UNICON Webinar Series

Executive Education Leadership in Turbulent Times (Webinar)

UNICON’s recent webinar, “Leading and Managing Your Executive Education Team in Today’s Turbulent Times,” delivered critical insights for executive education professionals navigating what experts call a “polycrisis” – multiple interconnected global challenges happening simultaneously.

Challenges for Executive Education Teams Today

Associate Dean and Professor Gretchen Spreitzer from Michigan Ross Business School and Professor Gianpiero Petriglieri from INSEAD identified some key factors creating stress for executive education teams:

  • Geopolitical tensions affecting international programs
  • University budget constraints limiting resources
  • Societal fragmentation impacting learning environments
  • Rising workplace anxiety

The Psychology of Crisis Leadership

Research reveals that substantial change triggers “threat rigidity” – making teams more rigid precisely when innovation is needed most. This manifests as:

  • Micromanagement replacing empowerment
  • Restricted creative thinking due to anxiety
  • Over-reliance on past behaviors instead of adaptation

Building Sustainable Leadership Cultures

The research is clear: while external turbulence is beyond our control, how we respond defines our success.
By focusing on purpose, relationships, and positive emotions while maintaining both interpersonal and institutional care, executive education leaders can create thriving cultures that emerge stronger from crisis.

Webinar Recording

Missed it? Watch the first 30 minutes of our webinar before we moved on to Q&As and breakout rooms:

Three Evidence-Based Strategies for Building Thriving Teams:

1Strengthen Purpose and Meaning in Executive Education

  • Collect and share client success stories regularly
  • Attend professional development conferences to reinforce mission
  • Create “purpose booster shots” through feedback collection
  • Document program impact for team motivation

2Build High-Quality Professional Relationships

Practical relationship-building tactics:

  • Start meetings with “30-second celebrations”
  • Practice gratitude with handwritten notes
  • Create cross-team gatherings for connection
  • Build trust through consistent communication

3Cultivate Positive Workplace Emotions

  • Transform “Sunday scaries” into positive anticipation
  • Use “good news” sharing rituals in leadership meetings
  • Inject positive energy intentionally into interactions
  • Celebrate small wins to build momentum

The Art of “Holding” During Organizational Crisis

INSEAD’s Professor Petriglieri introduced the concept of leadership “holding” – providing stability through:

Interpersonal Holding

  • Regular check-ins and emotional support
  • Clear communication about challenges
  • Empathetic leadership presence

Institutional Holding

  • Fair systems and solid processes
  • Living up to declared organizational values
  • Protecting institutional integrity

Redefining Management Education’s Strategic Role

Modern executive education programs must balance three critical functions:

Coherence

Building adherence to organizational norms

Dissonance

Empowering people to challenge outdated practices

Connection

Creating bridges between diverse stakeholders

Key insight: Moving beyond efficiency-focused education to “building pluralism without polarization.”

More to Come: Part 2 of This Series

This webinar is the first in our ongoing series exploring executive education leadership during challenging times.

For UNICON Members: Keep an eye on your inbox – we’ll send you the invitation for Part 2 soon.

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