Top-Up. Short-term and part-time executive education programs at Victoria and Vancouver business schools offer managers a leg up on the job.

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1 Top-Up Short-term and part-time executive education programs at Victoria and Vancouver business schools offer managers a leg up on the job. By Heather Hughes If you re reading this magazine chances are you re going somewhere. But have you stopped to ask yourself, Is my career going anywhere? To be sure, if you want to propel your career, provide transformational leadership within your organization, and develop a network of colleagues, then an executive education program is a valuable asset towards realizing those goals. And because life and work make full-time studies impractical for many, more and more business schools are tailoring executive education to meet the needs of working professionals who want to earn while they learn and retain some semblance of a life. Fortunately, there are several world class business schools offering such programs in Vancouver and Victoria. The following is a snapshot of what s on offer for those who want their careers to take off. 17

2 Above: Hatley Castle on the Royal Roads University campus ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY PHOTO ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY Royal Roads University s raison d être is to make higher education accessible, and to accommodate experienced professionals. The university delivers applied and professional programs through a combination of short, on-campus residencies and online learning. The university s Centre for Applied Leadership and Management delivers graduate certificates, customized development programs and executive education to professionals who want to gain a deeper understanding of how to transform and lead in the workplace. Executive education programs allow managers to focus on areas of professional interest and strength, build skills and experience, and apply new and relevant knowledge and strategies in the workplace. Programs are designed for those looking to add breadth, depth, and earning power to their career, while still meeting professional and personal responsibilities. A variety of credit and non-credit programs can be customized to meet the individual needs of an organization. What do Graduates Say? James Lynch, VP Communications at American Express, wanted to enhance his executive skills and develop a network of colleagues when he enrolled in a six-day intensive International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Executive Accreditation Seminar at Royal Roads. I wanted a highly regarded professional designation and the cache that comes with it, says Lynch. [I wanted] an opportunity to give back to the IABC by taking on more of a leadership role and, I wanted to develop closer connections with fellow communicators around the world. For Sean Orman, COO at El Fresko Technologies, it was about developing leadership skills to engage employees and improve communications: The skills I learned at the Developing Leadership Impact Executive Retreat have given me the ability to not only manage but engage and motivate the people in my life. Who Is It For? Royal Roads University Executive Education programs are designed for senior or middle management professionals who want to inspire positive change in their organization and become more effective at leading themselves, their teams and their organizations. For more information about executive programs at Royal Roads University, visit IFR archipelagomedia.com 18

3 SEGAL GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY The Segal Graduate School at SFU Business has a long history of promoting lifelong learning, productive change and the need to be innovative in the delivery of research and teaching that makes an impact. To that end, the school offers its Executive MBA for working professionals, which can be done part-time over 19 months. Segal was the first business school in Canada to pioneer an Executive MBA program for working professionals and has produced more than 1,500 EMBA graduates since its inception in Here, talented and experienced business professionals engage in dialogue on wideranging business topics, learn from peers as well as faculty, broaden personal and career networks, and gain new perspectives on issues challenging organizations today. The Segal School s internationally recognized faculty combine exceptional academic credentials with real-world business experiences and use entertaining, dynamic teaching styles. This team-based, small-classroom environment combines the experiences of a cohort, for a multi-faceted education. Participants polish their communication and presentation skills, improve negotiation and collaboration abilities, and become exposed to the latest ideas in management thinking. What Do Graduates Say? The EMBA was a great life experience, in and of itself, just to be in the classroom with stimulating conversation and learning new things with good people. With every project, an understanding of what you want to achieve, who s doing what, how long it will take, and knowing the expectations are standard managerial skills that everyone in a position of authority or responsibility needs to have. This EMBA was an intensive way to get the skills to succeed. Chilwen Cheng, Founder, President & CEO, Paradigm Shift Solutions Inc. Who Is It For The Executive MBA is designed for mid-career managers, professionals, and emerging business leaders who are poised to assume leadership roles at the local, national or international level. Candidates usually have six to ten years of business experience, and several years of management responsibility. For more information about SFU s EMBA, visit Above: The EMBA program for working professionals at Segal Graduate School of Business is designed for mid-career managers, professionals and emerging business leaders. SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY PHOTO 19

4 IFR archipelagomedia.com 20 EXECUTIVE DEPTH & BREADTH As one of the largest corporate educators in North America, UBC s Sauder School of Business attracts more than 2,500 local, national, and international working professionals annually to their dedicated training centre at Robson Square in downtown Vancouver. Our success in the market is really based on word of mouth, says Gordon Rein, division manager. People return to the workplace from one of our seminars, and tell their colleagues about a particular insight or experience they can immediately apply to their management style or corporate strategy. What really sets us apart is the comprehensive breadth and depth of our programs, taught by world-class faculty and top industry practitioners. Gordon adds that a large part of Sauder s value proposition is to encourage participants to learn from each other: there is a lot of experience present in each of these classes, and tapping into that to bring ideas and skills to life is what we excel at. As companies look more carefully at their training investment, Sauder has developed several ways to increase return on training. One unique way to do this is through Sauder s Executive Education Certificates. We have a lot of repeat customers who are developing formal management knowledge through these certificates, says Gordon. The school has also started working with companies to develop certificates that are customized specifically for them. This is one of the best ways to ensure that training is aligned to corporate strategy, and that it will stick once the individual returns to their job. For a detailed description of Executive Education Certificates and the more than 100 specialized 2- to 6-day executive courses on offer through open enrollment, visit Sauder s website at: Above: Sauder s Applied Leadership Program challenges participants by incorporating individualized business projects they can take back to their organizations. UBC PHOTO SAUDER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA The Sauder School of Business s Accelerated Leadership Program (ALP) is a rigorous professional development program for senior executives. Held over a fivemonth time frame, the program includes two residential sessions in Whistler, B.C. It brings together world-renowned faculty, real-life business applications, and leading research to prepare exceptional performers for their role as future corporate leaders. Transformative and collaborative, the program focuses on cultivating the leadership skills that will enable emerging leaders to overcome complex business challenges and drive progressive change in their organizations. Leadership for leadership s sake is not going to get it done, says Bruce Wiesner, Associate Dean of Sauder s Executive Education division. We need programs that drive business outcomes, tie back to the business, and have both an immediate and a lasting effect on an organization s leadership capabilities. Our Accelerated Leadership Program is designed to do just that. The ALP offers organizations a return on their education investment by incorporating an individualized business project that participants bring back to the organization for implementation. The program also includes peer learning, company mentorship, personal coaching and pre- and post-program assessments to ensure a comprehensive and lasting educational experience. Sauder also offers a residential program designed for midlevel managers who aspire to senior leadership positions. Meeting The Leadership Challenge develops advanced leadership skills over an intensive, fast-paced six-day format. By the end of the program, participants are able to break down boundaries, empower organizational change and lead their organizations into the future. Participants work on projects to solve real-life leadership challenges, and take away a game plan for organizational and personal action. In doing so, they expand their leadership horizons and learn to lead themselves and others in times of rapid change. For more information on the ALP and Meeting The Leadership Challenge, visit the Sauder School of Business s website at:

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6 IFR archipelagomedia.com 22 HEATHER HUGHES certified management consultant Call if you want: An international expert Succession plans that work Stronger leadership More effective teams unique to you. at your workplace. Tel: (250) PETER B. GUSTAVSON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA The University of Victoria s Peter B. Gustavson School of Business, formerly UVic Business, was established in 1990, and in the 20 years since it has provided a wealth of expertise in mid-management and executive level formal instruction. The Gustavson School s Executive Programs offers specialized management development opportunities for midcareer and executive-level professionals. Designed and delivered by recognized leaders in business research and practice, the School s programs combine academic rigour and practical relevance with the latest in cutting-edge thinking, strategy, and tactics. Oriented towards innovative and experiential learning, participants work together to discuss, analyze, interpret and apply what they learn. Their programs develop leaders who excel in constant change and build the competencies to think strategically in resolving organizational issues and challenges. Participants gain critical skills and strategies needed to move quickly from problem analysis to solution implementation. The materials and learning initiatives are designed to improve workplace performance and advance the careers of individuals. Who Is It For? Designed to lead towards some form of external certification or to satisfy professional development requirements, open-enrolment programs are available to executives, managers, and professionals wishing to upgrade their skills, knowledge, and perspective in areas such as Project Management, Business Analysis or Management Accounting, as well as in areas that fit with the School s educational philosophy and specializations, such as entrepreneurship, service management and international business. At the same time, the Gustavson School is increasingly focusing its energy and resources on customized and integrated programs, co-developed with clients to offer a high-quality and cost-effective way for organizations to cross functional boundaries, train their managers in particular areas, and prepare key individ-

7 uals to assume positions of different or higher responsibility. Programs can be tailored to a one- or two-day strategic planning workshop, right up to a three- or fourweek modular program. What Do Graduates Say? The Masters Certificate in Project Management has added significant value to my career. When working with clients who are not familiar with the program, a mention of the fact it is affiliated with UVic provides credibility. For those clients who are familiar with the program, mentioning the fact that I graduated from this program provides instant credibility. I have never regretted taking the class and thoroughly enjoyed the entire course and the team of instructors. Ken Evans, Owner, Heritage Mountain Consulting Group For more information about Executive Programs at the University of Victoria s Peter B. Gustavson School of Business, visit Above: The Gustavson School of Business is increasingly focusing its energy and resources on customized and integrated programs for business organizations. VINCE KLASSEN PHOTO, COURTESY OF UVIC. At left: In October 2010 the University of Victoria renamed its Faculty of Business the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business the first time in the University s history that a faculty was named after an individual. UVIC PHOTO 23