Partner:
Introduction
Redefining Women’s Leadership at the Board and C-Suite
The Women Directors Leadership Programme (WDLP) equips senior women leaders with the knowledge, skills, and global exposure to excel in the boardroom and beyond.
It moves the conversation from why women should serve on boards to how they can lead with impact, authenticity, and excellence.
Who Should Join?
The Women Directors Leadership Programme is crafted for visionary women leaders ready to deepen their influence, refine their leadership essence, and leave an indelible mark on the boardroom and beyond.
Participants are women who:
- Hold senior leadership roles — C-Suite executives, seasoned board members, and executive committee leaders shaping strategy at the highest levels.
- Bring boardroom experience — at least two years of board service, enriched by the desire to elevate from participation to purposeful influence.
- Seek self-mastery — women committed to reflective growth, unlocking their inner compass, and leading with clarity, courage, and authenticity.
- Aspire to legacy — leaders driven not only by performance, but by the desire to nurture high-performing teams, champion good governance, and leave behind a legacy of impact.
Each class weaves together a mosaic of perspectives — participants drawn from diverse industries, sectors, and geographies. This global cross-pollination of experiences creates a vibrant tapestry of dialogue, innovation, and shared wisdom, enriching every conversation and amplifying every insight.
Why WDLP? – The Value Proposition
- Personal & Peer Coaching – dedicated executive coaching and peer learning.
- Leadership Assessments – Cutting-edge self-mastery tools.
- Top Faculty & Industry Experts – global and local thought leaders.
- Global Immersion – a module at Cranfield School of Management, UK.
- Boardroom Retreat – Amboseli or Samburu National Parks for reflective learning.
- Lifelong Network – SBS alumni community and peer network of senior leaders
Intra-Modular Activities
Between modules, participants embark on a deeply personal and transformative journey through four bespoke Executive Coaching sessions. These one-on-one encounters serve as a reflective mirror—illuminating strengths, unearthing blind spots, and sharpening each participant’s unique leadership essence.
Threaded seamlessly through this experience is a capstone project, a living canvas on which participants test new insights, refine strategies, and translate leadership theory into tangible boardroom value. This project, nurtured over the course of the programme, culminates in a powerful presentation during Module 3, where each leader showcases not only their mastery of governance, but also the evolution of their personal leadership brand.
More than an academic exercise, this interwoven journey of coaching and practice ensures that every participant emerges not only enriched with knowledge, but also anchored in self-mastery, poised to influence, and ready to leave a legacy of impact.
Programme Delivery
The Women Directors Leadership Programme is designed as a non-residential, multi-modular journey, carefully structured to fit seamlessly into the demanding lives of senior leaders. Spanning three intensive modules, each lasting four days, the programme is anchored at Strathmore Business School in Nairobi, with a transformative international immersion at the Cranfield School of Management in the United Kingdom.
To complement the classroom experience, participants are invited to a five-day reflective retreat at the breathtaking Amboseli or Samburu National Parks — a rare opportunity to step away from the boardroom, reconnect with nature, and deepen leadership insights.
The programme blends the renowned case methodology with thought-provoking lectures, engaging group discussions, and boardroom simulations, ensuring both intellectual rigor and practical application. By the close of this journey, participants are not only equipped with sharper leadership tools but also awarded a Certificate of Completion — a mark of their transformation and commitment to boardroom excellence.
Modules
| Module 1 – Leading Self (Nairobi): | The programme begins at Strathmore Business School with a deep dive into personal leadership, board fundamentals, and ethical excellence. Participants explore their leadership blind spots, gender dynamics, ESG, and board structures, while practicing decision-making and boardroom etiquette. The module culminates in a board simulation, Red Thread Review, and networking through a Meet & Greet Cocktail and guest speaker session. |
| Module 2 – Global Perspectives (UK): |
In partnership with Cranfield School of Management, this international immersion sharpens global boardroom perspectives. Participants engage with world-class research on women in leadership and visit leading institutions including Investec Bank, the London Stock Exchange, Mastercard, and Marlborough House. Themes include inclusive governance, data-driven decision-making, financial crime prevention, and global best practices in diversity and accountability. |
| Module 3 – Leading Strategy (Nairobi & Amboseli): | The final module integrates strategy, innovation, and future readiness. Leaders engage with AI, cyber risk, sustainable strategy, and crisis leadership while refining their board value proposition. Board simulations, project presentations, and stakeholder engagement exercises ensure practical application. The journey concludes with reflection and legacy building at Amboseli, marked by a tree planting, a game drive, and a celebratory bush dinner. |
Faculty Highlight
Course Leader: Kellen Eileen Kariuki, MBS
Associate Dean, Executive Education | Board Chair | Executive Advisor | Governance Expert
Kellen Eileen Kariuki is a seasoned governance leader with over 20 years of executive and board experience across the financial, public, and private sectors. She is currently the Chair of Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Ltd., and she founded and led Kenya’s Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority, and served on more than 15 boards across Africa and internationally.
Recognized with the Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS) for her national service, Kellen brings unmatched expertise in governance, regulatory strategy, and leadership development. Her career includes senior roles at Citibank (CFO, Head of HR) and regional leadership spanning Africa, the Middle East, and Pakistan.
She holds an MSc in International HRM from Cranfield University (UK), an MBA in Strategic Management, and a BSc in Accounting from USIU.
Testimonial
Programme Format
| Non-residential | 3 modules, 4 days each |
| Locations | Nairobi, UK, Amboseli National Park |
| Learning Methods |
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| Award | Certificate of Completion |
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Developing Great African Leaders
Key Details
| Module | Date | Venue | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orientation | 10 March 2026 | Strathmore University Business School, Kenya | 1 day |
| 1 | 3 – 6 Mar 2026 | Strathmore University Business School, Kenya | 4 days |
| 2 | 1 – 5 June 2026 | Cranfield School of Management, United Kingdom | 4 days |
| 3 | 26 – 31 October 2026 | Amboseli National Park, Kenya | 4 days |
Cost
The programme fee is Kshs. 1,334,100
- This excludes flights and visa fees
- Inclusive of accommodation and ground transport in UK and Amboseli
Contacts
For more information on the programme reach out to Denis Omumbwa:
- Email: eeopenprograms@strathmore.edu or domumbwa@strathmore.edu
- or call: +254 (0) 703 034 513 (Tel)/ +254 (0) 711 716 900 (Cell)
