Inclusive Leadership programme
Our Inclusive Leadership programme will equip you with the tools to navigate diversity, cultivate belonging, and harness the full potential of your teams.
Many organisations struggle with unconscious bias with cultural misunderstandings and structural barriers preventing inclusion. This programme tackles these challenges head-on with transformative workshops that create lasting change.
Recognising that true inclusion depends upon systemic change, the programme equips you with change management tools to influence your organisation's culture and policies, avoid prejudice and help your team members to thrive.
Programme aims and outcomes
The programme aims to:
- provide a deep understanding of the principles and approaches for inclusive leadership
- equip you with the tools to build high-performing, innovative and diverse teams
- enable you to have a deeper understanding of yourself as a leader through personal reflection
- provide opportunities to practice inclusion techniques and access ongoing support through mentoring
By the end of the programme, you will be able to:
- avoid bias in decision making, enable constructive debate, and influence systemic change
- foster teams where people feel safe to speak up and share divergent views
- design an inclusive leadership development plan for you and your team
You will also gain access to an alumni network, ensuring sustained impact and continuous growth.
Programme content
Participants will explore identity, privilege and power in the workplace. Using real-world case studies and hands-on learning underpinned by research, you will explore inclusion and its impact on individual and organisational performance.
You will learn to identify and address structural barriers to inclusion, designing inclusive processes and measuring their impact. You will also explore how to influence stakeholders and drive accountability throughout your organisation.
Working on real challenges from your organisation, you will receive feedback on your action plans. You will develop strategies for inclusive decision-making, talent development and conflict resolution that account for diverse perspectives and experiences.
You will also undertake personal reflection exercises, allowing you to identify your own biases, leadership style, and areas for growth. This introspective work lays the foundation for authentic, empathetic leadership that supports diverse teams.
The programme provides leaders with evidence-based strategies to mitigate prejudice and foster an environment where all team members can thrive. A key focus is on developing the self-awareness and emotional intelligence crucial for inclusive leadership.
Modules included in the Inclusive Leadership programme.
| Module | Details |
|---|
| Foundations of inclusive leadership |
- Explore the key principles, research, and business case for inclusive leadership
- Reflect on personal identity, values, and experiences shaping your leadership approach
- Develop a personalised inclusive leadership vision and growth plan
|
| Leading inclusively |
- Build self-awareness and foster an authentic, inclusive leadership style
- Learn strategies to create inclusive team environments
- Practice empathy and cross-cultural communication skills
|
| Creating inclusive team cultures |
- Learn strategies to build trust, psychological safety, and belonging in teams
- Practice navigating conflict constructively
|
| Mitigating bias and fostering inclusion |
- Examine the impact of unconscious bias and social identity on leadership and decision-making
- Learn strategies to mitigate bias in the workplace
- Practice skills to solicit opinions, invite diverse views and facilitate constructive debate
|
| Influencing for systemic change |
- Understand the personal side of change and common reactions to transition
- Develop skills in communicating change with transparency and compassion
- Explore how to navigate resistance and engage others in co-creating inclusive solutions
|
Work-based project
As part of the programme, participants will undertake a work-based capstone project. This will involve:
- identifying a real-world inclusion challenge or opportunity to address
- developing and presenting an action plan applying program learnings
- receiving coaching and feedback from the programme delivery team and peers
The project will challenge you to apply your learning to real-world circumstances. You will work on the project as part of a group and you will be guided through the process by experts on inclusivity. The capstone project will give you access to:
- four group meetings with inclusivity experts (online)
- four individual mentoring sessions (online)
- feedback on a project concept draft
- feedback on a draft of your project proposal
- feedback on your final project
Who is it for?
The programme will be of particular interest to:
- mid-level to senior managers and executives
- HR professionals responsible for diversity and inclusion initiatives
- emerging leaders looking to develop inclusive leadership skills
- business owners and entrepreneurs seeking to create inclusive company cultures
Delivery team
Find out more about the team who will deliver the programme.
Dr Andri Georgiadou
Programme director
Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Associate Professor in Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management
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Dr Georgiadou is a researcher, trainer, and consultant in the fields of management, human resources, and global diversity and inclusion management. Her extensive knowledge and expertise in these fields have earned her widespread recognition, as well as numerous awards for her contributions to the industry.
Throughout her career, Dr Georgiadou has worked with a diverse range of organisations. She has provided expert guidance and consultation on management, human resources, and diversity and inclusion matters, helping organisations to achieve their strategic goals and create more inclusive and equitable workplaces.
In addition to her consulting and training work, Dr Georgiadou is an active member of the BSI and ISO committees on equality and diversity. She also collaborates with the CIPD and the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, where she frequently shares her insights and expertise on matters related to diversity and inclusion.
Dr Luis Torres
Director of Executive Education
Associate Professor in Organisational Behaviour, Business and Society
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Luis has worked for over 15 years for organisations in Chile, Spain, China, and the UK. He has led client-focussed management consulting and learning solutions for public and private sector organisations in several industries including manufacturing, finance, logistics, energy, agriculture, and retail, among others.
He has designed and delivered executive education programmes for middle and top management teams including the C-Suite and the Board of Directors of large and medium-sized companies. Luis has also led consultancy projects in different areas including strategic management; business and human rights; diversity management; corporate governance; and external assurance of non-financial information.
Professor Marina Novelli
Director of the Sustainable Travel and Tourism Advanced Research Centre
Professor of Marketing and Tourism
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Professor Marina Novelli (PhD, PGDip Panning, PgDipEd, BSc Hons Economics) is a globally renowned authority in the field of sustainable development, with an extensive track record of leadership roles in impactful research, and consultancy international projects management and advisory services for international organisations (i.e. World Bank, the EU, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the British Council, National Ministries), publishing international quality research and building long-term local, national and international collaborations, partnerships and networks.
She is a Member of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council for Sustainable Tourism (2023-2024), Member of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council for Entertainment and Lifestyle Economy (2025-26), Alternate Member of the UNWTO World Committee on Tourism Ethics (2021-2025), elected Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (since 2023), Fellow of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism (since 2022), to name just a few. Amongst her many recognitions, she is recipient of the 2022 Africa Impact Champion, the 2018 Africa Tourism Leadership Award and the 2018 Top 50 Awesome Scholars in Tourism.
Dr Anne Touboulic
Associate Professor in Operations Management
Head of Department, Operations Management and Information Systems
Chair of the Social and Environmental Responsibility Group
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Dr Anne Touboulic is Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham, where she is also a core member the Food Systems Institute. She is a critical engaged qualitative scholar and her primary focus is to drive change towards more ecologically resilient and socially equitable food systems. She has an interdisciplinary background and has experience collaborating with organisations across the public, private and third-sector to co-create desirable pathways for change. Drawing on systems thinking and participatory methodologies, Anne has developed approaches and frameworks to enable people to lead change within their contexts in an inclusive manner. She has recently co-founded the Circular Agriculture Hub, a social enterprise with a vision to create equitable food systems for farmers, nature and citizens.
Dr Isobel O'Neil
Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship & Innovation
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Dr Isobel O’Neil is an Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Nottingham University Business School. Isobel leads on research on entrepreneurial identity development and in relation to the challenges and strategies for overcoming barriers to inclusion, especially in early-stage entrepreneurship. Isobel is the Athena Swan lead for Nottingham University Business School, which involves setting priority areas and monitoring and evaluating progress towards greater gender equality in the School.
In 2020 Isobel co-founded The My Way Project CIC a social enterprise that delivers personal development toolkits and workshops towards supporting entrepreneurial mindsets and next steps, with a focus on equality, diversity and inclusion.
Programme information
This programme is delivered over eight weeks, consisting of:
- two days in person (29-30 April 2025)
- two half days online (14 May and 3 June 2025)
- a further two days in person (18-19 June 2025)
Please note that these dates are subject to change.
This is a hybrid programme. It will be held face-to-face at the University of Nottingham's UK campuses and online via Microsoft Teams. Participants who are unable to travel to Nottingham will be able to join entirely online via Microsoft Teams.
The programme will cost participants £2,995. This fee includes study materials, refreshments and lunch. It does not include accomodation. A 20% discount is available for alumni and groups and an early bird offer is also available.
Upon completion of the programme, participants will be eligible to join our alumni network.
Custom option
If you're interested in the programme content but would like a more bespoke offer, we can build a custom version aligned to the training needs of your organisation and we can deliver it on campus or in-house. Please contact us below for more information.
Free masterclass
Are you interested in Inclusive Leadership but aren't sure whether the full programme is for you? We will be holding a 1.5 hour online masterclass on Tuesday 25 February (10.00-11.30am) which will serve as a taster, introducing participants to a key concept from the Inclusive Leadership programme. The masterclass is free to attend. Find out more and sign up:
Find out more
View our brochure to find out more about the programme. If you have any further questions, or would like to speak to a member of our team, please contact us at executiveeducation@nottingham.ac.uk or submit a response to our Expression of Interest form.
