Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Leeds Beckett talk to discuss leadership in a complex world
In the fourth instalment of the series of guest lectures run by the University’s Centre for Governance, Leadership and Global Responsibility (CGLGR), David Welbourn, Visiting Professor in the University’s Business School and board level advisor and researcher in leadership and governance, will discuss the VUCA concept: that volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity are no longer exceptional circumstances but are now a consequence of our modern 24/7 culture of increased interconnectivity and accelerated cycle times.
The talk, which will take place on Thursday 18 February from 5.30pm to 7pm at the University’s city centre Rose Bowl building, is free and open to the public.
Speaking ahead of the lecture, David said: “Despite all the sophisticated tools and analysis at our disposal, it is the simplicity and power of narrative that we need to rediscover if organisations are to thrive in an increasingly complex world.”
Professor Simon Robinson, Director of the CGLGR at Leeds Beckett University, added: “It is a pleasure to welcome David to our University. His wealth of experience in a number of fields, including science and engineering research, corporate finance and strategy, and management of operations and customer service, brings a fresh perspective to our University where he chairs the research board in Public Sector Governance.
“I am sure the people of Leeds and wider community will find David’s talk very insightful and intuitive.”
Following a period in management consultancy with Matrix, David founded Eutropia, a niche consultancy specialising in the leadership and governance challenges of whole ecosystems, in particular healthcare. He was also appointed Visiting Professor at Cass Business School, where he developed and directed a number of leadership programmes designed specifically for the NHS.
Currently, David works part-time as Chief Executive of BSHAA, the professional body for independent audiologists and continues to advise a number of health commissioner and provider groups on new business models and system designs.
The CGLGR launched in 2015 as a University-wide research centre. It aims to address issues in governance and responsibility, across all sectors, in a global context. For more information visit the Centre for Governance, Leadership and Global Responsibility.
The remaining lectures in the series are:
‘Narrative – putting both strategy and culture in the shade!’ - David Welbourn, Thursday 18 February 2016 from 5.30pm to 7pm.
‘Process, practical coping and performance: Achieving sustainable excellence indirectly through phronetic self-cultivation’ - Professor Robert Chia, Thursday 21 April 2016 from 5.30pm to 7pm.