Strategic Thinking Lab for Senior Leaders

An intensive seminar with Dr. Julia Sloan, Columbia University faculty and global expert on Strategic Thinking 

Strengthen your senior leaders’ capacity to think through complex challenges and lead strategic transformations.

2 Days

seminar 
9 am to 5 pm  (ask about our 2+1 day and Women’s leadership option) 

Live

In-person
Hosted at your organization,
or an off-site venue 

Lab-style

Rooted in your context 
Participants work with peers to apply concepts and think through a real, current challenge 
Facilitated by 

Dr. Julia Sloan

Global expert on Strategic Thinking 
25+ 
years
Experience and research in Strategic Thinking 
Author
Learning to Think Strategically, 5th ed. 
Awarded Best Business Book by the Financial Times 
131
countries
Global presence and influence; deep cross-cultural insight 

Trusted By Leading Organizations

Responsive Infinite Logo Slider
United Nations World Bank IMF IMF IMF USAID Columbia University United Nations World Bank IMF IMF IMF USAID Columbia University United Nations World Bank IMF IMF IMF USAID Columbia University United Nations World Bank IMF IMF IMF USAID Columbia University United Nations World Bank IMF IMF IMF USAID Columbia University United Nations World Bank IMF IMF IMF USAID Columbia University

“We cannot solve our problems
with the same thinking we used when we created them.” 

Albert Einstein 

Why this Program

AI can't make judgment calls

AI can generate a strategic plan in minutes. It cannot weigh risk against culture, hold ambiguity, or make a directional call that an entire organization will follow. That capability is inherently human.


And most organizations aren’t building it.

Where's the time and space to think?

Senior leaders are expected to navigate uncertain markets and geopolitical tensions, integrate AI, and lead workforce transformation, all at once, with little time, environments, or frameworks to think, let alone innovate.


There's a recurring loop of planning-implementing-planning-implementing — what's missing is strategic thinking.

No common vocabulary on strategy

'Strategy,’ ‘strategic thinking,’ and ‘strategic planning’ are often used interchangeably, but rarely understood.

This leads to misunderstanding, reluctance to engage in meaningful strategic conversations, inconsistent decision-making, and perpetuation of habitual thinking.

Strategic thinking is the missing link

Studies show that about 10% of strategic plans are actually implemented.


The absence of strategic thinking is often the culprit.

Strategic thinking isn't embedded in the culture

Many senior leaders see the strategy process as a necessary evil. But innovation and sustainability require strategic thinkers at all levels.

Are your senior leaders equipped to build this capacity?


Key Outcomes from this Lab

Results that  ripple  across your organization

This future-focused, results-driven learning and thinking experience equips leaders with the skills to drive meaningful organizational impact and lead with greater confidence. By the end of the seminar, your senior leadership team will:
    • Build and share a common strategy vocabulary
    • Identify whether a problem is actually “strategic”
    • Equip their teams to think strategically and embed it in the culture
    • Lead strategy conversations with greater confidence 
    • Build stronger strategic relationships and cross-sector partnerships
This future-focused learning and thinking experience equips leaders to drive strategic thinking and lead with greater confidence and clarity.

By the end of the seminar, your senior leaders will:
  • Build and share a common strategy vocabulary
  • Identify whether a problem is actually “strategic” 
  • Practice the 8 core principles of strategic thinking
  • Lead strategy conversations with greater confidence 
  • Equip their teams to think strategically and embed it in the culture
  • Build stronger strategic relationships and cross-sector partnerships 
Write your awesome label here.
Write your awesome label here.
Write your awesome label here.
Write your awesome label here.

How the Lab Works 

Rooted in your context. Applied to your challenges. 

Participants will critically assess their own and their organization's strategy development habits to expand the breadth and depth of their Strategic Thinking baseline. They will:

Think with peers

To test ideas, share challenges, and refine their strategic leadership approaches. 

Apply to your context

No case studies or theory. Just concepts, broad thinking, and direct application to current strategic challenges.

Expand capability

By practicing Strategic Thinking throughout the lab, they will elevate their Strategic Thinking baseline.

Who it is for

The lab is designed to give senior leaders who want to expand their knowledge and capabilities
in the underlying learning process of Strategic Thinking.

Business Unit Leaders

Senior business unit leaders, division heads, and general managers with 10-15 years of experience who are setting strategic direction 

Rising Enterprise Leaders

Recently promoted senior professionals preparing for cross-functional or enterprise-wide leadership roles  

Functional Executives

Functional leaders in finance, operations, HR, technology, or marketing looking to broaden their enterprise influence

Transformational Leaders

Senior leaders navigating disruption or major organizational transition 

Mindset Shifts

Hear from leaders who have experienced the Strategic Thinking Lab with Dr. Julia Sloan.

Senior Director

"Dr. Sloan's strategic thinking framework transformed how our leadership team approaches complex challenges. The results have been remarkable."
World Bank

Program Manager

"Julia's ability to demystify strategic thinking and make it actionable is unparalleled. This course is essential for any leader."

United Nations

Chief Learning Officer

"The Learning Labs created a shared language for strategy across our organization. We now have a pipeline of strategic thinkers."
International MANUFACTURING CO.

Sr. Researcher

"She’s a rockstar around here. Her take on strategic thinking is right on the mark — creative, practical and wicked fun."
Biotechnology Firm 

Global Marketing Executive VP

"Extremely thought-provoking and spot-on without our reality! A completely different approach—totally fascinating!"
Medical Technology Company

International Marketing Lead

"I always thought strategic thinking and strategic planning were one and the same. I’ve had my eyes and mind opened wide — and my approach to strategy has been completely revised after an intensive seminar."
Consumer Products Firm

Global CEO

"We’re totally on board! An original approach to strategic thinking that’s on-target. Julia’s as relevant as they come, down-to-earth, with a refreshingly international perspective."
Cybersecurity firm

Managing Director

"The depth of knowledge is expert, and the application of the concepts is original. These seminar standards are high; it’s “a stretch experience” that we have embedded in our global leadership team."
Consulting Firm

Write your awesome label here.

Write your awesome label here.

Write your awesome label here.

Write your awesome label here.

Write your awesome label here.

Write your awesome label here.
Write your awesome label here.

A renowned authority on Strategic Thinking

Dr. Sloan transforms how leaders approach complexity with warmth, energy, and cutting-edge insights. 
 
As a faculty member at Columbia University and a Fulbright Fellow, she brings unparalleled academic rigor combined with practical, real-world applications rooted in decades of corporate experience. She has worked with leaders in 131 countries over the last 25 years.  

Dr. Sloan is the author of Learning to Think Strategically, 5th ed. – a book widely acclaimed by the leaders she has consulted and by her 500+ graduate students. It has been awarded Best Book of the Year by the Financial Times. 
Organizations will remain competitive provided leaders move beyond what successful strategists do, and focus instead, on how they learn to think the way they do.
Dr. Julia Sloan 

Bring this Lab to Your Organization

Available for mid-size and large corporations
across manufacturing, technology, consumer products, retail, pharma, and more — as standalone seminars, leadership retreats, or team off-sites.
Explore Julia’s

Podcast Appearances 

Write your awesome label here.
Write your awesome label here.
Write your awesome label here.
Created with