CEMS402 Global Leadership

• Topics

  How can future global leaders successfully collaborate with, motivate, and lead people in diverse international settings?

  In an increasingly globalized world, leaders must acquire the knowledge and skills to navigate the complexities of cross-cultural environments. As Meyer (2017) emphasizes in Harvard Business Review: "Although you may have been a very successful leader in your own culture, if you hope to motivate and engage people around the globe, you will need a multifaceted approach. Today it’s no longer enough to know how to lead the Dutch way or the Mexican way, the American way, or the Chinese way. You must be informed enough and flexible enough to choose which style will work best in which cultural context and then deliberately decide how to adapt (or not) to get the results you need."

  This course is grounded in the latest research on global leadership and the competency framework developed by Allan Bird (2018). Global leaders must develop skills in three key areas: organizational acumen, people and relationship management, and self-management. The course is structured around these competencies, providing students with the tools to lead in diverse industries and contexts, collaborate effectively in global teams, and cultivate a more reflective, self-aware leadership style. More specifically, the course addresses the five MIM learning outcomes: business embeddedness, internationalism, responsible citizenship, reflective critical thinking and comprehensive leadership.

  The sessions incorporate case study analysis, insights from academic experts and business executives, and collaboration in multicultural teams. This research-driven course is designed to help students apply their knowledge and develop the skills necessary to become responsible global leaders. It aligns with the core CEMS values, which focus on cultivating leaders who can contribute to a more open, sustainable, and inclusive world.

• Learning outcome

  Leadership involves managing oneself and others. In this course, a variety of teaching methods will be used to stimulate class participation and interact with the course contents.

  Upon successful completion of the course, you can:

  Knowledge

  • Identify key traits of effective global leaders and analyse the contextual factors that influence global leadership.
  • Analyse how personal values, character and identity influence leadership style, decision-making and authenticity across cultures.
  • Understand how diversity, culture and organisational context shape leadership opportunities and constraints in local and global settings.

  Skills

  • Reflect on the influence of one's own personality and culture on behaviour,  decision-making and group dynamics.
  • Apply self-leadership practices (self-awareness, self-motivation, self-regulation) to enhance personal and professional growth.
  • Communicate effectively and deliver constructive feedback in diverse cultural settings.
  • Exercise critical thinking and decision-making under uncertainty, balancing stakeholder perspectives and long-term responsibility.

  General Competence

  • Act as responsible global citizens by linking leadership practices to sustainability, ethics, service, responsibility and social impact.
  • Strengthen interpersonal skills for collaboration and leadership in intercultural environments.
  • Engage in critical self-reflection to enhance personality development and leadership effectiveness.

• Teaching

  The course meets once a week, usually on campus, for a 4-hour interactive session. Students are expected to prepare for each session according to instructions (advance reading, tasks, reflection)

• Restricted access

  This is a mandatory CEMS course reserved for CEMS students only.

• Credit reduction due to overlap

  INB431

• Compulsory Activity

  • Three reflection notes/group papers related to learning activities in the course.
  • Submission of peer feedback to team members.
  • Participants are expected to attend all of the classes and to notify the course responsible by e-mail before the lecture if an emergency or force majeure means they cannot attend. Students missing lectures can expect to do extra work to make up for the absence.

  Compulsory activities (work requirements) are valid for one semester.

• Assessment

  At the end of the semester:

  1) Group term paper (50%) - groups of 3 to 5 students 

  2) Oral exam (50%) (individual grade). The exam can last up to 40 minutes (20 minutes' preparation and 20 minutes' assessment)

  All parts have to be taken in the same semester, and it is not possible to retake the elements separately. In order to retake the course, students must retake compulsory activities (work requirements)

• Grading Scale

  A-F

• Computer tools

  All students are expected to bring a laptop or tablet to class.

• Literature

  Excerpts from Global leadership practices, Competencies for navigating in a complex world, Second edition (2024). Edited by Bettina Gehrke, Marie-Thérèse Claes, Daniela Pauknerová, Ina Aust & Roger-Matthew Bell Lambert

  A selection of chapters from the book will be made available on Canvas, as will other mandatory and additional readings.