Senior Leadership Programme – Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI)

Having progressed through a long career in journalism, PR and communications into senior leadership roles, Lee had reached a point where he wanted to prepare for the next step into director-level leadership.

While he was already operating strategically as a head of department, he wanted to deepen his knowledge, strengthen his critical thinking and build the confidence needed to move into a director role over the next few years.

With his team growing significantly and his responsibilities within the senior leadership team increasing, there was also a need to step back, reflect on his leadership approach and develop a stronger understanding of strategy and senior-level influence.

“The next step for me was getting into the director space, so I wanted those skills and that critical thinking to be able to work at that level”

Lee chose to attend our Senior Leadership Programme because it offered the right combination of strategic leadership development, practical learning and accredited progression.

The programme stood out because it aligned with both his immediate role and his longer-term career goals. Alongside the face-to-face learning, the qualification element and follow-on dissertation work offered an additional level of challenge and development.

“The course had everything that I need to further my career, but also help me understand what I’m doing better, now”

The training was delivered in a highly engaging and supportive way, combining knowledgeable facilitation with space for questions, discussion and peer learning.

Rather than simply working through content rigidly, tutors adapted the sessions in real-time, based on what the group wanted to explore in more depth. This made the learning feel relevant, responsive and focused on the areas that would add the most value.

“They listened, they went at a good pace and they gave us time to ask questions. I was impressed with their knowledge and the way they delivered the content”

Lee also valued the balance between structured teaching and collaborative learning, with the cohort environment giving him the chance to learn from others facing similar leadership challenges.

“You’re bouncing ideas off the people in the room, learning from them and their experiences. You’re not going to get that by just teaching yourself”

The programme gave Lee the opportunity to reflect more deeply on what it means to lead strategically, particularly in relation to organisational culture, leadership behaviour and strategy development.

It reinforced the importance of senior leaders in shaping culture and highlighted how leadership behaviours at the top can have a significant impact throughout an organisation. It also gave him practical tools and frameworks to support his own strategy writing, at a key point in his role.

“It was nice to have the mirror turned on us a little bit. The course helped me develop as a leader, but also develop my career aspirations”

Beyond the classroom, Lee also recognised the value of the continuing support that came with the programme, including post-course guidance and qualification support.

“That overall support comes beyond just doing the course. That isn’t the end of it. It’s just the start”

1. Stronger Understanding of Strategic Leadership – The programme helped Lee build a clearer view of what it means to lead at a more senior, director level, including how leadership style needs to flex depending on the audience and situation.
2. Improved Approach to Strategy Development – The training gave Lee practical methods and frameworks to strengthen his thinking around strategy creation, which he could apply directly to his own work as he prepared to write a new marcomms strategy.
3. Greater Awareness of Leadership’s Impact on Culture – One of the most valuable reflections was around the influence senior leaders have on organisational culture, and how behaviours at the top can shape the experience of people across the organisation.