The McKinsey Executive Leadership Program brings together leaders from NFP organisations and industries across Australia for an immersive two-week experience to help participants develop enhanced reflective and strategic thinking skills, sharpen self-awareness and enhance team leadership. This year there are 30 scholarships on offer to join this impressive cohort of peers.
Our leaders are under enormous pressure to manage their organisations and teams during a time of increasingly growing need for services. This leadership development program has given previous NFP recipients the time away from their hectic roles to learn new skills and have the opportunity to rethink current challenges.
Reflection and learning
Sharon McGowan, Chief Executive Officer of Stroke Foundation joined the Executive Leadership Program as an NFP scholarship recipient in 2022. Sharon found the experience was an “incredible opportunity for learning, reflection and exposure to new thinking about the leaders we hope to be so we can build the future we want to see for the next generation.”
Reflective time is an important part of the program. Sharon shares, “This immersive course encouraged us to look up and out but to do that with a deep understanding of our context and history, where we have come from, our beliefs and drivers. Week 1 was a chance to reflect deeply on who we are as people, as leaders, as thinkers and doers. To move forward we must understand what holds us back, what nails our feet to the floor when opportunity and challenge comes calling. It was a draining, uplifting and emotional journey of discovery.”
“It was a draining, uplifting and emotional journey of discovery.”
Sharon McGowan, Chief Executive Officer of Stroke Foundation
“The Executive Leadership Program was the circuit breaker I needed to give me the perspective and space to reassess, realign, and reconnect to my purpose,” shares James Hattam Chief Executive Officer of Tasmanian Land Conservancy Inc and a McKinsey Executive Leadership Program scholarship recipient in 2022.
John Bruning, CEO and Company Secretary of The Australasian College of Paramedicine the peak professional body representing and supporting more than 10,000 paramedics and student paramedics across Australia and New Zealand, joined the program in 2022 noting it was an outstanding experience saying “a focus on experiential learning from our own organisations and experiences drives home the learning and creates lasting value to both the individual undertaking the program and the organisation.”
Building peer networks
Meeting incredible leaders from across Australia is a highlight of the program. Janina Jancu, who is Director of Operations with ReachOut Australia said it was an “amazing opportunity to meet and connect with a cohort of extraordinary leaders from all around the country working across many different industries.”
Ginny Stevens, CEO, Active Farmers joined the program in 2021 as a scholarship recipient. She shares: “Not only did I learn a tremendous amount about myself and leading a team but importantly I developed some great connections and broadened by my network. Ginny says she was, “looking forward to converting my learnings into making more of an impact in reducing suicide in farming communities.”
James Hattan shared, “To have the opportunity to meet amazing and inspiring people from across our region was such a privilege and will result in lifelong connections I have no doubt. ” The environment is created to ensure strong bonds amongst the cohort. “To learn together, laugh together and share our stories in a safe and supportive environment is something I deeply valued and helped me on my journey,” James said.
“The circuit breaker I needed to give me the perspective and space to reassess, realign, and reconnect to my purpose.”
James Hattam is the Chief Executive Officer of Tasmanian Land Conservancy Inc
Not-for_profits have limited opportunities to break from their busy work environment for study. “It is easy to get caught up in the NFP world, so to be able to spend time learning and meeting executives from other sectors was invaluable,” said Jonathan Peatfield, Chief Executive Officer of Life Education NSW/ACT and recipient of the McKinsey Executive Leadership Program Scholarship in 2022.
Blended learning journey
The Executive Leadership Program is delivered in three parts:
- Week 1: Leaders develop new perspectives and interact with peers facing similar challenges in leading self and leading their teams.
- Remote learning and coaching sessions with peer learning group, getting to depth with each leader’s aspiration and personal journey.
- Week 2: Leaders integrate tools and learnings from the journey to explore broader systems leadership topics.
Sharon McGowan from the Stroke Foundation notes, “Week 2 gave us a chance to build on the incredible relationships we established with our team members in week one. We explored new ground including the importance of culture and the richness that diversity brings to problem solving and team work. Again we were challenged to consider how we show up as leaders. No matter who you are or how many acronyms you have behind your name…we are all just people with our own fears and insecurities. How we use this knowledge to become better leaders is what this course will help you to do. I loved it!”
The Executive Leadership Program is designed to benefit high-potential seasoned leaders who are seeking personal and professional growth. A typical participant leads or is on track to lead an organisation, significant business unit or function. They may be a CEO, or in a role where they report to a top team member. Each year, the class comprises 200 seasoned executives from 50+ organisations drawn from private, public, and social sectors.
Scholarships are now open and close on 25 November 2022. Read full details of the McKinsey Executive Leadership Program – NFP Scholarships 2023 here.
