Oxford Executive Education Programme
Available to members of the Chief of Staff Association, this in-person residential programme at the Saïd Business School explores the systems, structures, and dynamics shaping a chief of staff’s environment.
Harvard Executive Education Programme
Programme Overview
You will work with world-class Oxford academics and come face to face with distinguished political, diplomatic and business leaders who will share firsthand insights on the chief of staff role and its evolving challenges. You will engage in discussions and debates, in the classroom and informal gatherings, exchanging best practices and real world experiences. By weeks end you will have built a trusted network of chiefs of staff who will continue to support you long after the programme ends.
Learning Objectives
Key Learning Outcomes
Environment Scanning
Learn to systematically scan external environments such as market dynamics, competitor strategies, regulatory evolutions and technological developments to identify emerging risks and opportunities in VUCA contexts and integrate these insights into strategic decision-making and resource optimisation.
Stakeholder Alignment
The programme will teach participants how to align and engage diverse stakeholders around an organisation’s strategic vision. You can expect to learn techniques for linking external trends with internal objectives, bringing people “from the present into that new future” by activating and structuring networks to drive mission-critical initiatives forward.
Decision-Making with Uncertainty
Participants can expect to learn methods for facilitating high-quality decisions amid volatility and complexity. The programme will guide you in slowing down knee-jerk reactions, holding multiple scenarios in mind, and asking the right questions to challenge assumptions, so you can help leaders shift from “fight-or-flight” to balanced, long-term strategic thinking even in crisis scenarios.
Organisational Alignment
The programme will teach participants to ensure that strategy, culture, and execution are tightly aligned. Learn to spot gaps between vision and behaviours, design interventions to re-align teams, and embed continuous feedback loops so that every function stays in sync. Drawing on Professor Jonathan Trevor’s groundbreaking frameworks, you will gain practical tools for diagnosing misalignment and restoring coherence.
"The greatest gathering of the world's chief of staff & they weren't wrong! I'm a little lost for words, but feeling so incredibly humbled, energised and lucky to have been part of the movement and magic this week."
– Ellie Bateman, Chief of Staff, Centrica
"I’m not going to lie - I feel different: a little emotional, deeply appreciative, empowered by powerful knowledge, and in awe of my incredible new network of colleagues. Most of all, I’m honored to be recognized as a Certified Chief of Staff® by the Chief of Staff Association in partnership with the Saïd Business School."
– Prince Barron, Chief of Staff, Azragames
Oxford Executive Education Programme
University of Oxford, Saïd Business School
University of Oxford, Saïd Business School
Take your seat at Oxford.
Applications close 27 June 2025
Apply now