Strategies for leadership in an uncertain future

In this video:

It’s hard to believe that only two months ago stories began to emerge about a new virus originating in Wuhan, China. Since then, the COVID-19 virus has profoundly impacted economies in North America and around the world. It has resulted in steep declines in financial markets, economic activity, and employment.

On April 2, 2020, we delivered a free webinar to share expertise and guidance to help leaders prepare for an uncertain future. Hosted by Ivey Professor Tony Frost, an expert in global strategy and international business, “Strategies for Leadership in an Uncertain Future” provided a snapshot of the current global crisis and its specific impacts on business. Additionally, Dr. Frost discussed ways we can all be more adaptable and resilient in facing uncertainty. 

Key webinar content

Core topics

• Building a strategic perspective and cultivating an external view
• The uncertainty surrounding the depth – and more importantly – the duration of the COVID-19 impact
• How the current pandemic compares to other economic shocks, such as 9/11, the global financial crisis in 2008, World War II, and the great depression
• The role of government intervention, specifically monetary and fiscal policy, in alleviating economic shock
• A checklist of the different factors that can impact business as a result of macroeconomic shocks
• A business resilience matrix to determine your organization’s adaptability
• Periodizing your strategy: balancing the present moment with an uncertain future and alternative scenario modeling
• The key themes and priorities for leading during the current crisis period as determined by the audience
• Giving your team room to breathe and recover
• Leading counter-cyclically: capitalizing on strategic opportunities during economic downturn
• Monitoring the progression of the pandemic globally and looking for signs of recovery

Memorable quote

“We will get out of this. Don’t let the current crisis period be your only focus. You can’t stop thinking about the future. For business leaders, you’ll have to both manage the moment as well as position yourself for where you want to be going forward.” – Dr. Tony Frost

Additional Resources

Click the above image to view slides, or download the slide deck presentation.

Understanding the Economic Shock of Coronavirus, HBR.org

Note: This article was originally published under our former name, The Ivey Academy. We are now known as Ivey Executive Education.

About Ivey Executive Education

Ivey Executive Education is the home for executive Learning and Development (L&D) in Canada. It is Canada’s only full-service L&D house, blending Financial Times top-ranked university-based executive education with talent assessment, instructional design and strategy, and behaviour change sustainment. 

Rooted in Ivey Business School’s real-world leadership approach, Ivey Executive Education is a place where professionals come to get better, to break old habits and establish new ones, to practice, to change, to obtain coaching and support, and to join a powerful peer network. For more learning insights and updates on our events and programming, follow us on LinkedIn.