LBS Leadership Incubator sets students on a path to the top

London Business School (LBS) is sharpening the skills of students eyeing the C-suite with a series of strategic learning sessions focussed on what it means to be a leader. Aimed at fostering the next generation of business leaders, the School’s Leadership Incubator provides a dynamic environment for students to explore and enhance their leadership styles, decision-making capabilities and team collaboration skills.

The Leadership Incubator, which will be entering its tenth iteration in the 2024-25 academic year, offers targeted support to students in leadership roles at the School, such as the President of the LBS Student Association and Student Club leaders. Dedicated sessions, with a focus on experiential learning, allow them to experiment and reflect about what it takes to become the type of impactful and mindful leader the world needs.

World-renowned faculty provide academic insights into the world of leadership theory and practice. At the most recent iteration, Professors Andrew Likierman, Kathleen O’Connor, Randall Peterson and Dan Cable covered key leadership areas of focus around judgement, mindsets, reflection and how to build high-performance teams.

Sir Andrew Likierman’s work into the application of judgement across business-critical areas, such as strategy development, key hires and project planning, emphasises crucial aspects of leadership like setting personal priorities and shaping organisational culture. Professor O’Connor’s research into mindsets shows that would-be leaders should channel a growth mindset in their treatment of other people as they will be better leaders if they view others as having room for development, growth and change.

People skills, psychological safety and the art of collaboration are the key ingredients to building high-performance teams according to Professor Peterson, whose research delves into team conflict and how best to lead diverse teams across cultures. The ability to reflect is also a crucial skill, with Professor Cable’s work showing how leaders can use reflection to increase creativity, engagement and productivity in teams.

In addition to faculty-led sessions, students on the Incubator enjoy a workshop on compassionate leadership and the important role it plays in improving employee retention, job performance and even organisational survival. This is courtesy of Kirstie Papworth, Executive Director of Experiential Learning whose team runs the Leadership Incubator.

Commenting on the success of the Incubator programme, Kirstie says:

“Students tell us that the blend of faculty expertise, coaching sessions and leadership development work helps them to cement and refine the knowledge and skills they need to navigate complex business environments, compassionately leading diverse teams to success. They particularly enjoy the interactive workshops where they have an opportunity to put their knowledge and insight into tangible, practical action. Working with the Leadership Incubator team and each other, our students become adept at navigating dilemmas and make high-pressure decisions – strategic leadership tools they will need in the future. Moreover, their leadership roles at the School provide them with the perfect opportunity to apply and test the theories and frameworks that they learn through the programme.”

Priyal Keni (MBA2024), President of the LBS Student Association, agrees.

“The Leadership Incubator has been an unparalleled catalyst in my journey of personal and professional growth. It has not only provided a nurturing and safe environment for learning from my peers and expert mentors, but also enabled me to practically apply these insights and lessons in real-time as the SA President.”

Anthony Sayegh (MBA2024), President of LBS’ Art & Business Club and Co-President of the Swimming Club also had high praise for the Incubator:

"Participating in the Leadership Incubator at LBS has been a pivotal chapter in my leadership development. It offered me a unique, risk-free environment to experiment with and refine my leadership style, allowing me to explore leadership dimensions that resonate most with me. Here, I discovered my authentic leadership voice, learning not just to lead but to inspire and empower."