Leadership Development Programs

The Advancing Leaders Program supports managers with responsibility for larger teams to build advanced leadership capabilities that are relevant to our University of Sydney context and values.

The program is run each year for academics at Level C–E and professional staff at HEO 9–10, SPS A-C and includes a mix of participants from across the University’s faculties, schools and central portfolios. The program combines four workshops, group activities, one-on-one and peer coaching and is facilitated by senior academics drawn from across the University and external facilitators. The focus is on:

• Leading with purpose to achieve University goals
• Coaching larger teams and leading other leaders
• Thinking strategically and applying a broader University perspective
• Managing difficult conversations
• Leveraging diversity
• Relating to stakeholders from across the University and the wider community to attain common goals
• Impact and influence as a leader
• Strategic financial management

For more information on the Foundational Leadership program, please visit the program section on the Leadership Academy platform.

The Leading Teams program supports our team leaders to build leadership capabilities that are relevant to our University of Sydney context.

The program is run each year for professional team leaders up to HEO8 and academics Level A and B and includes a mix of participants from across the University’s faculties, schools and central portfolios.

The program focuses on:

• Adaptive leadership
• Creative problem-solving
• Managing teams & projects
• Feedback & having hard conversations
• Quality coaching conversations
• Leveraging Diversity
• Leading Change

The Senior Executive Leadership Program is a modular program, developed to build critical executive leadership capabilities with a strategic, system level focus. Eligible executive staff will be invited to each of the modules as they are scheduled.

Details on the six program modules are below.

The Senior Leader Essentials program is designed specifically for senior leaders who are new to their role or to the University. This program offers a unique opportunity to connect with the University strategy and aspirations, build networks with peers, and engage with the University Executive (UE) team.

The program is run twice a year and consists of two half-day workshops:

1. The Strategy Overview Workshop, where participants connect with the University’s strategy, aspirations, and operations through panel discussions and presentations by UE members.
2. The Group Leadership Lab, where participants identify strategic priorities and challenges in your role with the support of Deloitte experts.

This is a new leadership development program supporting senior leaders delivering the University’s strategic aspirations. Targeting Heads of School/Discipline, Deputy Deans, Associate Deans at Academic level E and Directors at SPSD level, the program is experiential and interactive combining five workshop days with coaching, peer support groups and a Hogan 360 feedback tool.

The program focuses on:

• Leading in Sydney’s strategic context
• Collaborating and partnering across the University to achieve Sydney 2032 strategic aspirations
• Creating the conditions for belonging, trust and accountability
• Exploring enabling factors that support leaders to have an impact across the broader system
• Igniting leaders own potential to adapt, learn, and experiment through individual and collective leadership
• Supporting leaders to thrive in the complex environment of Sydney

The program includes five workshop days over three months, completion of a Hogan 360 feedback instrument, coaching and peer support groups. The following program overview provides more detail.

This program is designed for academic women at Level B and offers participants a range of delivery modes to create an enriched and engaging learning experience. Participants will be supported through action-learning workshops specific to the academic career, as well as individual coaching and mentoring opportunities to build their career strength and leadership potential.

For more information on this program, please email the Diversity and Inclusion team (diversity.inclusion@sydney.edu.au.)

The Sydney Women’s Leadership Program (Professional) will provide an enriched learning experience where participants feel empowered and motivated to drive their own careers. The program offers tailored career development to our talented women and facilitates the advancement of women into leadership positions across the University.

For more information on this program, please email the Diversity and Inclusion team (diversity.inclusion@sydney.edu.au.)

The primary objectives of the program are to accelerate culturally diverse women’s careers and support the leadership development of these high potential women. This intense program targets high potential women who demonstrate the potential to secure leadership positions. The programs include one-on-one sponsorship with a senior leader at The University of Sydney, mixed academic and professional cohort-based skills development and career planning workshops.

For more information on this program, please email the Diversity and Inclusion team (diversity.inclusion@sydney.edu.au.)