Sharjah's Strategic Leadership Programme at Oxford and Cambridge: What Executives Can Use Now
The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, through its Sharjah Training and Development Centre, wrapped up the Strategic Leadership Programme - Oxford and Cambridge in the UK, delivered in partnership with Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford. The focus: build national leadership capabilities with practical tools across leadership, innovation, and sustainability.
Over five days, a select group of executives moved through intensive workshops and field visits. The structure blended academic rigor with on-the-ground exposure to leading institutions to translate strategy into execution.
Why this matters for strategy leaders
Maryam Saif Al Shamsi highlighted the programme as a strategic investment in human capital to drive institutional transformation and sharpen competitiveness. The intent is clear: develop leaders who can anticipate market shifts, guide AI adoption, and align sustainability with growth.
Programme highlights
- Leadership modules focused on decision-making under uncertainty, organisational competitiveness, and execution discipline.
- Technology briefings on 2025 priorities: AI startup dynamics, deployment models, and executive-level risks and opportunities.
- Cybersecurity sessions emphasizing governance, incident readiness, and business continuity across connected operations.
- Environmental discussions connecting regulation, stakeholder expectations, and value creation through sustainability.
- Field immersion, including leading industrial operations such as the BMW MINI Plant, plus exposure to Oxford's academic ecosystem and colleges like New College.
According to Amal Abdullah Al Ali, the blend of classroom learning and curated site visits broadened perspectives and linked industrial innovation with academic depth and cultural legacy. Participants left with clearer priorities and sharper mental models for execution.
Practical takeaways for executives
- Set AI priorities at the portfolio level: 3-5 use cases tied to revenue, cost, and risk, each with owners, data needs, and success metrics.
- Upgrade cybersecurity governance: board-level risk dashboard, tested incident playbooks, and vendor security criteria.
- Make learning operational: pair workshops with site visits, executive roundtables, and post-program sprints to lock in outcomes.
- Plan for 2025 tech shifts: build scenario plans for regulation, AI safety, and data access; stress-test talent and infrastructure.
- Tie sustainability to P&L: energy efficiency, supply chain transparency, and product-level impact that feeds pricing and capital allocation.
What participants valued
Attendees noted stronger links between global trends and local priorities-especially in AI deployment, cybersecurity resilience, and sustainability. The programme supported the UAE's digital transformation agenda with practical, leadership-level tools.
Learn more
- Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford
- AI learning paths by job role - Complete AI Training
Bottom line: leadership today is about clear priorities, quick iteration, and measurable outcomes. Programmes like this help turn strategy into systems, and systems into results.
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