Leading the charge in good leadership and governance

The way society views leadership and governance is shifting. Both here in Aotearoa and internationally, expectations around the role of business are changing, and longer-term views that embrace indigenous ways of thinking and recognise the critical environmental, social and governmental (ESG) elements at play are emerging as the way forward.

It's imperative that leaders across all sectors are prepared to tackle a changing business environment and emerging challenges.

The University of Auckland's Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership and Governance (PGCertLdGov) is a programme underpinned by the latest in academic research that provides an opportunity for leaders to do just that.

Build your capability

In 1979, Dame Alison Paterson paved the way for future female leaders by becoming the first woman to sit on the board of a publicly listed company, and this trailblazing Kiwi businesswoman has since won acclaim for her extraordinary contribution to governance.

"Oddly, given the importance of the role, formal education in governance has developed quite slowly and in recent decades," she says.

This is something the certificate aims to address. Recognising that governance is an important role for Iwi as well as for charities, communities, corporations and anyone in a leadership position, this course is designed to accelerate leadership practice and build capability and expertise.

"The programme aims to build a mindset for governance that recognises the complexity, ambiguity, turbulence and disruption of the current environment and the understanding of how to make decisions, progress initiatives and strategies and respond to external threats and possibilities amidst such uncertainty," says Professor Brigid Carroll, Programme Director of PGCertLdGov.

"Studying business-related subjects, regardless of what role you have, what industry/sector you are in, and what professional/technical background you come from, will create new opportunities for you as you develop both broader and deeper capability and capacity."

Have a positive impact

Strong governance increases productivity and has a positive impact on the way companies interact with the environment, while poor governance can have the opposite effects. Currently, the New Zealand government's focus on ESG includes environmental and social aspects as well as governance, while a recent Productivity Commission Report demonstrated that Kiwis are hard workers, but not necessarily in a way that increases productivity.

"The significance and challenges of ESG and similar emerging imperatives on those broadly in leadership and governance roles compel 'leaders and governors' to exercise judgment balancing off multiple factors in a shifting context," says Professor Susan Watson, Dean of the University of Auckland's Business School.

"The PGCertLdGov will provide techniques for people in, or aspiring to, those roles to lift their thinking and contributions to decision making through leadership techniques, including how to take shareholders and stakeholders with them.

"It will also expose them to a deep dive on cutting-edge and international thinking on ESG and other emerging governance requirements."

Invest in yourself

All leadership roles are extremely challenging and successful leaders continually improve and invest in themselves.

"We know that those in significant leadership and governance positions seldom get the time and space to reflect on their own practice, prioritise their own learning and skill development, connect to current research and international thinking as much as they would like," Carroll says.

Leaders are often focused on growing the capability of their teams, departments and organisations, but this course is an opportunity to invest in your own learning and career development, while also benefiting those you work with and wider society.

Widen your perspective

Another benefit of studying the PGCertLdGov is that it provides an opportunity to meet and learn from a cohort of peers from a diverse range of backgrounds.

"We would see this programme as able to catalyse the conversations, relationships, knowledge sharing and skill refinement for those already committed to governance activity to maximise their leadership in such contexts," explains Carroll.

"We see the programme as being able to connect participants to best practice governance experts, international leadership and governance scholars, cutting edge ideas, readings and resources and a wealth of resources including case studies, reports and development technologies."

The only leadership certificate of its kind in NZ

This programme brings the traditionally separated fields of leadership and governance together to create a unique programme unlike any other in New Zealand.

Designed for working professionals across a range of corporate, public sector, community and indigenous enterprise contexts, it recognises that good leadership and governance is critical no matter what organisation you work for.

The inaugral programme begins in September 2022 and will involve completing one course per quarter. Courses will be blended, with some structured around one-day intensives supported by virtual activity, and some meeting online and on-site in alternate weeks. Courses will cover:

• 21st Century Governance
  
• Contemporary Debates in Leadership
  
• Leadership in Governance
  
• Frontiers of Corporate Governance

As Paterson recognises, "good governance is important in every organisation." Now is your opportunity to invest both in yourself and in the future of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Fill out the form to receive more information about the University of Auckland's Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership and Governance or apply now at response.auckland.ac.nz/pgcertldgov