Become a leader who creates impact on our Executive MBA

Introducing the Leadership development track

The Leadership development track is a six-month journey that runs alongside core courses. It’s built on Vlerick’s unique leadership framework, the Connecting leader  – and includes modules on connecting with purpose, with people, with goals and with the future. 

These modules encourage you to explore your personality as a leader – and at the same, consider your external environment and the people within it. Participants explore ways to move their organisations to future success – and dive into topics including negotiation, change management and decision-making.

Professor of Leadership, Katleen De Stobbeleir, says the track is about much more than just individual leadership skills.

“Of course, an Executive MBA focuses on strengthening individuals,” she says. “But at Vlerick, we know that a leader is also part of a system – within a team, an organisation or even more broadly, within society. So it's not just about enhancing your individual skills. It's about collective leadership and connecting with others to create impact.“

Discover the leadership track

Learn how the MBA develops leadership skills, fosters entrepreneurial thinking, and addresses global challenges through specialised tracks and hands-on projects.

Developing a leadership mindset

The track kicks off with our 360-feedback tool – giving you valuable insight into your leadership style, strengths and areas to build on – right from the start of the programme.

Katleen says: “Getting feedback from peers, faculty and colleagues helps you define your profile as a leader. It also encourages you to think about your stakeholders, their expectations and how to manage them. The start of the MBA really is a defining moment for participants. You forge the bonds that will carry you through the programme – and beyond.”

An important element of the track is helping people discover what their leadership path could be like.  

“Something that is quite unique to Vlerick is that we don’t treat leadership as a position,” says Katleen. “Very often, when people think of leaders, they automatically think of people in managerial roles. But we believe you can show leadership in many ways. Indeed, there are lots of non-managers who are leaders. And in any role, you have opportunities to show leadership.”

Applying it in the business world

As with all Vlerick learning experiences, the Leadership development track is practical, hands-on and completely relevant to real-world business.

“We don’t believe in ‘teaching’ leadership,” says Katleen. “Instead we focus on offering experiences and guiding people through them. Of course, there are lectures and videos, and we give people frameworks. But there is also group and individual coaching, role plays, guest speakers and opportunities for trips – to see different perspectives and cultural differences in leadership approaches.”

Opportunities to apply and practice these skills are built into the programme.

“It’s all about applying what you learn in your role,” says Katleen. “As part of the 360 feedback process, we ask you to involve your colleagues and share your action plan with them. When we discuss culture, you reflect on your team and your organisation – and what you may want to change or improve. When you take on your Knowledge-in-Action Project, you put your skills into practice directly in your organisation.

“We encourage participants to bring cases from their own organisations to class, but also to apply what they've learned in class when they’re at work. This is really a big focus of the MBA – for participants to have a close link with their business realities.”

Taking your next leap as a leader

“The leadership track is very comprehensive,” says Katleen. “I don’t think there are many MBA programmes out there that care about leadership as much as we do at Vlerick. We make sure participants take leadership seriously. It may sound like a soft skill – but in reality, it’s one of the hardest skills to develop. And it’s a skill where you really can make a significant impact.

“We know an MBA can help you advance in your career. But really, we see that as a consequence of increasing your impact.

“Throughout the programme, there are assignments like the Knowledge-in-Action Project that can give you visibility to senior leaders in your organisation. We also ask you to think about your internal network and how you can influence decision making. Once you start to increase your impact, you start to see your career benefit.”

Choosing your own path

Katleen says it’s important to remember that there is no one path to leadership.

“One ambition of the leadership track is to liberate people from the stereotypical image of what a leader looks like,” she says.

“Not all careers move upward. You may realise senior management isn’t for you. You may decide to pursue entrepreneurship instead. You may decide to take a sideways step into a new specialism. All these moves could become huge leaps forward in the future.

“The MBA journey is different for everyone. You take a leap, but we don’t predefine it. We want you to leave us with a broad repertoire of skillset, mindset, tools and confidence. So you can be confident in your next leap – wherever it takes you.”

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