Deans & Directors for Impact

The inaugural meeting of the GRLI Deans & Directors Cohort

If we are going to influence, we have to reach people (and ourselves) in other than a rational way. We have to reach people’s motivations. We have to get below the surface of their thinking into what moves them, what affects their enthusiasm and concerns.

John W. Gardner
Founder of Common Cause and Adviser to Presidents

As a dean or senior leader of a forward thinking and outward facing learning institution, you work with increasingly competing internal and external priorities. Not least the paradoxes and possibilities associated with developing a global perspective and implementing responsibility in leadership and practice.

Alongside this you must manage the ever demanding cycle of transformational change required by learning and education fit for the 21st century.

The Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative, an EFMD, AACSB International and UN Global Compact strategic partnership inclusive of the PRME, is committed to facilitating innovative, pioneering and action oriented co-learning opportunities for senior leaders in the fields of management, higher education and organisational learning.

One such an opportunity is the Deans & Directors Cohort which held its inaugural meeting at Guelph College of Business & Economics in the fall of 2017.

The group that met in Guelph included Deans (*10), Interim/Outgoing Deans (3 **), Associate Deans (3) and Executive Directors (2) representing the following institutions:

American University of Beirut — Lebanon
Antwerp Management School — Netherlands *
Católica Porto Business School — Portugal *
Clarkson University — US *
College of Business and Economics, University of Guelph — Canada *
Deakin Business School — Australia *
ESADE Business School — Spain
George Mason University School of Business — US
Grossman School of Business, Univ of Vermont — US *
Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics — Sweden *
Kent State University College of Business Administration — US
Othman Yeop Abdullah Graduate School — Malaysia *
Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University — Canada *
Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University — US
Western Governors University — US *

As a participant-driven cohort, the group identified, based on collective energy and interest, which emergent issues and topics to emphasise during work sessions and subsequent virtual meetings — all in pursuit of fulfilling their roles as catalysts of change.

During follow-up video conferences earlier this year a number of Deans reflected on why and how this Cohort is unique. Three common themes emerged from their feedback:

1. The Cohort is an inspirational gathering: Convening a group that is regionally, contextually and topically diverse (i.e. with a diversity of knowledge, skills and experience) yet are like-hearted, like-minded and brings a strong action orientation.
2. The Cohort takes a relational approach: Participant-driven content within a container that is facilitated using a relational approach i.e. working in a mode that sits beyond the traditional conference / seminar format where transactional networking is more prevalent.
3. The Cohort is impact focused: Opportunities for peer-learning, exchange and collaboration that supports individual participants with facilitating change at organisational level and supports the Cohort or clusters to facilitate change at a systemic level.

If you have an interest in joining this community of pioneering leaders, and bring more of your whole self to bear on burning issues and questions of mutual concern to deans and senior leaders, then please declare your expectations, initial intentions and interests online before 7 March 2018 to qualify for the next intake.