Institution: Harvard Business School, USA
Course: Program for Leadership Development: Accelerating the Careers of High-Potential Leaders
Feeling energized by the confidence shown in me by my senior executives in the outcomes I had delivered in my role as General Counsel at Codan Limited, I was encouraged by the same people to take a further step and undertake some additional education in an effort to enhance my broader business literacy and more importantly build up my leadership skillset as I slowly began to build and manage my own team.
I learnt of the ILF from some senior colleagues in my business who encouraged me to apply to assist me in my personal development and specifically to undertake Harvard’s compressed MBA known as the Program for Leadership Development (PLD). Having gone through the application process and interviews with directors of the ILF, I was humbled to be awarded a grant to part fund my PLD course. I was then able to apply for this course and be accepted where I commenced the program in late 2022 and wrapping up in July 2024. The PLD Program is designed to accelerate the careers of high potential leaders and consists of 5 modules comprising virtual self-paced components as well as 3 sets of 2 weeks on campus at the HBS business school in Boston.
PLD is a life and career changing experience as you are thrown into uncomfortable territory navigating the powerful case study method and the incredibly immersive impact of learning in living groups comprising people from all industries and all parts of the world. Enjoying the benefit of world class teaching faculty and executive coaching guiding you through foundational skill building as it applies to accounting, finance, economics and then gaining a deeper understanding of strategy, marketing, operations, leadership and corporate accountability is a transformational journey that has made a remarkable impact on me personally and professionally. The final module undertook a large focus on leadership and a program known as Authentic Leadership Development in which I was challenged to look deep within and understand the way I lead and what motivates me and how I can share this with my team.
Outside of the tremendous course itself, I am privileged to have access to a network of similarly motivated individuals from all over the world who are embarking on similar career progression that I can lean into for advice and counsel. What I cherish most is some of the best friends I have made on the journey. None of this would have been possible without the ILF and the support of Codan and senior executives who have backed me to develop into a leader in our organisation.
