Shaping Leaders for a Complex World
The Executive Leadership Series is a high-impact programme for current and aspiring senior leaders across education and related sectors.
Today’s Education Leaders are facing challenging times. They need clarity, resilience, and the confidence to inspire their colleagues and navigate change effectively.
This series creates the space to reflect, grow, and develop leadership that is practical, ethical, and impactful – alongside peers facing the same challenges.
Designed for Leaders to Step Up
- Current executive leaders seeking to sharpen specific skills
- Aspiring senior leaders preparing for executive roles
- Professionals who value collaboration, reflection, and peer learning
Open to colleges, universities, and education-related organisations
Leadership Skills That Stick
Leadership development that recognises the human side of leading – supporting confidence, wellbeing, and long-term impact.
Practical leadership for real challenges
Learn openly and honestly with peers
Take skills straight back into your workplace
£2,000 per candidate
Build connections that last beyond the programme
YOUR LEADERSHIP JOURNEY: WHAT YOU’LL LEARN AND APPLY
Curated by CDN’s Delivery and Engagement Partner, Valerie Jackman, the series runs from October 2026 to May 2027 and comprises nine full-day, in-person workshops. Priced at £2,000 per candidate (just over £200 per workshop), it offers outstanding value for executive-level development. Sessions are highly interactive, combining reflection, peer learning, practical tools and real-world scenarios.
Designed to prepare leaders for senior responsibility, the programme offers a powerful blend of insight, challenge and practical application. Preparing for Your Leadership Journey with Valerie Jackman helps participants clarify their leadership identity, values and readiness to lead, while Psychological Safety and Wellbeing with Judith Parke builds the skills needed to create high-performing, psychologically safe cultures.
Through Leadersmithing with Eve Poole, participants strengthen judgement, integrity and moral courage in decision-making. Managing a Crisis and Media Training with Police Scotland develop calm, decisive leadership and clear, confident communication in high-stakes situations.
Additional sessions will follow, ensuring the programme continues to evolve in line with the realities of senior leadership.
Testimonials
“The Executive Leadership Programme didn’t just develop my leadership skills, it transformed the way I lead, think and progress in my career.”
Hazel Brady, Principal (Interim), West Lothian College
