Develop an intellectual toolkit to align purpose, strategy, and capability in your enterprise for enhanced business performance.

The Oxford Enterprise Leadership Programme is a specialised business strategy programme that highlights the impact of aligning purpose, strategy, and capability. The programme takes a fresh approach to an established concept by proposing strategies devised from insights in a new field of research termed ‘strategic alignment’.

Strategic alignment encapsulates the intersection of leadership and strategy to ultimately improve the effectiveness, operations, and performance of an enterprise and its project management. It also ensures organisational capability and strengthens teams by driving individuals within the enterprise to work together toward a common goal. In a highly competitive, complex, and shifting marketplace, this alignment can determine organisational success or failure.

Based on active research at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, the programme investigates each link of the enterprise value chain that forms the core foundation of every organisation. Over the course of six weeks, it uses evidence-based insights, strategic frameworks, project case studies, and real-world applications to help you understand this new concept. As you position yourself to transform and future-proof your enterprise, you'll gain the practical skills to produce and apply a fit-for-purpose business strategy for your organisation’s unique context.

Is this programme for you?

This programme takes a unique view on organisational effectiveness, aligning purpose, strategy, and capability. It aims to equip you with the intellectual toolkit to facilitate strategic alignment in any enterprise, be it in the private, public, government, or not-for-profit sector. While the practical application of your learnings, as well as stakeholder buy-in, is dependent on your level of influence, the principles taught are industry-agnostic. Guided by Oxford Saïd faculty, heads of department, middle management, HR professionals as well as those in the field of project management, will learn how to strengthen their teams and facilitate strategic alignment between departments and within projects. Executives, directors, and business leaders tasked with operational transformation will benefit from the strategic approach to improving performance, creating future-facing objectives, and enhancing leadership skills. Consultants will explore the latest research and improve their ability to advise on clients’ organisational effectiveness.

The future of real estate is changing. Explore the megatrends and disruptions impacting occupier and capital markets, and increase the resilience of an investment portfolio in the context of shifts to come.

From climate change to shifting demographics, pandemics and new technologies, the real estate market is experiencing significant change. The way we transact, manage, and invest in property is being redesigned as a result of global megatrends, innovation, and disruption. In the face of change, professionals are now being asked: how will you adapt your portfolio for greater resilience?

Gain insight into the future of investment and development on the Oxford Future of Real Estate Programme from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. This broad, six-week programme explores the impact of global trends and forces on commercial, residential, and sustainable real estate, both now and in the future. You’ll explore a framework of theory, practice, and innovation, gaining a range of perspectives that empower you to appraise development and investment opportunities. With insights from industry leaders, and the Oxford Future of Real Estate Initiative, you’ll discover solutions to modern-day problems and become equipped to build a resilient real estate portfolio.

Is this programme for you?

This programme has been built for professionals, executives, functional experts, leaders, and decision-makers in real estate, finance, investment, engineering, and construction. It’s also ideal for those from complementary or adjacent sectors aiming to disrupt or transition into the real estate market. With a broad industry outlook, the programme will equip traditional real estate businesses and professionals, as well as those aiming to break into the market, with the skills to respond to industry change. Property investors and venture capitalists will learn to better harness opportunities in start-ups and PropTech, and be equipped to build resilient portfolios that withstand the changes that global trends, innovation, and disruption bring. Experienced professionals working in technology, business development, or real estate sales will gain holistic insight into a shifting landscape. There are no prerequisites for this course, but an understanding of maths and finance will be beneficial to participants.

During the programme, professionals will have the opportunity to network with industry experts and leaders from around the world. Upon completion, you will join the Saïd Business School e-lumni community and gain access to the Oxford Saïd Executive Education Alumni group on LinkedIn.*

*Access to this group will only be granted following the participant’s successful completion and passing of the programme.

As a leader, you have a critical role to play in addressing the climate crisis. Learn how to act now and how to act collectively to reimagine the way you do business.

At the end of 2019, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the “point of no-return” on climate change was fast approaching – in fact, the next ten years will shape the climate risk outlook for the next century.¹ It’s no longer sufficient for businesses to simply address the effects of climate change, they now need to play a critical role in confronting (and mitigating) the causes of the crisis.

The Oxford Climate Emergency Programme will empower you to take the required action. Over the course of six weeks, you’ll discover how to navigate risks and capture opportunities through catalysing change and reconceptualising the way you do business. Saïd Business School and the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, two leading institutions at the University of Oxford, have brought together extensive research and critical insights to create this six-week programme, in which you’ll explore the climate emergency from a systemic, organisational, and individual perspective. As you explore the need for radical transformation, you’ll engage with economic system change, business model innovation, future-focused policymaking and more. You’ll be encouraged to reflect on opportunities for collaboration, as well as the importance of prioritising your own personal resilience and leadership when facing the climate emergency. This practical programme uses interactive peer engagements, case studies, and accessible tools, with a 100-day plan for driving urgent and meaningful change, helping you build a sustainable future vital for business growth.

Is this programme for you?

This programme is designed for senior managers and leaders, as well as consultants, who want to understand the impact of climate change on business, and vice versa. It will provide them with the tools and frameworks to innovate the way they do business, while still balancing environmental sustainability with profitability. Those within the sustainability, social, and environmental sector will be able to improve the way they collaborate and create action in addressing the climate emergency. Public sector professionals, policymakers, and regulators will discover what it takes to build a circular and regenerative economy, and gain a new systemic perspective to combat the crisis.

Explore and develop future-focused innovation strategies.

For years, innovation has been seen as a tool for finding new solutions to current challenges, in particular those that have been brought on by technological disruption. However, it’s unlikely that the challenges of tomorrow will be anything like those we face today. In such a fast-paced and uncertain world, businesses need to develop the strategic capacity to respond to unforeseen challenges.

The Oxford Strategic Innovation Programme approaches innovation as a tool for handling challenges that can’t yet be predicted. Designed by Oxford Saïd’s leading expert on innovation, Marc Ventresca, you’ll redefine what innovation means, why it’s essential, and how it can be mobilized within your organization.

Through a critical thinking and analytical approach, you’ll explore different ways of navigating innovation and how to implement it within your organizational design, structure, and culture.

Learn to build systems that can adapt to unpredictable situations, making it a sustainable and routine practice within your organization.

Is this programme for you?

This programme is suitable for senior business professionals, leaders, entrepreneurs, or consultants from all industries who want to enable innovation within their organizations. This programme will equip you with the skills to influence strategy and decision-making, and employ innovation practices within your business structure. Build an environment that is optimized for developing new ideas through fostering a culture of innovation in your organization.

Guided by global thought leaders and Oxford Saïd faculty, you’ll gain cutting-edge insights and discover new approaches to solving business challenges. As this is an industry-agnostic programme, you’ll be equipped with the tools to create increased value regardless of your business area or market sector.

Explore the practical applications of AI, within your organization and society.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already having a major impact across the economy, coursing in short order across the global business environment. To truly understand the potential it holds, you first need to understand how the technology works. The Oxford Artificial Intelligence Programme aims to provide you with a sound framework of this technology: from its history, functionality, and capability, as well as its inherent ethical challenges. Over the course of six short weeks online you’ll develop an informed opinion about AI's applications with insights from University of Oxford faculty. Reflect on the implications and opportunities of AI, and build a business case for its implementation within your unique organizational context.

Is this programme for you?

This programme is designed for managers and business leaders across multiple functions and industries looking to understand the workings and possibilities of AI. It’s also applicable to technical working professionals such as CIOs, IT managers, and business analysts who want to better understand how artificial intelligence can be implemented within their organisations.

You’ll get the opportunity to learn about artificial intelligence online, and develop a foundational understanding of how it works. However, as this is a non-technical programme, you will not be required to code.

Develop the ability to implement your own trading strategies and demystify algorithmic trading.

While algorithmic trading has been around for a long time, the rise of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) has substantially accelerated its course of development. This allows trading algorithms to find market efficiencies and better recognise profitable patterns of their own accord, making trades at a very high frequency. The performance of these algorithms, therefore, often exceeds those of professional traders and financial advisors.

The Oxford Algorithmic Trading Programme from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, equips you with a comprehensive understanding of the rules that drive successful algorithmic trading strategies and hedge funds, as well as a grounded introduction to financial theory and behavioural finance. Over the course of six weeks, you’ll learn four principles established by Programme Director Nir Vulkan, to guide you through the process of evaluating an algorithmic trading model. You’ll also discover what biases are present in the market and how these behavioural traits create exploitable patterns. On completion, you’ll have the ability to assess whether a trading model or fund is worth investing in.

Is this programme for you?

This programme is aimed at working professionals in the trading and investment space or those not currently familiar with the algorithmic trading platform. It will be of value to anyone interested in hearing from industry leaders and top academics on the key issues facing algorithmic systematic traders. The programme will also interest professionals looking to learn about the predicted impact of AI and automation on the course of financial trading’s future. Private and part-time traders who wish to improve their trading abilities and experiment with algorithmic trading models will also benefit from the programme. This non-technical programme features optional activities for participants interested in engaging in the technical side of algorithmic trading by discovering how to build a model using Python. These activities are entirely voluntary and run through an integrated development environment. No extra software is required.

Strengthen your organizational strategy by developing the skills to lead your business through complexity.

As the business environment becomes increasingly uncertain, it’s apparent that traditional approaches to strategy are no longer sufficient to navigate such rapid change. Leaders now need to ask, “How should strategy evolve to better prepare us for the future?” The Oxford Executive Strategy Programme seeks to answer this question.

Informed by the distinct research strengths of Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, the programme unpacks how strategy is changing and how breadth within strategic thinking, in addition to thinking long-term, is imperative to lead strategy. You’ll learn about strategy from Oxford’s unique perspective, based on a core framework of the four Ps: purposes, players, partnerships, and processes. With this new approach to organisational strategy that considers rapidly changing environments, stakeholders, and digital transformation, you’ll become prepared to lead strategy in disruptive environments.

The content of this programme also forms part of the six-month online Oxford Strategic Management Executive Programme, designed to help you advance as a business executive.

Is this programme for you?

This online programme is relevant to business leaders and senior executives who are responsible for making strategic decisions, driving digital innovation, and managing strategy within disruptive environments. Those looking to optimise their current performance for a competitive and digital business landscape will be able to immediately apply the Oxford approach to strategy within their own context. Professionals working towards a future leadership role or career will gain practical guidance on improving strategies within their teams. Over the course of seven weeks online, the programme balances theory with practical global case studies from various industries, ensuring those in traditional corporate spaces, finance, business development, healthcare, and IT find relevance within their own organisational context.

Overcome gender barriers and grow as a leader within your career and organization.

Time and again, the business world has witnessed the many advantages of employing more women in leadership positions. Tackling gender bias and workplace challenges are becoming a necessity for organizations, society, and the economy at large.

The Oxford Women’s Leadership Development Programme from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford offers you the opportunity to take a critical look at your own leadership style and strengths over the course of six weeks, online.

By approaching leadership as a reflective practice, this programme is structured around three main themes: self-acceptance, self-management, and self-development. Through challenging the workplace gender biases that female leaders face, you’ll explore the skills needed to lead, influence, negotiate, and navigate difficult scenarios.

Is this programme for you?

This online leadership development programme aims to better equip current leaders to navigate the many challenges and gender biases that hinder female professionals in the workplace. The coursework is also designed to help aspiring female managers and executives develop the critical leadership skills to influence, persuade, empower, and mentor. Those preparing to transition into senior management or C-suite roles will be able to deepen their leadership knowledge by reflecting on crucible moments and approaches to challenging situations. This programme will serve those aiming to overcome gender barriers in business and grow both within their careers and organisation.

Gain a holistic understanding of venture finance and make informed decisions for capital funding and investment.

A lack of funding, not knowing how to spend it effectively, and not adequately balancing the risks of venture financing are just some of the reasons that startups fail. Gaining an understanding of venture finance could enable you to secure funding for a business and help it to realize its potential, whether as an investment or your own entrepreneurial venture.

The Oxford Entrepreneurship: Venture Finance Programme aims to provide you with this understanding through an exploration of the nature and dynamics of venture finance. Over the course of eight weeks, you’ll embark on an online learning journey that covers various investment avenues, including venture capital funds and crowdfunding. Led by Saïd Business School, University of Oxford faculty and industry experts, you’ll use a ‘two-hat’ approach to investigate venture finance from the perspective of both an entrepreneur and an investor. This programme also explores how to navigate the funding process, from the initial fundraising to the final exit strategy.

Is this programme for you?

The coursework of this online programme is aimed at those who are planning, or currently involved in, a new business and would like to gain a comprehensive understanding of venture capital financing. It’s also ideal for current or aspiring investors wanting to break into the industry. Investors will learn to analyse different funding opportunities, while entrepreneurs will learn how to effectively present and prepare their venture as they go about the fundraising process. Basic financial knowledge or business acumen is recommended.

Redefine your marketing strategy in an age of disruption.

Technologies such as artificial intelligence are reshaping the way businesses think about their marketing strategies, as well as how they choose to harness different channels.

The Oxford Digital Marketing: Disruptive Strategy Programme aims to provide you with the skills and confidence to respond to the forces driving disruption in the digital marketing landscape. You’ll investigate how consumer behavior and media consumption have evolved, and develop strategies for adapting your marketing approach to account for this. Led by faculty from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, you’ll also learn how to capitalize on the power of social media, and effectively use emerging technology and digital marketing channels in your strategy.

Develop a future-focused perspective on marketing as you learn to leverage data and analytics in your decision-making and create value in the face of disruption.

Is this programme for you?

This Oxford Saïd programme is best suited to marketing managers working in leadership positions at digital agencies and other companies across industries. It’s also ideal for experienced professionals with a sound understanding of marketing principles who want to build on foundational training in digital and social media platforms with a programme centred on future-focused strategy development in an age of disruption. The content is specifically designed for those who want to harness digital innovation in marketing and understand the opportunities that emerging trends and technologies will bring to organizations or clients.