3 executive programs to master innovative leadership

To be successful today in the fashion business requires new strategies
and adaptable, innovative leadership, but what does that mean, exactly? In
recent years, the fashion and luxury brands have faced tremendous upheaval
as a result of digital transformation, big data, and social media. In the
UK, London College of Fashion currently offers a master’s program entirely
devoted to fashion entrepreneurship and innovation. Elle, the global
fashion media platform has teamed up with one of the most reputable
American universities in the world (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
to teach innovative leadership. At Business School Netherlands in
Amsterdam, a mini-MBA is available for professional executives that are
interested in sustainability and denim.

Fashion academics and young professionals seeking to broaden their
horizon while maintaining flexibility can consider obtaining a certificate
from ELLE’s partnership with the prestigious MIT Sloan Executive Education.
The Innovation Leadership for Fashion & Luxury Consumer Brands is a program
tailored to provide participants with exclusive insight and a global
perspective of the fashion industry that begins in Madrid, then Paris and
ends at MIT’s campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The global curriculum places a focus into the areas of fast fashion,
premium brands, haute couture, luxury and innovation. A program tutor will
be assigned to each participant to assist and engage in hands-on activities
and critical thinking around these modules, with the goal of developing a
more innovation-driven and strategic mindset. Candidates of this program
have the opportunity to engage with industry leaders and be part of
round-table discussions, keynotes, debates, and interviews. Past guest
speakers have included renowned fashion designers such as Diane von
Furstenburg, Global E-commerce Director at Mango (Roger Graell) to the
Retail and Fashion Director of Facebook (Marisa Manzano).

For the fashion entrepreneurs and small business owners, LCF’s MA
Fashion Entrepreneurship and Innovation offers the essential skills and
coaching to launch and scale emerging businesses effectively. Over 12
months, participants will be provided with experienced team coaches to
support and identify action plans that are based on LCF’s ‘learning by
doing’ principles. With an extensive network of UK and international
alumni, academic and industry partners across the fashion industry, this
program opens the door to a network of opportunities for budding
entrepreneurs. Graduates of the MA Fashion Entrepreneurship and Innovation
program have gone on to work or become affiliated with brands such as
Stella McCartney, Inditex, Swarovski, Institut Français de la Mode, and the
Mondragon Team Academy.

At Business School Netherlands, professionals can apply for a mini-MBA
aimed at accelerating both leadership development and decision-making
skills with a focus on sustainable denim. Participants not only have the
chance to join the international textile trade show Amsterdam Denim Days
and are also invited as members of the Business Club KingPins. For two
intensive days, the program includes a Strategic & Innovation Management
course which provides tools and perspectives available to set up analysis,
to identify strategic challenges and to design possible organisational
responses. During this mini-MBA program, different forms of leadership
models are explored through a global perspective while also embracing
technology combined with unconventional thinking.

Photos: courtesy of London College of Fashion, screenshot of Elle Education
website