Rotman has made it a key strategic priority to help leaders renew and make the most of their talent and experience.
In uncertain times, the need for capable leadership is stronger than ever. Rising to the challenge, Rotman has made it a key strategic priority to help leaders renew and make the most of their talent and experience.
Prior to the pandemic and now in this post-pandemic era, your role as a leader and advocate of transformational change is more visible, and more critical, than ever before.
Rotman’s newly refined Executive Leadership program has been carefully designed to connect the latest insights into personal leadership with a comprehensive grasp of the market and social forces currently transforming organizations.
Throughout the program, you will discover the value and impact of intentional leadership. Relying on instincts may have worked in the past, but the reliance on the familiar, the tried-and-true practices of former successes will not be sufficient to tackle the challenges of the future.
The essence of the most relevant core capabilities for leading well will make up the key sessions, over both of the three-day modules. They include
→ Leading with intention
→ Defining leadership capabilities
→ Where leadership meets strategy
→ Resilience
→ Inclusion
→ Executive presence
→ Reflection and renewal
→ Collaboration and power
You will learn from deeply knowledgeable faculty at one of the world’s leading business schools, as well as from experienced and accomplished senior leaders from diverse areas of business. Over the course of the program, you will have the opportunity to build lasting relationships with leaders from across the public and private sectors – while staying on the downtown campus of Canada’s top university, in the heart of the nation’s financial and cultural capital.
The Rotman School attracts some of the best and brightest minds in business. The constant interplay of ideas and points of view sparks new ways of approaching problems and illuminates unexpected connections – and fresh perspectives on leadership. You’ll benefit from the support of your own Personal Advisory Team, and from leadership to take your learning further. You will also enjoy a full menu of speaker sessions and networking activities. The result is an immersive and highly effective learning experience.
The program challenges you to renew your capability to lead more complex workplaces in a more dynamic and uncertain environment.
Rotman’s Executive Leadership program promises a unique and relevant mix of learning and networking opportunities. We are deeply excited about the potential of this new program to redefine and transform leadership potential in extraordinary times. We believe it will be a memorable and transformational milestone in your personal leadership journey. And we look forward to seeing you and getting to know you in the classroom and beyond.
Start your journey today
of companies say developing leaders is crucial
– Apollo Technical, 2021
Leadership training improved learning capacity in leaders by 25% and performance by 20%
– Journal of Applied Psychology, 2017
of workers say that a change in leadership and management impacts their stress levels
– Korn Ferry
Public sector managers who receive leadership training and executive coaching are 88% more effective
– Science Direct
Businesses with engaged employees achieve approximately 147% higher earnings per share on average
– Hanes, 2020
“The Executive Leadership Program at Rotman has provided me with the information needed to support and accelerate my career path development. The facilitation of the program was outstanding. Opportunities were provided to gain the perspective of exceptional leaders who could both inform and inspire our group. I am personally grateful for the literature, research, and reflections that were added on various topics. I have also gained collegial contacts through the advisory board that I am certain will continue to provide me with guidance past my involvement at Rotman. I look forward to my next programs as I work to complete the ‘Excellence in Executive Leadership Certificate’.”
Tracy A. Fazzari, M.Sc., S-LP
Director, Patient Care, Oncology and Palliative Care
Niagara Health, Walker Family Cancer Centre
Rotman has a strong history of developing leaders.
We do so through short, targeted learning programs designed to meet the needs of busy professionals. Previous executive leadership programs have graduated classes from across Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia.
I believe life-long learning should be a commitment all leaders make to help us continue to bring value to the people we serve. I recommend Rotman leadership programs as they provide the opportunity to learn in an environment that balances the latest from expert faculty with collaborative discussion from fellow students.
Morana Bakula
Executive Vice President, Practices & Offerings
Bond Brand Loyalty
Build a community of peers, experts and mentors in a supportive environment
Build lasting relationships with leaders from across the public and private sectors while staying on campus in the heart of Canada’s financial and cultural capital.
Re-invigorate your leadership with new ideas to handle modern challenges
Take a restorative “time out” from your daily routine to reenergize your mission as a leader. Learn strategies for reaching new heights in your own professional growth.
Leave prepared to meet tomorrow’s challenges today
Get inspired by deeply knowledgeable faculty at one of the world’s leading business schools and from experienced and accomplished senior leaders from across the public and private sectors.
Start your journey today
Immersive and experiential
We will guide you through carefully curated days of learning both in class and in various sites that reflect the rich cultural fabric of Canada’s largest city. You’ll explore leadership from a range of contexts and discover a model of leadership that you can tailor to your individual style.
A meaningful network for life
At Rotman we believe that a diversity of thought and perspectives is key to sparking transformational change. We carefully review each applicant to our programs to build the right mix of people who can challenge, inspire, and support one another long after they’ve left the classroom.
Deep self-insight
Bias is one of the largest obstacles any leader needs to overcome. It’s easy to fall back on what you’ve done before and seen work. As problems and circumstances change, so do the range of skills you need to bring to your role. By learning your strengths and weaknesses and how to identify internal-bias, you can overcome invisible obstacles and create lasting, meaningful change.
Participant profile
C-suites and senior leaders across Canada and globally
10+ years of experience leading people, teams, or large projects
Typical job titles include Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, General Manager, Senior Consultant, Chief Operating Officer, Executive Director, and Managing Partners.
The selection committee uses a variety of criteria in its participant selection decisions:
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- on track to be a senior leader, executive, or CEO in the next 5 years
- currently on an executive team or evidence of executive-level leadership (approximately 10-20 years of experience)
- responsibility for financial performance
- history of successfully managing and motivating staff
- record of initiative and achievement (e.g. successfully led a change process that delivered tangible results)
- experience of successfully working with a broad set of relevant parties
Frequently Asked Questions ››
Program dates, schedule, participant profile etc can all be found on this website.
Q: How do I apply for this program?
Click here for the program application. The short online application asks for personal and professional information, including a LinkedIn profile link or resume. See our “How to Apply” section for more details.
Q: Are there discounts or financial assistance available for this program?
The Executive Leadership Program is not eligible for discounts. Your employer may be able to access Canada Job Grants depending on your province/eligibility.
Q: What accommodations are provided?
Throughout the program, six nights stay are provided at the Yorkville Royal Sonesta Hotel, three nights per module.
Q: I live in the GTA. Can I take this program without paying for accommodations?
There is only one price for this program, which includes accommodations and meals. As an immersive program, staying on-site is part of the experience. We highly recommended you stay on-site with your fellow cohort. If you choose not to, there is not a reduction in the program fee. Past participants have told us staying in the same hotel as their classmates added a great deal of value to their program experience.
Q: What credential do I receive at the end of this program?
Successful participants of the Executive Leadership Program will receive a Certificate of Professional Achievement from the Rotman School of Management. This is a professional development program, not a degree program/MBA.
Q: Does this program qualify for the Excellence in Executive Leadership Certificate?
Yes! The Executive Leadership Program qualifies as a leadership suite program towards the Excellence in Executive Leadership Certificate.
Leadership matters
University of Toronto, #1 University in Canada and #16 globally – shared in 2022 with Princeton University and University College London.
– 2022 Best Global Universities Rankings
University of Toronto ranking globally for employability of graduates.
– Times Higher Education Global Ranking
The number of research-based start-ups U of T has launched – more than any other Canadian university – generating $1.5 billion in investment.
Toronto’s ranking for best cities in the world, powered by diversity and education.
– Resonance Consultancy’s World’s Best Cities 2021 report
9 out of 10 of Canada’s largest law practices call Toronto home for a reason – the city boasts an expansive local network of consultants, professional firms, and specialty suppliers.
In Canada for Open Enrolment programs – how Rotman Executive Programs stack up against the competition.
-2020 The Financial Times
Guest Speakers
Below you will find some of the guest speakers from our inaugural offering of the program. Guest speakers for the upcoming offering are coming soon.
Jacqueline Ryan – Chief Brand and Commercial Officer, Canadian Olympic Committee
Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Olympic Foundation
Jacquie’s previous roles with Scotiabank include both Vice President, Sponsorship Marketing, and Philanthropy and Vice President, Global Social Enterprise, and Sustainable Business and with RBC, Director, Corporate Donations.
Dr. Ron Dembo – Founder and CEO of Riskthinking.ai
Dr. Dembo is the Founder and CEO of Riskthinking.ai, a company at the forefront of Climate Change Financial Risk. He has had a distinguished academic research career at Yale University and as a visiting professor at MIT.
Cornell Wright – President, Wittington Investments, Limited
Cornell is President of Wittington Investments, Limited (the principal holding company of the Weston group of companies which includes George Weston, Loblaw and Choice Properties). Cornell joined Wittington following a 20-year career at Torys LLP, where he was a leading corporate lawyer. Cornell served as Chair of the firm’s Corporate Department and former co-head of the firm’s M&A Practice.
Start your journey today
Rotman’s Executive Leadership program is unique among leadership development programs. It is for people who understand that leadership–even for the most naturally gifted agent of change–demands new ideas, skills and behaviours to thrive. It is for those whose outstanding achievements have brought them to new professional heights, and who are ready for the challenge of fostering growth amid uncertainty and change.
Stephanie Hodnett
Executive Director
Rotman Executive Programs
Your journey includes features and sessions on topics such as:
Throughout the experience you will also meet with carefully selected guest speakers who help tie principles to practice and you’ll engage in experiential activities to deepen connections with your peers to ensure a strong network well beyond the program.
*Program content is subject to change.
Experiential learning
Executive Leadership takes advantage of the best learning Toronto has to offer, and not all of that can be found inside the classroom. We’ve organized hands-on challenges across the city to reframe pressing problems and provide unique insights into leadership and team dynamics.
Program timeline:
Access to program portal
Evening Kick-off & Module 1
On-site at Rotman
Reflective Best Self Work
Personal Advisory Board Meetings
Welcome Back & Module 2
On-site at Rotman
Personal Advisory Board Meetings
Graduation
Download the brochure
Campus experience
Your immersive experience includes 6 nights stay at a luxury hotel adjacent to U of T campus. Enjoy the best of Toronto has to offer, from the welcoming atmosphere of our historic, downtown campus to the fine dining and a night out at the theatre or a major league sports game.
Program format
The most impactful learning requires hands-on practice. The exercises you’ll take on in class are designed to give you risk-free experience of putting learning into action. By splitting this program into two modules, we’ve ensured that you can apply what you learned in module 1 and return to campus for help fine-tune your approach and share your learning with others.
Pricing and dates
What you’ll learn
Intentional Leadership & Defining Capabilities
Leadership expert Rose Patten will guide you through leading with intention. By helping you develop the Big 8 Capabilities setting leaders apart, she can enable your transformation into a stand-out trailblazer prepared for a rapidly changing world.
Building a Culture of Collaboration
Learn the four distinctive skill sets required to create a culture of collaboration and overcome communication barriers. You’ll also learn strategies for every leader to develop those skill sets and, through them, deliver unique value.
Strategy Meets Leadership
Ken Corts presents a deep dive into the relationship between strategy and leadership. Learn how to make sense of a complex array of relevant party concerns and harness them as powerful leadership tools, including new models.
Executive Presence
Presence is the great X factor of leadership. Psychological expert Dr. Maja Djikic will help you learn frameworks and tools to build non-verbal and verbal underpinnings of trustworthiness, rapport, and conveying competence in dyadic and group situations.
Resilience
Dr. Julie McCarthy will discuss how to boost your productivity, leadership capacity, and personal well-being by developing resilience strategies that have been developed through research and proven to work. These strategies focus on replenishing energy through physical, emotional, mental, and values-based rejuvenation.
The Inclusive Leader
Canada Research Chair in Identity, Diversity, and Inclusion Dr. Sonia Kang brings a user-centric lens to inclusion, teaching you how to make it a natural part of your leadership practice. You’ll gain a toolkit of evidence-based strategies to create inclusive practices and systems that make diversity practical and sustainable.
Reflected Best Self
An alternative to a traditional 360, the Reflected Best Self feedback exercise is a strengths-based view on development and will help you to identify your personal strengths and capabilities to make a greater contribution to work organizations, create personal and career development plans, and understand what kinds of work situations bring out the best in you and in others.
Leadership Ethos
This keystone session ties together your learnings and personal progress from previous sessions in the program. Through the lens of leadership ethos, Rose Patten will help you define how you think about leadership and set the golden rules for success.
Start your journey today
Rotman ROI
In addition to state-of-the-art leadership frameworks, unparalleled learning environments and, access to an unbeatable network of accomplished peers from around the world, Rotman Executive Programs participants receive additional benefits and discounts, including:
This program also qualifies for the Rotman Excellence in Executive Leadership Certificate.
Program directors
Rose M. Patten, O.C.
Rose Patten is Special Advisor to the CEO and Senior Executives at BMO Financial Group. In this role she partners with and advises Group Heads on select strategies with a particular emphasis on strategy execution, leadership development and succession for top leaders.
Kenneth S. Corts
Professor Kenneth S. Corts is Vice-Dean, Research, Strategy, and Resources and Academic Director of the Lee-Chin Institute for Corporate Citizenship at the Rotman School of Management. He also holds the Desautels Chair in Entrepreneurship and is a professor in the Economic Analysis and Policy area.
Faculty
Maja Djikic, Ph. D. is an Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour and HR Management and the Director of Self-Development Laboratory at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. She is a psychologist specializing in the field of personality development.
Julie McCarthy is a Professor of Organizational Behaviour and HR Management at the University of Toronto Scarborough, with a cross-appointment to the Organizational Behaviour area at Rotman. Julie’s research examines strategies that employees can use to build resilience, reduce stress, and achieve success in their work and home lives.
Professor Golden (PhD, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University) is the Sandra Rotman Chaired Professor in Health Sector Strategy at the Rotman School of Management, The University of Toronto, and The University Health Network. He previously served as Vice-Dean, MBA Programs. Professor Golden is the founding Academic Director of The Sandra Rotman Centre for Health Sector Strategy.
Tiziana Casciaro is a Professor of Organizational Behaviour and HR Management and the holder of the Marcel Desautels Chair in Integrative Thinking at U of T. Her research explores how structural and psychological forces jointly shape behavior in organizations.
Sonia Kang is an Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour and HR Management, and Canada Research Chair in Identity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of Toronto Mississauga, and holds a cross-appointment to the Organizational Behaviour and HR Management area at Rotman.
Start your journey today
Application process
Each application is reviewed by Rotman’s admissions committee to ensure participants have the appropriate academic and work experience.
Payment
This program is not eligible for discounts.
Questions? Contact our learning advisor.
This program has been approved for 40.5 CPD hours under Section A of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Log of the Human Resource Professionals Association (HRPA).