and Opportunities
• Governance Disruption and Overview of Key learning by Module
The course is open to ILA members but also non-members, and graduates include strategy setters and decision-makers from the private and public sectors. “My main take away from this inspiring masterclass is the effective demonstration that if you as a board member seek to have a practical positive influence on the climate, people and planet, you increase the probability that your company will be prosperous, resilient and sustainable over the long term,” said Eric Magrini, an ILA Certified Non-Executive Director.
“Inspirational” was also the word used to describe the programme by Mike Koedinger, the chair of the media company Maison Moderne. “The focus was on the current situation, supporting organisations as they seek to convert their words into actions, and underlining that doing good can also be good for business,” he said. In particular, he believes others will find it useful when starting or speeding up their net zero strategies.
The teaching style particularly impressed Sandra Denis an Attachée de Gouvernement at the Ministry of Finance. “With one hour of academic teaching followed by panel discussions, this gave us the opportunity to listen to experts and exchange with them,” she said. She also appreciated how major subjects were broken up into smaller topics to encourage detailed engagement.
ILA Certified Director David Barth also found the course of practical benefit. “As a restructuring CEO coping with mostly insolvent companies I found ways to integrate the climate emergency into turn-around action plans and road maps,” he said. “After this masterclass, I feel well equipped to define and implement a sustainable strategic turnaround roadmap, and to win the support of investors, shareholders, employees and customers of companies in stressed situations,” he added.
The course format also found favour. “Ravi and Raymond successfully ensured all participants were fully engaged in interactive discussions with guest speakers invited to help educate board directors,” said Ajit Singh Rai, a Non-Executive Director. He called this programme “an essential educational process which is necessary and appreciated.” Fellow director Dirk Amourette agreed: “I appreciated the interactivity and the framework that ware updated after the sessions. A must-do for every director!”
To tackle today’s key challenges, business leaders need a clear understanding of the dependency and interconnectivity between these, and the relevance for their business, said Sophie Öberg, co-chair of ILA’s Sustainability Strategy for Boards committee. “Creating A Sustainable Mindset, 21st Century leaders in your organisation training provides this through a holistic approach and developing the triple-bottom-line mindset focused on profit, people and the planet."
“As chair of ILA, I'm very proud of this programme,” said Carine Feipel. “The success it has had amongst our members is evidence that directors acknowledge these challenges, and are eager to help their companies respond to the unique challenges and opportunities of today's world.” While it is impossible to ‘eliminate’ risk, this programme will seek to develop 21st Century Board Leaders who can proactively mobilise strategies and action.
For more details and registration see this page.
