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Change Strategy

Henley Executive Management Programme

At a glance

  • Explore strategy, leadership, change, innovation, neuroscience, finance, and AI through experiential learning.
  • Build personal insight through 360° feedback and one-to-one coaching.
  • Practise with tools such as actor-led simulations for difficult conversations.
  • Learn with diverse peers to share perspectives and solve real leadership challenges.
  • Turn learning into action with a personal plan to embed change in your organisation.
Subject area(s)
Management, Leadership, Strategy
Attendance
Short course
Fee
£17,950 + VAT (including residential costs)
Course length
2 x 5-day modules
Suitable for
Senior executives (e.g. directors, heads of department)
Delivery
In-person

Start dates

10 Nov 2025

Delivery: In-person
Location: Greenlands campus,

Join waitlist

20 Apr 2026

Delivery: In-person
Location: Greenlands campus,

Book now

Looking for a date?

No problem. Get in touch with our team to be kept in the loop on future course dates.

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NOTE

All programmes are subject to limited availability. We recommend booking a minimum of 6 weeks before the programme start date, to guarantee sufficient time for your enrolment and on-boarding.

Overview

Evolving into senior leadership is one of the most challenging and defining transitions in any career. It demands a shift from functional expertise to leading across the whole organisation: navigating complexity, making decisions under uncertainty, and shaping strategy while staying resilient. Many executives experience self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and the pressure to perform while maintaining well-being, influence and impact at the highest level.

The Henley Executive Management Programme equips senior executives, directors and heads of function to thrive in this transition. Combining world-class research with real-world application, it develops the confidence, strategic perspective and resilience required to succeed and perform sustainably at the top of the organisation.

Distinctive in its approach, the programme blends experiential and evidence-based learning. From exploring strategy, change, innovation, neuroscience, finance and AI, to practising leadership presence through actor-led simulations, 360° feedback and one-to-one coaching, participants strengthen their resilience through HRV monitoring and personal analysis. They translate insight into impact with a tailored action plan that aims to embed change across their organisation.

Development continues throughout the programme, with opportunities to consolidate and apply the skills and techniques learned back in the organisation with support from Henley. A live consultancy project deepens this application, creating meaningful impact and lasting momentum beyond the programme.

Learning alongside senior leaders from different organisations, participants broaden their perspective, challenge assumptions and develop professional networks, creating sustained value for both the individual and their organisation.


Key benefits

  • Gain the insights to think and act strategically across your organisation, and the tools to devise and implement effective strategy.

  • Develop the confidence and clarity to step beyond your comfort zone, tackling complex challenges with composure and conviction.

  • Unlock the mindset and influence to operate at board level, shaping strategy, driving execution, and leading change with purpose.

  • Elevate your ability to inspire, influence, and ignite action in others.

  • Position yourself for senior leadership and transformative opportunities, with the credibility and capability to make a lasting impact.

  • Learn alongside experienced peers, sharing perspectives and solving real-world leadership challenges together.

You'll learn through a unique mix of:

  • Experiential learning across strategy, leadership, change, innovation, neuroscience, finance, AI, and more.
  • 360-degree feedback and one-to-one coaching for personal insight and growth.
  • Peer learning with leaders from diverse organisations and sectors.
  • Practical tools, including actor-led simulations for difficult conversations, heart rate variability (HRV) monitoring and personal professional analysis for leadership resilience.
  • A personal action plan to apply learning directly back to the organisation at pace and scale.

The Henley Executive Management Programme is designed for senior executives, directors, and heads of function who want to strengthen their impact and performance at the highest levels of leadership. It supports both those preparing to step into greater organisational responsibility, developing broader thinking, new behaviours and strategic relationships, and experienced leaders who want to deepen or expand their leadership capability. The programme also helps organisations build a stronger senior leadership pipeline and enhance succession planning capacity.

The Henley Executive Management Programme is delivered through a combination of workshops, role-play activities, coaching and self-awareness sessions. You will study as part of a small but diverse cohort of peers, learning from each other’s shared experiences.

The programme takes place over four months, as broken down below:

Three to four weeks before your course starts, you will:

  • Collect 360-degree feedback on your strengths and areas for improvement
  • Identify a learning partner within your organisation to support you during the course
  • Discuss your learning objectives with our Programme Director
  • Choose your elective topics of study:
    • Module 1: Managing Business Risks or Managing Business Finances
    • Module 2: Driving Innovation or Building Market Focus
Academic authors
Narendra Profile Photo
Dr Narendra Laljani

Module 1 is delivered on site at Greenlands. These immersive, practical sessions focus on leading self, leading others, and leading the change process.

Topics include:

  • The changing face of leadership and management
  • Neuroscience and what it can teach us about leadership, decision-making and handling uncertain or complex situations
  • Business strategy and what it means for your organisation
  • Mindfulness and staying calm under pressure
  • Techniques to boost your own and your colleagues’ resilience
  • Holding difficult conversations

Content is delivered through a dynamic combination of workshops, role-play activities and 1:1 coaching. You can also choose to wear a heart rate monitor for four days to learn how your heart rate variability (HRV) impacts your well-being and effectiveness.

Academic authors
Narendra Profile Photo
Dr Narendra Laljani
Patricia Riddell
Professor Patricia Riddell
Caroline Hitchens
Elizabeth Stephens
Kate Scott
John Neal

Between modules you will the opportunity to consolidate and apply the skills and techniques you have learned.

You will also have a 1:1 executive coaching session and additional reading during this time.

Academic authors
Narendra Profile Photo
Dr Narendra Laljani

Module 2 is delivered on site at Greenlands and focuses on leading organisations effectively.

Topics include:

  • The structure of effective organisations
  • How to mobilise an organisation towards a specific course of action
  • The skills for complex problem-solving
  • How to engage, inspire and influence others
  • Live-consultancy exercise
  • Action planning

The consultancy exercise is with a host organisation, normally a social enterprise, charity, or NGO. You will help them solve a particular business challenge, drawing from what you have learned on the programme to make recommendations.

Academic authors
Narendra Profile Photo
Dr Narendra Laljani
Claire Hewitt 75edwqckd
Claire Hewitt
Simon lancaster 75edwqckn
Simon Lancaster
Andy Bryan

To enable you to effectively implement your learning, support from the Programme Director and Henley continue after your course is completed.

This includes:

  • Embedding your personal action plan with support from your organisation's learning partner
  • Follow-up call with your Programme Director
  • 1:1 executive coaching session
  • Access to the virtual learning portal and resources for up to 12 months
  • Joining our alumni network
Academic authors
Narendra Profile Photo
Dr Narendra Laljani

Modules or course content marked as optional are indicative and may be subject to change. Please note, constraints in timetable scheduling may mean you are unable to take some optional modules at the same time as others.

Programme Director Narendra Laljani is a management educator, consultant and CEO coach with 25 years' experience in leadership development and helping organisations to become more effective. He has undertaken management development projects for a diverse range of clients and has consulted at board level with a large number of international organisations.

Dr Narendra Laljani

Executive Fellow

Nick Roy

Executive Fellow, Lead Tutor

Professor Patricia Riddell

Professor of Applied Neuroscience, University of Reading

Ann James

Executive Fellow

Claire Hewitt

Head of Partnership Programmes | Director of The Henley Partnership

Simon Lancaster

Executive Fellow

Dr Elizabeth Stephens

Managing Director of Geopolitical Risk Advisory

John Neal

Coach, Leadership and Team Developer

Andy Bryan

Executive Fellow

Caroline Hitchen

Executive Coach

Anna Brown

Executive, Development and Leadership Coach

Melanie Symes

Coaching Mentor, Supervisor

Anna Linley

Executive Coach, Consultant and Director

Set in sweeping parkland on the banks of the River Thames, Henley Business School's Greenlands campus provides an inspiring and reflective environment for focused work and study.

Find out more about our facilities and how to find us

Our free, informal consultation service introduces you to a member of our team to talk you through everything and anything you want to know about the programme.

Our team can speak to you about:

  • Is this the right programme for you?
  • Does the programme fit your learning objectives?
  • How is the programme delivered?
  • What topics are covered in the programme?
  • And much more.

Why choose Henley?

4th in the UK
overall for executive education open programmes (Financial Times 2025)
(Financial Times Executive Education 2025)

For 80 years, Henley Business School has developed confident and resilient business leaders. Executive Education at Henley is:

  • Practical: we combine academic rigour with a strong practical focus, so you can immediately apply what you have learned back in your organisation.
  • Relevant: Henley faculty are experienced practitioners who can support you in exploring solutions to your organisation’s challenges.
  • Collaborative: Open programmes enable you to expand your network, gain new perspectives and share ideas with peers from a range of backgrounds and sectors.
  • Personal: deliberately small learning groups allow you to benefit from individual attention and a confidential environment. We encourage you to understand your unique strengths, leadership style, and areas for development.

Contact us

Open Programmes

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the programme, please contact our programme advisors.

Email: exec@henley.ac.uk
Telephone: 01491 418767
“​What I learned in 2 weeks from this programme would have taken me 4 to 5 years to learn otherwise.”
Ginette Kilroy People Director, CTIL Henley Executive Management Programme
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