Certificate in Strategy & Critical Thinking

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS!

Leading Strategically: Plan, Execute, Succeed.

The ability to think critically and lead strategically has never been more important. Being able to do our best thinking in any situation and to execute strategically in a dynamic new environment is critical. Strategy is about more than frameworks, tools, and concepts. It is about processes, people, and engaging others in the journey. 

This course is designed to enhance your strategic leadership by integrating and elevating your strategic thinking and critical thinking skills. It emphasizes the crucial interplay between these areas, demonstrating how strengthening your strategic leadership capabilities directly impacts your ability to align and guide organizational activities with greater effectiveness. You will learn how to formulate strategies and successfully implement them for sustainable results, as well as acquire tangible ideas, tools, and concepts that you can apply right away.

This program will enable you to:

• Enhance your strategic leadership abilities to effectively inspire and guide others through complex and evolving challenges.
• Deepen your grasp of strategic thinking to better align and direct organizational activities, ensuring impactful and coherent execution of strategies.
• Sharpen your critical thinking skills to rigorously evaluate and address strategy, leadership challenges, and competitive advantages in a dynamic organizational environment.

Online Modules and Learning Outcomes

Module 1 • An Introduction to Strategy & Critical Thinking Processes

This session covers essential strategic principles and critical thinking techniques, teaching participants to analyze complex information, identify strategic opportunities, and make informed decisions. Through interactive discussions and group activities, participants will engage with peers, discussing real-world situations and fostering collaborative problem-solving.  

Module 2 • Critical Thinking Processes 

This session covers key elements such as identifying and overcoming barriers to clear thinking, like inattentional blindness, and improving decision-making by focusing on what can be controlled versus influenced. Through interactive exercises, participants refine their ability to ask insightful questions, evaluate information objectively, and apply a structured framework for critical thinking. The module concludes with actionable steps and practical strategies for integrating critical thinking into leadership roles to drive more effective outcomes.

Module 3 • Strategic Thinking Processes 

This session focuses on strengthening the essential processes for strategic thinking, distinguishing it from strategic planning. Participants will delve into the importance of strategic thinking in leadership and engage in exercises designed to analyze complex situations and anticipate future challenges. Key elements include understanding the attributes of strategic versus tactical decisions, the relationship between critical thinking and strategy, and creating a personal framework for strategic thinking. 

Module 4 • Implementing Strategy Through Others

This session focuses on executing strategy through effective leadership and harnessing the contributions of others. Participants will identify key individuals essential for strategy implementation and examine the traits of successful strategic leaders. The course explores concepts such as Situational Leadership, the “YOUR stakeholder model,” and stakeholder cluster strategies. It also covers the difference between compliance and commitment, the “Know, Feel, Do” framework, and the art of persuasion. 

Module 5 • Integrating and Applying Strategy & Critical Thinking

This session focuses on integrating and enhancing participants' strategic thinking, critical thinking, and leadership skills. It provides a comprehensive approach to applying these skills in real-world contexts. A key component is the professional action planning exercise, where participants identify a current professional challenge and develop a detailed action plan to address it. They will receive constructive feedback on their proposed plans, creating opportunities for further refinement and adjustment. 

Who Should Attend

Leaders and aspiring leaders who want to make a positive difference by sharpening their skills in strategic leadership and critical thinking, then apply them in a practical manner in their current and future roles.

 APPLY HERE

Be sure to review the 'Who Should Attend' section before applying.

Format and Dates

• Fully online
• 1 half-day / week
• 5-week program
• 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
• Sessions on Fridays 

(Toronto time, EST)

Module 1 • March 21, 2025
Module 2 • March 28, 2025
Module 3 • April 4, 2025
Module 4 • April 11, 2025
Module 5 • April 25, 2025

Program Fee

Individual registrations - $1,800 + HST / participant

Group registrations of 2 or more - $1,650 + HST / participant.

The fee includes all modules and course materials. 

Program Certificate

A certificate will be issued upon successful completion of the program (i.e. written assignment, attendance, participation). There will be approximately 1-2 hour of pre-work required in advance of each session. 

Contact Us for an additional early bird discount code for $300 off the fee (valid until January 15th)!

 

Kevin Yousie is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, in the Institute for Management & Innovation at the University of Toronto, where he teaches General Management and International Business in five graduate programs as well as two undergraduate programs. His particular area of focus is Strategic Management. He is Chair of U of T’s annual tri campus IMI Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Competition.  He has served on boards and has been actively engaged in consulting for more than twenty years. His client list now includes more than 70 organizations including Fortune 500 companies, large international banks, pension funds, insurance companies, regulators, credit union organizations, as well as not-for-profit and philanthropic organizations largely within the sustainable economy sector.