Mike Conway, leadership specialist and corporate innovator, will create and deliver a world-first in experiential-based leadership for the award-winning MBA program run by Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Australia’s top business school.
MGSM today announced the exciting new unit and the appointment of Mr Conway as an Adjunct Professor, who will draw on his outstanding skills and achievements to mentor its next generation of business leaders from April 2015.
Professor Conway is the CEO and Founder of XVenture, a fast-growing group specialising in creative and innovative solutions for business, leadership, team and experientially based learning programs. His achievements include creating the television series XVenture Corporate Challenge, the XV141 digital business channel, and the extraordinary 100 Leaders program which is presented through Event cinemas.
MGSM has been working with XVenture since its executive, senior staff and students tested a two-day, hands-on XVenture Challenge last year.
Professor Alex Frino, Dean of MGSM, said: “After undertaking the XVenture Challenge it was obvious that this has to be a key part of future learning. The aim is to take students out of the classroom and into the field to test out traditional management ideas.
“XVenture’s approach is unique, with a blend of challenges reflecting contemporary business as well as an understanding of reflective learning practice – something which is often lacking in MBA studies. This program delivers important management theory in an online program before taking students into the field in a radical new experiential learning experience.
“XVenture has tremendous dedication, commitment and standards in this field. The work they have undertaken with major corporations and the research they continuously gather on how teams and leaders succeed is very powerful.”
The future-proof MBA module consists of 12 mini-lectures and recorded lectures delivered by MGSM’s top academic team, including Prof Frino, and produced jointly by XVenture and MGSM.
This elective unit, a global first titled “Leadership & Teams in Action – XVenture”, will be offered from Term 2. It includes a set of introductory mini-lectures and a two-day, experience-based XVenture Challenge to complete the module. The entire Challenge is filmed and post-produced on site, and the video is used for learning during and after the program.
Prof Conway said: “The Challenge is a big job, but the benefits and impact on an individual’s learning are so significant. To work with MGSM is one of the most exciting projects I have ever been involved with and I can’t wait to see the first MGSM MBA students enrolling.
“This new learning module provides the platform for individuals to explore leadership styles and test assumptions by combining e-learning and real-world experience to give students a rigorous, academic and transformative MBA experience.”
Prof Frino said: “This immersive and integrated, experience-based learning program gives every participant the opportunity to work on their own development in a unique team environment.
“It is a perfect fit for MBA programs, the breeding ground for tomorrow’s leaders. They are the finishing school for middle managers gunning for senior leadership positions, and the place where the national stock of leadership capital is being developed.”
www.XVenture.com.au
