Strategic Leadership Courses: Vision, Strategic Thinking and Transformation
Strategic leadership training to develop vision, strategic thinking, change management and ability to lead organizational transformation. Learn strategic foresight, scenario planning, Blue Ocean Strategy and strategic decision making.
What you will learn in Strategic Leadership courses
Strategic leadership means thinking beyond daily operations: anticipate trends, identify opportunities, define company direction and lead transformations. McKinsey highlights that 70% transformations fail due to lack of strategic leadership. Our paths cover strategic thinking, strategic foresight, scenario planning, Blue Ocean Strategy, change management, business model innovation.
You will learn to define and communicate clear and engaging company vision, analyze competitive context with Porter, PESTEL, SWOT frameworks, develop differentiating strategies (Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean), build future scenarios to anticipate changes (scenario planning), lead organizational transformations with Kotter, ADKAR, Lewin models, balance exploration (innovation) and exploitation (efficiency) with ambidexterity, make strategic decisions in complex and uncertain contexts. Focus on strategic leadership vs operational management: long-term vision, systemic thinking, influence capacity, stakeholder management. Certifications: Strategic Leadership Programs (Harvard, INSEAD, IMD).
Who this training path is for
- CEOs, general managers and C-level executives: definition of company strategy and leading transformations
- Head of department and middle managers: translation of corporate strategy into operational plans
- Innovation managers and strategy consultants: development of innovative strategies and business models
- Entrepreneurs and founders: scaling company with clear strategic vision
- High potentials and future leaders: preparation for executive roles with strategic mindset
Benefits of Strategic Leadership training
Clear vision and organizational alignment
Ability to define strategic direction, communicate engaging vision and align teams towards common goals.
Data-driven strategic decisions
Context analysis with rigorous frameworks, scenario planning to anticipate futures and informed strategic decision making.
Effective transformation management
Change management skills to lead organizational transformations, reduce resistance and ensure successful implementation.
How to choose the right format for your team
Each format is designed to adapt to different strategic leadership development needs and business contexts.
In-person course → ideal for:
- C-level who need to define new company strategy with executive workshops
- Companies in transformation phase requiring leadership team alignment
- Managers wanting networking with other leaders and discussion on real cases
- Executive education programs with strategic simulations and business games
Online course → ideal for:
- Strategic thinking fundamentals and accessible competitive analysis frameworks
- Geographically dispersed leaders needing time flexibility
- In-depth study of scenario planning theory, Blue Ocean, innovation models
- Strategic leadership certification preparation with on-demand content
Blended course → ideal for:
- Strategic frameworks online + in-person workshops for company strategy co-design
- Change management theory online + 1-to-1 coaching on ongoing transformations
- E-learning strategic tools + in-person retreat for visioning and team alignment
- Executive MBA style programs: asynchronous theory + intensive residentials
Frequently asked questions about Strategic Leadership
What is the difference between strategic and operational leadership?
Operational leadership focuses on daily execution: managing the team, optimizing processes, monitoring short-term KPIs, and tactical problem solving. Strategic leadership, on the other hand, focuses on long-term direction: defining the organizational vision, competitive positioning, driving innovation, managing transformations, and anticipating future trends. A useful analogy: operational leadership is like steering a ship day by day, while strategic leadership means charting the course, choosing the destination, and preparing for future storms. Complete leaders need to develop both competencies.
What does strategic thinking mean?
Strategic thinking is the ability to see the big picture, connect apparently unrelated dots, anticipate the consequences of actions, and balance short and long-term objectives. It includes several key components: systems thinking (understanding interdependencies between elements), outside-in thinking (starting from the market and customer rather than from inside the organization), pattern recognition (identifying hidden trends in data), and questioning assumptions (challenging the status quo). This is not an innate talent: it develops through deliberate practice, applying structured frameworks, and mentoring.
What is scenario planning and why is it important?
Scenario planning is a method for exploring possible futures rather than trying to predict a single certain future. The process involves building 3-4 plausible scenarios based on critical uncertainties (such as technological evolution, regulatory changes, consumer behaviors). For each scenario, you analyze the business implications and prepare flexible strategies (robust strategies) that remain valid across multiple contexts. This method has been successfully used by Shell, which anticipated oil crises, and Singapore for national planning. It is particularly useful in VUCA contexts (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity).
What does Blue Ocean Strategy mean?
Blue Ocean Strategy, developed by Kim and Mauborgne, proposes creating new uncontested market spaces (blue oceans) instead of competing in already crowded markets (red oceans, so called because they're 'bleeding' from fierce competition). The key tool is the Strategy Canvas, which helps identify what to eliminate, reduce, raise, or create in your offering. Iconic examples include: Cirque du Soleil reinvented the circus by eliminating animals and adding theatrical elements; Nintendo Wii created gaming for families, not just hardcore gamers. This strategy requires value innovation: creating value for customers while simultaneously reducing costs.
How to successfully lead an organizational transformation?
Organizational transformations require strong leadership and a structured approach. Kotter's model identifies 8 fundamental steps: 1) Create a sense of urgency, 2) Form a guiding coalition, 3) Develop vision and strategy, 4) Communicate the vision, 5) Enable action through empowerment, 6) Generate quick wins, 7) Consolidate progress, 8) Anchor change in the organizational culture. The keys to success are: visible leadership commitment, continuous and transparent communication, active management of resistance (technical, political, and cultural), and the ability to celebrate intermediate victories. It's important to remember that 70% of transformations fail precisely because they underestimate the human aspect of change.
Can strategic leadership be learned or is it innate talent?
Strategic leadership is a developable competence, not just an innate talent. Research shows that strategic thinking improves significantly through deliberate practice (analyzing case studies, simulations, stretch assignments), structured feedback (personalized coaching, 360° assessments), exposure to diversity (of sectors, cultures, and perspectives), and systematic reflection (journaling, after-action reviews). Executive education programs from top business schools (Harvard, INSEAD, IMD) and personalized mentoring significantly accelerate the development of these competencies. The key is to step outside your comfort zone and tackle challenges of increasing complexity.