Five factors to consider when choosing a professional development course in 2026

The year 2026 will be nothing short of disruptions. Industries have never been more complex, with markets moving overnight and geopolitical tensions influencing supply chains. Technology is advancing faster than we can react, with AI leading the charge.

Senior leaders face unprecedented business challenges and major risks in steering their organisation towards success. This is where the right professional development course can make all the difference.

There are countless programmes and courses promising transformation, but how do you choose one that’s right for you or your organisation? Distilled from real-world experience and insights from participants and partners of SMU Executive Development, our Business Development Managers, Desmond Ng and Ayden Tay share the 5 key factors you should consider before making a decision.

5 key factors you should consider when choosing a professional development course

1. What are you looking to gain for your executive development course?
It’s easy to be struck with decision paralysis: Should I opt for a course that helps sharpen senior leadership skills or one that offers insight and strategic skills for a specific industry? So, before all else, ask yourself – What do I want to achieve through my professional development?

You might be looking to:

• Gain sector-specific insights to ride an industry’s next wave of change.
• Strengthen your soft skills for senior leadership roles.
• Learn innovation strategies complete with regional networking opportunities.

2. What is the reputation of the institution in executive development and corporate training?
Choosing a leadership development course is as much about who delivers it as it is about the content. When investing time and resources in your professional development, the institution’s reputation is a signal of quality, reliability, and influence. A credible institution brings validated expertise, extensive industry connections, and recognition that can open doors long after the course ends.

Situated in the heart of Singapore, SMU is home to one of Asia’s top-ranked business schools. In the QS 2025 University Rankings, SMU’s Master of Science in Wealth Management was ranked 1st in Asia. The Master of Science in Applied Finance also debuted in the 2026 QS Global Master's in Finance Rankings at 1st place in Singapore and 2nd in Asia.

More importantly, SMU Executive Development's methodology blends rigorous academic insight with real-world industry experience, specialising in sectors such as Government & Stat Boards, Financial Services, Maritime, Healthcare, and Energy & Infrastructure.

In exploring the vast executive development programmes and courses out there, it’s important to keep in mind that your executive development is anchored in both theory and practice. That’s where the institution’s credibility ensures the knowledge you gain is not only current but respected, giving you the confidence to apply it effectively in your organisation.

3. Who are the faculty involved in teaching the course?
Imagine sitting in a session on strategic change, led not by a theorist but by someone who’s successfully navigated a multinational through disruption. Even the best course content falls flat without capable guides.

At SMU Executive Development, our faculty are not only respected academics but also seasoned industry practitioners. In one of our Steward Leadership Advantage programme, you’d learn stewardship leadership directly from SMU’s Dr Flocy Joseph, Senior Deputy Director and Head of Commercial of SMU Executive Development Department, alongside Rajeev Peshawaria, CEO of Stewardship Asia Centre.

Choosing programmes with highly credible faculty and expert practitioners assures you that the learning is actionable and relevant, rather than purely theoretical.

4. Is the programme and course content keeping up with the challenges of tomorrow?
In a rapidly evolving world, yesterday’s knowledge is rarely enough. Outdated courses limit your ability to lead effectively, while forward-looking content equips you with the skills to anticipate trends, innovate, and drive organisational impact. Leadership in 2026 demands more than yesterday’s wisdom.

"The right course should continually refresh its curriculum to align with emerging trends, new technologies, and evolving business landscapes," Desmond explained.

5. What’s your preferred learning style? Online, in-person, or hybrid?

Think back to the last time you learned something that truly stuck with you. Was it because you were in the right environment? Or was the learning conducted in a way that you apply the practicality of the concepts you’ve learned?

Either way, how the learning is delivered shapes not only convenience but the quality of your engagement. An executive development course that doesn’t fit your learning preferences can undermine your progress, while the right learning modality amplifies your growth. Essentially, what you should consider is:

• Online: Offers unmatched flexibility and accessibility. For busy executives who can’t take leave from work, online sessions (live or recorded) provide the freedom to learn at your own pace. It allows participants more control to pause, reflect, and revisit key concepts, but places more emphasis on self-learning.
• In-person: Immersive, dynamic, and relational. The energy of spontaneous conversations and discussions around shared experiences creates learning that sticks. Peer insights, site visits, and industry fireside chats enrich your understanding and make your learning a lived experience.
• Hybrid: Offers the best of both worlds. Structured in-person sessions combined with digital content ensure continuity and reinforcement of learning. You engage with peers in real-time while maintaining the flexibility to digest theory and assignments online.

"At SMU Executive Development, our courses are designed with different learning modalities  to ensure participants fully maximise and achieve their learning goals while providing adaptability for different learning styles," Ayden added. "This is even more so for organisations through a customisable corporate training programme."

How to choose the right executive development programme for your organisation

When deciding on an ideal executive development solution for your organisation, whether it’s an off-the-shelf leadership development course or a fully customised corporate training for your organisation, start with a clear assessment of the unique learning and development needs and the wider strategic goals.

For the Learning and Development or the Human Resource departments, it is important to identify the specific skillset and competencies that your leaders require to successfully drive the organisation forward.

Instead of a corporate training that provides generic learning outcomes, it’s crucial for you to consider how the learning outcomes help empower your leaders to navigate volatility and disruption while advancing the organisation’s mission.

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Standing at the nexus of management, social sciences and technology, SMU’s Executive Development have developed renowned custom programmes for partner organisations and bespoke short courses.

Get in touch with our team to learn more about how you can unlock value with our custom programmes and short courses.