Business leaders challenge concepts of leadership at University debate

More than 60 business leaders from southern England took part in the third Leadership Debate organised by the University of Southampton Executive Learning Partnership and held at J.P. Morgan’s headquarters in Bournemouth.

In lively discussion with an expert panel, they questioned whether one individual leader is able to understand and deal with today’s complex challenges, if collaborative leadership could be the way forward and the strong links between leadership and culture.

University Director of Executive Education Paul Bennett says delegates from organisations as diverse as Cisco, Barclays, Wartsila, Ramboll, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) LV Liverpool Victoria and the NHS were interested to hear about new models of leadership. “In the ever-changing and complex world of 21st century business, it’s difficult to understand why so much management education still focuses on the styles of Richard the Lionheart and Winston Churchill,” he says.

The panel, chaired by retired Air Vice-Marshal Michael Harwood, comprised Professor Martin Broad, Head of the Southampton Business School with John Rivett from J.P. Morgan, Matt Macri-Waller, founder of Benefex, innovation expert Cris Beswick who is CEO of The Future Shapers and Sally Bibb, founder of Engaging Minds and an authority on identifying talent.

Professor Broad adds: “The debate provided insightful commentary from a distinguished panel and a challenging question and answer session. The success of this event demonstrates how the Southampton Business School is actively engaging with our external community to provide a platform for sharing experiences and intellectual discussion."

To find out more about the Executive Learning Partnership, click here.