The Leadership & Innovation for Positive Global Change elective is a leadership development immersion designed to integrate your professional development with a deep dive into the complex problems facing business and society today. The emphasis is on learning through active participation in real-life business cases and through leadership practices. We are excited to be collaborating with the Positive Change Initiative, of the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University.
Business leaders around the world are increasingly confronted with the need to consider broader societal interests in their organizations’ strategies and operations. This is driven by different factors, including the growing sense of urgency around the climate change crisis, the increasing mobilization around socio-economic and racial inequalities, and the awareness around the interconnectedness of global spaces sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic. A new business narrative is emerging that centers around profit and impact, challenging the view that business’ sole purpose is to create shareholder value.
Europe has long been at the forefront of integrating business and society. This GIE gives you the opportunity to visit the two largest cities in the Netherlands – Amsterdam and Rotterdam – to see and experience how organizations, from start-ups to multinationals, are starting to transform their sectors by doing business differently and doing different business.
Program objectives include:
- Developing your personal leadership skills in alignment with your values and career aspirations, in a multi-cultural context
- Thinking critically about the role of business in fostering sustainability whilst also generating profit
- Understanding the potential of inclusive business and innovative social entrepreneurship – with particular reference to establishing equitable, truly inclusive economies and organizations
- Exploring the complex inter-connectedness of business, government and society
- Understanding innovation as a mindset and future-proof leadership capability
The program is led by Lecturer Dave Bond, and Marjolijn Dijksterhuis, in collaboration with Eva Rood of The Positive Change Initiative, RSM. We are grateful for funding from the Smith Leadership Fund and from UNC’s Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Partnership Award (Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs and the Chancellor’s Global Education Fund, UNC.)
Eligibility
- GPA Requirement: None
- Language Prerequisite: None
- Class During Program: None
- Language of Instruction: English
Application Dates
- Application Opens: October 29, 2021
- Application Deadline: January 17, 2022
Program Information
Meet with an Advisor
UBP students can schedule a meeting with Anna Hayes on Wednesdays from 2-4 PM to learn more about this program and other Global Immersion Electives. (login required).