Emerging Social Purpose Leaders
Develop your business and leadership skills as an emerging leader in not-for-profit and other social purpose organisations. Generous scholarships available.
Emerging Social Purpose Leaders Overview
Leaders in not-for-profit and other social purpose organisations operate in highly complex contexts.
This immersive 12-week program has been designed to equip not-for-profit and other social purpose leaders who have little or no prior business management training, with the skills to lead their teams to generate social impact and financial sustainability for their organisation.
Please note that partial scholarships are available for this program. All applicants will be automatically considered. For more information on scholarships for the program, please contact us.
Scholarship EnquiryThe program includes residential blocks led by expert academics from Melbourne Business School and industry experts covering essential topics such as social purpose strategy, social impact systems and measurements, stakeholder management and communications, leading people for social impact, financial management, social purpose governance and social entrepreneurship.
An integral part of the program is action planning – the participants are required to develop actionable plans during each block and apply their learning in their workplace with the support of their workplace mentors and CSPO coaches. Each residential block is followed by at least one online coaching session with a member of CSPO team.

7-14 July: Onboarding in MBS Academy including Pre-Program Diagnostic, Whatsapp Group and Program Goal Setting.
7-17 July: Self-organised initial meeting with mentor.

14-20 July: Pre-work
21-22 July: In-residence learning
23 July - 24 August: Work-applied learning
11-24 August: MBS Coaching session (30mins)

18-24 August: Pre-work
25-26 August: In-residence learning
27 August - 5 October: Work-applied learning
17 September - 5 October: MBS Coaching session (30mins)

29 September - 5 October: Pre-work
6-7 October: In-residence learning
7 October: Program wrap-up
Between residential sessions, participants benefit from collaborative learning opportunities, building a professional network of like-minded leaders who share similar vision and challenges.
Who Should Attend Emerging Social Purpose Leaders?
Line, program and project managers
- In medium and large not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises with little or no prior management experience.
CEOs and General Managers
- In smaller not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises with fewer than five full time equivalent staff.
Emerging Social Purpose Leaders Key Takeaways
Leadership capabilities
- Equip yourself with the skills and knowledge needed to lead positive change.
Management knowledge
- Learn how to apply the fundamentals of management to your organisation’s context.
Action Plan
- Create, implement and review an Action Plan tailored to your individual or organisational leadership journey.
Insights from industry experts
- Hear from recognised social purpose leaders, gaining valuable insights from real-word examples to enrich your working experience.
Emerging Social Purpose Leaders Topics Covered
Combining in-person residential learning with ongoing development in their workplace, the program offers a unique learning experience while fostering a lasting network of like-minded peers.

Social Impact Systems

Social Purpose Strategy and Impact Measurement

Stakeholder Management and Communications

Leading People for Social Impact

Financial Management Fundamentals

Negotiating for Social Purpose

Social Purpose Governance
Expand or Deepen the Capabilities of Your People

Develop business skills as a strategic enabler of your social purpose organisation.
Invest in your workforce development by providing emerging leaders with the right tools to enhance the social impact of your organisation. Organisations that commit to employee growth and development foster loyalty, reduce turnover and build a strong pipeline of future leaders to create social change.
When your team is equipped with the latest, evidence-based skills, it also provides an advantage for your organisation. Volume booking discounts may be available for organisations registering multiple employees across a variety of our short courses over a 12-month period.
Program Enquiry
The social purpose ecosystem is complex and interconnected. By joining our community of dedicated learners, you will benefit your career, your organisation and the communities you serve.
Libby Ward-Christie
DIRECTOR, CENTRE FOR SOCIAL PURPOSE ORGANISATIONS

Not-for-profit and other social purpose organisations require leaders equipped with both commercial acumen and the skills to increase their social impact. Melbourne Business School and the Centre for Social Purpose Organisations are excited to support the next generation of leaders who are dedicated to this vital work.
Will Harvey
PROFESSOR OF LEADERSHIP
Emerging Social Purpose Leaders Key Facilitators
DIRECTOR, CENTRE FOR SOCIAL PURPOSE ORGANISATIONS
Libby is a recognised leader in the not-for-profit and social enterprise sector. Her achievements demonstrate an ability to bring the worlds of community, business, philanthropy and government together to sustainably address disadvantage in new ways, informed by rigorous research and evidence.
PROFESSOR OF LEADERSHIP
Will Harvey is a Professor of Leadership at Melbourne Business School. He is an International Research Fellow at the Oxford University Centre for Corporate Reputation Will researches on reputation, talent management and leadership within organisations. He has recently published the book, Reputations at Stake, with Oxford University Press. .
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, ACADEMIC DIRECTOR (MBA & MASTER OF MARKETING PROGRAMS)
Nam Tran joined Melbourne Business School in 2011. Before completing his PhD and a Graduate Teaching Fellow position at the University of Oregon, Nam was an Auditor with Vietnam Auditing Company (Deloitte Vietnam), providing services to clients in various industries, such as cement, tobacco, brewing and beverages, and real estate.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
David Keith is an Associate Professor of Strategy, and Associate Director – Innovation in the MBS Centre for Sustainability and Business. After completing his PhD in Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, David joined the faculty at the MIT Sloan School of Management in the System Dynamics group. David’s specializes in the use of simulation for strategy development in complex and dynamic settings, with a particular focus on the future of the automotive industry.
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MANAGEMENT
Daisung Jang is an Assistant Professor of Management at Melbourne Business School. He is an award-winning researcher who studies negotiation. He has a particular interest in studying how people plan to bargain and implement negotiated deals. He is also interested in how individual characteristics influence this process, by exploring how personality shapes how people plan, bargain, and deliver on an agreement.
Scholarships

Inclusions
The scholarship ($12.500) covers all tuition, mentoring, one night of accommodation per block (for the three blocks), and meals during the stay—lunch, dinner, breakfast, and lunch. Successful scholarship recipients will receive this with the requirement that they or their organisation cover $500 of the overall $13,000 fee. Additional accommodation and travel expenses are covered by their organisation.

Selection Criteria
The selection criteria focus on the perceived benefits the program will provide to both the individual and their organisation. The selection committee will carefully consider factors such as the type, industry, and size of the organisations represented. This approach ensures a diverse cohort, bringing a wide range of perspectives and experiences that add depth, variety, and vibrancy to the learning environment.
Upcoming Sessions
This is a residential program in which participants stay on campus and engage in workshop activities after hours. The program fee covers tuition, meals and accommodation.
Generous scholarships are available for this program. All applicants will be automatically considered.
Read our full terms and conditions and other frequently asked questions for more information.
Program Enquiry
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