Strategic Leadership and Corporate Direction

The Strategic Leadership and Corporate Direction course is designed to equip current and aspiring leaders with the skills, mindset, and vision required to lead organisations effectively in complex and dynamic environments. Strategic leadership goes beyond day-to-day management—it involves shaping the future, making informed decisions under uncertainty, and aligning people and resources to achieve long-term objectives.

This self-paced course provides a structured exploration of the principles, frameworks, and tools that define exceptional strategic leadership. Through a blend of conceptual insights and practical approaches, learners will develop the ability to think critically, act decisively, and lead confidently in both stable and turbulent contexts.

The course spans approximately 20 hours of structured learning, allowing participants to engage flexibly while deepening their understanding of how strategy, leadership, and organisational culture intersect to drive sustained success.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Understand the core principles of strategic leadership and its relevance in modern organisations.
• Develop the ability to think strategically and make informed, evidence-based decisions.
• Create and communicate a compelling vision and mission that inspire and align teams.
• Assess internal and external business environments to identify strategic opportunities.
• Design and implement actionable strategic plans that achieve measurable outcomes.
• Lead change effectively while maintaining ethical integrity and stakeholder engagement.
• Build high-performing teams that contribute to long-term strategic success.
• Evaluate strategic performance and continuously improve leadership effectiveness.

Course Structure and Lesson Summaries

1. Introduction to Strategic Leadership
   An introduction to the discipline of strategic leadership, its role within modern organisations, and how it differs from operational management. Learners explore foundational theories and the increasing importance of long-term, future-oriented leadership.
2. Vision, Mission, and Values in Corporate Leadership
   This lecture examines how vision, mission, and organisational values form the core of strategic direction. Learners develop the skills required to craft statements that inspire action, reinforce purpose, and anchor ethical behaviour.
3. Strategic Analysis and Leadership Decisions
   Learners explore analytical tools used to diagnose organisational environments, including PESTEL, SWOT, and competitive analysis. The lesson focuses on how strategic leaders make evidence-based decisions using insights derived from rigorous analysis.
4. Corporate Governance and Strategic Leadership
   This lesson covers the systems, structures, and processes that guide responsible leadership at the highest level. Topics include board dynamics, accountability mechanisms, transparency, and governance principles that support ethical strategic decision-making.
5. Strategy Formulation and Implementation
   This lesson guides learners through the process of designing and executing strategy. It explores goal-setting, strategic options, resource allocation, stakeholder engagement, and the translation of strategic intent into operational reality.
6. Strategic Change and Transformation
   Organisational transformation requires strong strategic leadership. Learners examine models of change, the psychology behind resistance, and leadership approaches that ensure successful and sustainable transformation.
7. Strategic Risk Management and Resilience
   This lesson focuses on identifying, assessing, and mitigating strategic risks. Learners explore risk frameworks, scenario planning, organisational resilience, and strategies for maintaining stability during crisis or uncertainty.
8. Global Strategic Leadership
   With organisations increasingly operating across borders, this lesson explores the challenges and opportunities of global leadership. Topics include cultural intelligence, international strategy, global market dynamics, and cross-border decision-making.
9. Strategic Leadership in the Digital Age
   Digital transformation reshapes strategy and leadership practice. Learners explore emerging technologies, data-driven decision-making, digital innovation, and how leaders can create agile, technology-enabled organisations.
10. The Future of Strategic Leadership and Corporate Direction
    The final lecture in the core series focuses on emerging trends shaping the future of strategic leadership. Topics include sustainability, ethical innovation, generational shifts, artificial intelligence, and evolving expectations of corporate leaders.

Additional Resources

1. Introduction to Strategic Leadership
   An expanded overview of what strategic leadership entails, why it matters in today’s fast-paced world, and how it differs from operational management. Learners explore key theories, leadership models, and the evolving role of strategic leaders.
2. Understanding the Role of a Strategic Leader
   This lesson explores the multifaceted responsibilities of strategic leaders, including direction-setting, cultural influence, balancing multiple time horizons, and the personal qualities that support strategic impact.
3. The Importance of Vision and Mission in Strategic Leadership
   A practical guide to crafting and articulating vision and mission statements that inspire action, clarify purpose, and align teams across the organisation.
4. Developing a Strategic Mindset
   Learners examine cognitive frameworks that foster creativity, foresight, and critical analysis, shifting from reactive management to proactive strategic leadership.
5. Strategic Thinking and Decision Making
   A study of structured decision-making processes and analytical models that help leaders weigh alternatives, mitigate biases, and ensure alignment with broader strategy.
6. Analysing the Business Environment
   A comprehensive study of tools such as PESTEL, SWOT, and Porter’s Five Forces to assess internal strengths, external pressures, competitive dynamics, and emerging opportunities.
7. Identifying and Assessing Strategic Opportunities
   This lesson explores opportunity recognition, feasibility analysis, innovation assessment, and methods of balancing risk with strategic potential.
8. Creating a Strategic Plan
   A practical module guiding learners through designing structured, actionable strategic plans, including goal formulation, stakeholder engagement, resource alignment, and execution frameworks.
9. Aligning Organisational Goals with Strategic Objectives
   A detailed examination of how leaders ensure that individual, departmental, and organisational objectives contribute collectively to the overarching strategic direction.
10. Effective Communication in Strategic Leadership
    This lesson covers how to articulate strategy with clarity, influence, and transparency—using storytelling, persuasion, and strong communication practices to gain organisational buy-in.
11. Leading Change and Managing Resistance
    Learners explore the psychology of change, models such as Kotter’s and Lewin’s, and communication strategies to reduce resistance and foster engagement.
12. Building and Leading High-Performing Teams
    A study of how leaders create and sustain high-performing teams through trust, accountability, motivation, and a strong team culture.
13. Developing and Implementing a Strategic Leadership Development Programme
    A lesson on designing structured programmes that identify, train, and mentor emerging leaders to ensure long-term continuity of strategic capability.
14. Ethical Leadership in a Strategic Context
    This lesson examines ethical dilemmas in strategic decision-making, governance, accountability, and corporate responsibility to ensure leaders act with integrity.
15. Managing Risk and Uncertainty in Strategic Leadership
    An exploration of risk frameworks, mitigation approaches, contingency planning, and leadership agility during periods of uncertainty.
16. Evaluating and Monitoring Strategic Performance
    A practical examination of KPIs, balanced scorecards, benchmarking, and accountability tools that measure strategic outcomes effectively.
17. Leading Innovation and Driving Organisational Growth
    A lesson on creating a culture that encourages innovation, manages creative tension, and translates ideas into long-term organisational growth.
18. Strategic Leadership in a Globalised World
    A deeper exploration of cross-cultural leadership, international strategies, and the complexities of leading in interconnected global markets.
19. Building Strategic Partnerships and Alliances
    Learners explore how to identify, negotiate, and maintain strategic alliances that enhance capabilities, share resources, and strengthen competitive advantage.
20. Sustaining Strategic Leadership Excellence
    The final lesson focuses on sustaining leadership effectiveness through emotional intelligence, adaptability, reflection, and continuous learning.

Integrated Case Studies

To reinforce learning through real-world application, the course incorporates a portfolio of comprehensive case studies demonstrating strategic leadership in action.

Case Study: Andy Jassy and the Strategic Turnaround of John Lewis Partnership under Sharon White and Nish Kankiwala
A detailed exploration of how bold restructuring, cultural renewal, diversification, and digital transformation are reshaping one of the UK’s most iconic retail partnerships.

Case Study: Alex Baldock and the Strategic Transformation of Currys
An examination of how Britain’s largest technology retailer reinvented its business model, unified its brand, modernised operations, and built omnichannel strength in a fiercely competitive retail landscape.

Case Study: Emma Walmsley and the Strategic Transformation of GlaxoSmithKline
A study of how strategic clarity, scientific focus, cultural reform, and organisational restructuring revitalised one of the UK’s most significant pharmaceutical companies.

Case Study: Carolyn McCall and the Strategic Transformation of ITV
An analysis of how digital reinvention, audience-centric strategy, content investment, and organisational modernisation positioned ITV for long-term competitiveness in a global media market.

Case Study: Mary Barra and the Strategic Reinvention of General Motors
A global case highlighting culture change, innovation, crisis leadership, and the long-term repositioning of a major automotive manufacturer towards electric and autonomous mobility.

Case Study: Howard Schultz and the Strategic Transformation of Starbucks
This case shows how vision, culture, service excellence, and digital innovation revived a declining global brand and repositioned it as a leader in experience-led retail.

Case Study: Satya Nadella and the Strategic Reinvention of Microsoft
A comprehensive study of cultural transformation, cloud strategy, innovation leadership, ethical stewardship, and sustained excellence at one of the world’s most influential technology companies.

Who Should Enrol

This course is ideal for:

• Emerging and experienced leaders seeking to enhance their strategic influence.
• Managers responsible for long-term planning, innovation, and organisational growth.
• Entrepreneurs and executives aiming to align operations with vision-driven leadership.
• Professionals preparing for senior leadership or board-level roles.

Demonstration Lecture – Introduction to Strategic Leadership