In today’s volatile landscape, leadership is defined not by stability but by the ability to navigate through ambiguity, pressure, and disruption.
This 2.5-day immersive programme is designed for senior leaders who must make clear decisions amid conflict, uncertainty, and systemic tension. The course integrates three powerful lenses: peace-positive business practices, crisis leadership, and complexity engagement through visual dialogue. Participants explore how to lead proactively in conflict-prone contexts, respond adaptively to disruption, and foster collective sense-making when facing ambiguous challenges. Each module equips leaders with practical tools, new mindsets, and transformative experiences that turn pressure into purpose and complexity into clarity.
Prof. dr. ir. Elco van Burg, a global expert in organisational processes that foster peace-positive practices, is the Academic Director of the programme. Through expert facilitation, peer interaction, and hands-on labs, participants strengthen their capacity to lead across today’s most demanding leadership terrains.
You’ll learn to anticipate conflict and guide your organisation using peace-positive principles. You’ll gain practical tools to lead calmly and credibly in times of crisis. You’ll develop the ability to navigate ambiguity and approach complex challenges through visual dialogue. By the end of the programme, you will lead with greater clarity, composure, and confidence amid conflict, crisis, and complexity. You will be equipped with actionable tools, strategic perspective, and peace-positive leadership principles.
Programme at a Glance
Programme Type: Open Enrolment Leadership Academy
Degree: Post-Graduate Certificate
Duration: 2.5 days
Dates: 16-17-18 March 2026
Tuition Fee: €2,500 (includes materials, meals, and networking events)
Language: English
Location: VU Amsterdam
Application Deadline: 6 March 2026
Who this programme is for
- Senior executives, business continuity leaders, and change agents working in volatile or conflict-affected environments.
- Strategy leaders seeking new tools for stakeholder engagement and systems-level decision-making.
- Organisational consultants and leadership coaches supporting clients through disruption and transformation.
Why choose this programme
- Lead with clarity - Develop the ability to make confident decisions in the face of conflict, crisis, and complexity by transforming pressure into perspective.
- Navigate conflict with strategic insight — Learn peace-positive leadership strategies to manage conflict, build resilience, and foster stakeholder trust that are crucial for volatile environments.
- Master crisis leadership — Experience a high-intensity crisis simulation lab, where you’ll test your decision-making and adapt in real time under pressure..
- Decode complexity — Use visual thinking and dialogue tools to decode complex challenges, engage stakeholders, and foster collaborative problem-solving.
- Learn from experts, grow with peers — Join a cohort of senior leaders navigating high-stakes environments, supported by experienced faculty who bring both academic insight and real-world crisis leadership experience.
