Institution: University of Adelaide
Course: Transformative Leadership Program
My journey to apply for the Industry Leadership Fund Grant began with a fortuitous meeting with Geoff Vogt, an advisory board member of a company I worked for back in 2019. Mr. Vogt introduced me to the ILF Grant, which I had not heard of before. He invited me to an event where I had the opportunity to meet some of the alumni, and it was a fantastic experience to meet other leaders of respected organisations within South Australia.
The grant application process was thorough, and I was awarded a grant to further my professional development in the area of organisational transformation. Due to the Covid pandemic, the course was delayed as it had international travel to Texas included in the program. By 2022, the course was available again, albeit 100% based in Australia to ensure it would not be derailed. That decision was a blessing in disguise, as my cohort and I were able to undertake the course in the beautiful tranquil tropical rainforest area outside of Brisbane. It provided the perfect opportunity to relax, release, and absorb the course and the natural surroundings and undertake a life-changing experience as part of the University of Adelaide’s Transformative Leadership Program.
The course challenged my preconceived notions of leadership and pushed me to think differently about how I approach my role as a leader. It helped me develop my strategic thinking and ability to resolve complex issues, which is essential to grow the firm, unlock new opportunities, and support the firm to thrive in an ever-increasing VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) environment. The personal growth I experienced throughout the program was significant, and I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to take a course like this.
Held over a four-month period and run by the University of Adelaide’s Professional and Continuing Education (PACE), I found the Transformative Leadership Program showed me how to approach my role as a leader with a fresh perspective and develop the adaptive thinking skills necessary to succeed in today’s ever-changing business landscape. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Industry Leadership Fund for providing me with this opportunity to grow and develop as a leader.
