ISB Executive Education | Advanced Leadership Programme - Pathway to CSO

Course Modules

Phase I - CSO - The Strategic Visionary

Strategic Thinking

• Understand the vital skill of strategic thinking that involves making decisions with imperfect information that has long feedback cycles
• Get started with how to use a combination of logic and data to devise strategies to ensure sustainable growth and competitive advantage
• Understand the difference between strategy, vision and mission to get more clarity on what makes for a good strategy

Corporate Strategy and Agile Strategy Execution

• Understand how to create competitive advantage by operating in many businesses
• Understand the nuances of how to drive growth through M&As, joint ventures and other external partnerships
• Learn how to execute strategies effectively
• Understand how to craft organisational structure that aligns with your strategy and enables effective execution of your formulated strategy

Competitive Strategy and Value Based Strategy

• Gain proficiency in strategic frameworks to evaluate industry dynamics
• Understand the sources and sustainability of competitive advantage, and how to leverage these insights to formulate robust competitive strategies.
• Learn to anticipate and respond effectively to competitive threats and opportunities in dynamic markets
• Comprehend the principles of value creation, and how they contribute to sustained competitive advantage
• Learn to operationalise value-based strategies by aligning organisational resources and capabilities with strategic goals
• Develop practical skills in strategy execution, including the measurement and monitoring of strategic actions, to ensure successful implementation and continuous improvement

Data Analysis and Management Decisions

• Develop the ability to interpret and analyse complex data sets using analytical tools and techniques
• Gain proficiency in translating data insights into strategic management decisions, ensuring that organisational actions are informed by robust data analysis
• Learn to when to use data versus relying on frameworks
• Understand how to leverage data to predict trends, identify opportunities, enhancing the overall effectiveness of strategic decision making

Financial Value Creation

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the basic financial concepts and metrics that drive value creation, such return on investment (ROI), or discounted cash flow (DCF)
• Learn to analyse financial statements and performance indicators to assess a f irm's financial health and identify strategic priorities and opportunities
• Gain proficiency in using financial metrics to align strategy to shareholder expectations
• Learn to identify and evaluate opportunities for value creation through mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, and other strategic financial initiatives

Phase II - CSO - The Game Changer

Customer Insights and Data-Driven Strategy

• Gain the ability to gather and analyse customer data from various sources to uncover deep insights into customer behaviors, preferences, and needs
• Learn to segment customers effectively and create detailed customer personas to inform strategic marketing and product development decisions
• Acquire skills to use data analytics tools and techniques to transform customer insights into actionable business strategies

Industry 4.0 and Global SCM

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of Industry 4.0 technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics, and their transformative impact on global supply chain management
• Learn how these technologies enhance supply chain visibility, efficiency, and agility, enabling more responsive and adaptive supply chain strategies
• Understand the strategic implications of digital transformation in supply chains, including the ability to optimise logistics, improve demand forecasting, and create more resilient and sustainable supply chain networks

Global Market Dynamics and Geopolitics - CSO Perspective

• Develop the ability to assess the institutional environment to identify opportunities and risks in international markets
• Learn to evaluate the strategic implications of geopolitical developments, including political instability, regulatory changes, and international relations, on global business operations
• Acquire skills to formulate strategies that mitigate geopolitical risks and leverage opportunities provided by an environment, ensuring that the organisation can navigate complex international environments effectively

Growth Strategy

• Develop the ability to formulate strategies to drive growth
• Learn to identify and evaluate various growth opportunities, including organic growth, mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances, and market expansion
• Acquire skills to design and execute growth initiatives effectively, ensuring alignment across all organisational functions and resources

Tech Evolution for Competitive Advantage:

• Learn to assess the strategic implications of emerging technologies and how they can be leveraged to create competitive advantage
• Learn about creative destruction and how to formulate strategies to overcome it
• Learn to deal with disruptive technology and how to respond to them

Ethics

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of the importance of ethical considerations in strategic decision-making processes
• Learn to identify and analyse ethical dilemmas, ensuring that strategic choices align with the organisation's core values, legal standards, and societal expectations
• Understand how to build and sustain an ethical corporate culture, fostering transparency, accountability, and trust among stakeholders, and ensuring long-term organisational integrity and reputation

Negotiation, Influence and M&A Strategies

• Develop advanced negotiation skills to effectively navigate complex business deals, partnerships, M&As
• Learn to apply influence strategies to build consensus, persuade stakeholders, and drive strategic initiatives that align with organisational goals

Strategies for ESG Era

• Gain a deep understanding of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and the various frameworks and standards used to measure and report on ESG performance
• Learn to identify and assess the ESG risks and opportunities that can impact an organisation's long-term sustainability and stakeholder value
• Acquire the skills to design and implement circular economy strategies that promote resource efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable business practices
• Understand how to integrate ESG and circularity principles into the organisation's strategic planning process, creating competitive advantage and ensuring compliance with regulatory and stakeholder expectations

Phase III - CSO - The Global Leader

Global Strategy

• Gain a thorough understanding of how cultural, administrative, geographic, and economic differences influence international expansion and how to navigate the complexities of international markets
• Learn to assess the impact of cultural, administrative, geographic, and economic differences on global strategy formulation and execution
• Develop the ability to evaluate the trade offs between achieving efficiencies through geographic expansion and the need for customisation to meet local tastes and preferences
• Learn to formulate and implement global strategies that balance standardization and adaptation, ensuring that the organization can leverage scale economies while addressing the unique demands of diverse markets

Understanding Leadership in Oneself

• Gain a deep understanding of personal leadership styles, strengths, and areas for improvement through self-assessment tools and reflective practices
• Learn to enhance emotional intelligence (EQ), including self-regulation, empathy, and social skills, to effectively lead oneself and influence others
• Acquire strategies for setting personal and professional goals, managing time effectively, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance
• Develop resilience and adaptability skills to navigate challenges, make sound decisions under pressure, and sustain personal well-being and peak performance in demanding leadership roles

Leading Change and Managing Crisis

• Develop the ability to design and lead effective change management initiatives, including the creation of compelling change visions, stakeholder engagement, and communication strategies
• Learn to apply change management frameworks and tools to successfully navigate organisational transformations, ensuring alignment and commitment at all levels
• Acquire skills to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to organizational crises, including risk assessment, crisis communication, and decision-making under uncertainty
• Learn to implement crisis management plans and resilience strategies that minimize disruption, protect organizational reputation, and facilitate rapid recovery and continuity

Executive Presence and Storytelling

• Develop a commanding executive presence by refining communication skills, body language, and interpersonal interactions to project confidence, credibility, and authority
• Learn to build and maintain trust with stakeholders, inspire confidence in teams, and lead with authenticity and integrity
• Acquire storytelling techniques to craft compelling narratives that effectively communicate strategic visions, inspire action, and drive organizational change
• Learn to tailor stories to diverse audiences, using emotional intelligence and persuasive communication to connect with stakeholders and influence decision-making