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

  Upon successful completion of the course, you can:

  Knowledge

  • Identify key traits of effective global leaders and analyze the contextual factors that influence global leadership.
  • Understand how diversity shapes traditional leadership approaches.
  • Critically assess intercultural management theories for global leadership.

  Skills

  • Reflect on the influence of one's own culture on behavior and decision-making.
  • Lead individuals from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
  • Communicate effectively and deliver constructive feedback in intercultural settings.

  General Competence

  • Strengthen interpersonal skills for collaboration and leadership in intercultural environments.
  • Provide constructive feedback to peers.
  • Reflect on received feedback and create actionable plans for personal improvement.
  • Engage in critical self-reflection to enhance leadership effectiveness.

• Teaching

  The teaching method is inspired by Team-Based Learning, with a strong emphasis on multicultural group work, experiential learning, and individual pre-class preparation.

  Students are organized into heterogeneous, multicultural teams of 4-6 students where most activities take place, providing them with hands-on experience in leading and collaborating within diverse teams. Prior to each class, students are expected to familiarize themselves with key concepts and theories. 

  Students are asked to provide peer feedback fellow team members twice during the semester. This process encourages the practice of giving constructive feedback and promotes self-reflection on how their behavior is perceived by others, allowing them to refine the interpersonal skills critical for future global leaders.

  Additionally, students work on a team project throughout the semester, with two mentoring sessions offered to support their progress. They will receive developmental feedback on their project to ensure continuous improvement.

  The course meets once a week on campus for a 3-hour interactive session.

• Restricted access

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

• Credit reduction due to overlap

  INB431

• Compulsory Activity

  • Smaller multiple-choice tests. To be approved, the team's average score must be at least 70%.
  • Submission of peer feedback to team members, completed twice during the semester.
  • Oral group presentation. Presentation of the team project and feedback from faculty and class.

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

• Assessment

  At the end of the semester:

  1) Individual reflection paper   (40%) (individual grade)

  2) Team report  (60%) (team grade)

   

  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

  Book: 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 and articles will be made available on Canvas as mandatory and additional readings