Introducing our new Emerging Social Purpose Leaders program
Melbourne Business School has launched a new course to empower the next generation of social impact and not-for-profit leaders.
The Emerging Social Purpose Leaders program aims to support the development of talented, up and coming leaders for a resilient, sustainable and impactful social purpose sector.
Created by the new Social Purpose Centre and delivered in three two-day sessions over 12 weeks, the program is designed to fill the gap that exists in business and management education for social impact leaders.
"Not-for-profit and other social purpose organisations require leaders equipped with both commercial acumen and the skills to deliver social impact," said Professor Will Harvey, Director of the Social Purpose Centre.
"Melbourne Business School and the Social Purpose Centre are excited to support emerging leaders who are dedicated to this vital work."
The course is unique in that the practical learning is tailored specifically for those who are working to deliver social impact, but have little prior business management training.
"Social-purpose organisations operate in highly complex contexts and face different challenges than for-profit companies," Professor Harvey said.
"Therefore, traditional management and leadership courses often fall short when it comes to practical experience."
Participants in the Emerging Social Purpose Leaders program will explore issues and opportunities unique to their sector and be able to directly apply their learnings to their own work.
"They will leave the course with the skills they need to lead their teams in a way that generates social impact while understanding what it takes to be financially sustainable."
Program structure
With a focus on practical outcomes, the Emerging Social Purpose Leaders program will see students complete a series of modules where they learn the fundamentals of business management for social purpose organisations.
Melbourne Business School's world-class academic faculty will present on the course alongside leading industry experts, showing students how to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios.
Libby-Ward Christie, Executive Director of the Social Purpose Centre, said the program blended the best of both industry knowledge and academic insight.
"The Centre is uniquely placed in that we are able to offer both real-world, industry experience and cutting-edge research, providing a holistic course that addresses all facets of business," she said.
"At every step, we are taking these fundamental business principles, and applying them to a not-for-profit and social purpose organisational context."
Topics covered will include social purpose strategy; implementing, evaluating and improving social impact; leading people; financial management; negotiation for social purpose; and systems thinking.
The program will be delivered in person, with participants staying at Melbourne Business School for each two-day module. Between modules, they will receive support from the program's facilitators to apply their new knowledge in the workplace.
"Crafting the course around these residential stays was very intentional, so that participants can put into practice what they are learning and reflect on what has worked and what hasn't in their organisation," Ms Ward-Christie said.
"These new leaders will leave the course with a lasting network of like-minded peers who they can continue to lean on throughout their career."
Scholarship options
Thanks to the support of the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, a number of generous partial scholarships will be on offer for participants from not-for-profit organisations.
Anyone from a not-for-profit organisation who applies to the program will automatically be considered.
"We are incredibly grateful that the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust is offering 10 scholarship opportunities," Ms Ward-Christie said.
"They are one of Victoria’s most respected charities and by supporting these scholarships they are providing an incredible opportunity for organisations and their people, who may not otherwise be able to access the course and develop these important business capabilities.
"It is support like this that is so critical to the not-for-profit sector – it helps contribute to the creation of resilient, innovative, and impactful organisations."
Applications for the first intake of the Emerging Social Purpose Leaders program, starting in September, are open now and close on August 9, 2024.
You can learn more about the scholarship opportunities, as well as how to apply, on the Emerging Social Purpose Leaders page.
For more information on how we are growing the impact of social purpose organisations, visit the Social Purpose Centre page.
To find out more about studying at Melbourne Business School, visit our Degree Programs and Short Courses pages, or learn about our range of services For Organisations.
