What does leadership mean in today's environment? As the world becomes increasingly connected and transparent with the onslaught of Artificial Intelligence and digitalisation, it is quickly reshaping how business gets done. And with geoeconomic fragmentation, climate shocks, and widening inequality across the globe, everyone is held accountable.
With that, traditional models of leadership, management, and corporate governance are no longer adequate. What we need is a values-driven shift in how leaders create value.
That shift is at the heart of The Steward Leadership Advantage, a programme jointly developed by Singapore Management University (SMU) and the Steward Leadership Institute (SLI). Built on the Steward Leadership Compass©, it equips board directors, C-suite leaders, and senior executives to "do well by doing good", whether the goal is to simply maximise profitable growth (sustainable profitability) or to viably address environmental and social challenges (profitable sustainability).
Our participants share what the programme meant to them, and how it has reshaped the way they lead.
Programme Partner
Chief Human Resources Officer, Asian Bulk Logistics
Tell us what stood out for you in the programme?
The SMU-SLI Steward Leadership Advantage Programme was a strategically valuable experience that connected global trends, emerging business challenges, and practical leadership perspectives. What stood out to me was the Steward Leadership approach—encouraging leaders to go beyond business performance and consider how we create sustainable, long-term value for the organisation, our people, society, and future generations.
What is your takeaway after completing the programme?
The combination of SMU’s academic insights, SLI’s proven framework, global practices, and meaningful exchanges among participants made the programme highly relevant to leaders navigating transformation, AI, sustainability, and an increasingly complex global environment.
Integrated Disease Value Lead - Breast Cancer & Hematology, Roche Thailand Ltd.
How has the programme changed your view on leadership?
The transformative experience deepened my understanding of leadership’s vital role in creating a sustainable future. It emphasised the necessity of aligning financial goals with social and environmental impact, proving that companies can achieve success while benefiting society. Discussions on impact investing and the lessons from both exemplary organisations and cautionary tales enriched my perspective.
What is your takeaway after completing the programme?
I left inspired to continue embedding steward leadership values—such as interdependence, ownership mentality, long-term view, and creative resilience—into my work and teams’ culture. The programme is a fantastic take on how professionals can embed stewardship principles with leadership skills. The speakers and case studies were highly relevant, and the exchange of views was mentally stimulating. I ended the session with a refreshed outlook, armed with a toolkit of practical frameworks that can be applied to my work.