Frontiers of Leadership; A Global Perspective

The focus of this course is to expose the student to the dynamic nature of leadership in a global context as theorized in the past, its present application and how it might evolve in the future within the backdrop of a fast-digitalizing global economy. Focus during these lectures will be on how leadership understanding within a global context is taking shape over time, how emerging economies are learning from the existing leadership debates and adding to it from their own experiences, culture, and social context. While this course will start from existing leadership discourse, it will not limit itself to the current understanding of leadership. It will explore newer leadership experiences from a diverse experience of leadership from around the world. The focus will be to develop a counter exploration to the existing leadership narrative, in so doing the endeavor is to provide the students a holistic understanding of leadership by filling the gaps and insights from vibrant diverse cultures that identify themselves as emerging economies.

This course in an elementary way will introduce leadership as a holistic human experience, by bringing on board recent experiences of large companies from emerging economies. It will then pose the following question; As we continue to globalize through integrative technologies like the internet, phones, and social media how leadership thinking should evolve. Do cultures merge into each other or distinct new formulations emerge based on how we communicate and work. How will we continue to innovate if we are fast getting harmonized. What new challenges to leadership thought does technology pose, if at all are some of the questions we will explore during the course.

Taking this course, the students will become aware that leadership narratives are rather diverse and getting even wider as different understanding of leadership experiences are integrated into the main streem leadership conversation. In effect; the there is no one type of leader, even though the popular imagination subscribes to such a view in a subtle way. The students will be sensitized to look for leadership qualities in different situations and be empowered to be sensitive to context as king, in leadership discourse. The students will learn to evaluate the role of leadership in innovative projects and made aware of the larger context to how leadership thinking has evolved in a global context.

Finally, we will critically reflect about the future and the implication of innovation theorizing on understanding the future shape of leadership focusing on how leaders create opportunity. This course is to provide the students experience and exposure to how leadership ich theorizing can be integrated and understood within the context of innovation.

The course aims at developing integrational skills, primarily integrating classroom experience with leadership and innovation literature. It is expected that students will then integrate the literature with the experiences from the classroom. This integration is vital for analyzing the contextual bases for the experience and the critical appreciation and limitations theorical backdrop.

Course leader

Sudhanshu Rai - Department of Management, Society and Communication

Target group

This is a graduate level course. CBS Summer University courses at Copenhagen Business School is open to all and welcomes domestic and international students as well as professionals.

Course aim

Demonstrate an understanding of leadership in a Global context

Analyze and demonstrate an understanding of leadership within innovative spaces

Show an appreciation of the impact of context on leadership in diverse contexts

Critically reflect about the limitations of leadership in a global environment

Credits info

7.5 EC
This is a 6-week course. You can combine up to two 6-week courses making 15 ECTS in total.
Find more information on our website.

Fee info

DKK 6000: Tuition fee for Open University students (EU/EEA/Swiss citizenship)
DKK 15000: Tuition fee for non-European students.