Beyond Winning: The Leadership Mindsets
Executive Leadership Program for Senior Leaders to Master Complexity, Ambidexterity and Sustainable Performance
About the Program
Lead in complexity. Perform under pressure.
This executive leadership program equips senior leaders to balance short-term results with long-term strategy, navigate uncertainty, and sustain high performance in complex environments.
In today’s business environment, leadership is no longer defined by choosing between alternatives. It requires the ability to manage competing priorities simultaneously, delivering results today while building future capabilities.
Organizations must perform today while preparing for tomorrow. The leaders who succeed are not those who eliminate these tensions, but those who turn them into a source of strategic advantage.
Over three interactive days at WHU Campus Düsseldorf, participants develop actionable leadership capabilities through real-world case studies and applied learning, drawing on examples from elite sports.
Program Content
Leadership today requires both short-term wins and sustainable performance culture. Beyond Winning bridges pragmatic leadership with long-term high performance by enabling leaders to experience continuous growth personally, within teams, and across organizations.
Content of program:
- Based on the 1M-Model (Performance = Talent × Training × Mindset):
Talent: defines potential - Training: builds capability - Mindset: determines performance under pressure - Five actionable leadership mindsets, inspired by Olympic champions
- Leading in Complexity and Sustaining High Performance Leadership: The ability to operate effectively within contradiction and uncertainty
- A New Leadership Paradigm: Ambidexterity and Leading Under Uncertainty - Turn pressure, setbacks, and ambiguity into performance drivers
- Strengthening resilience and adaptability in high-pressure situations: Defeat accelerates your improvement
- Vision-setting and personal leadership identity
- Creating future-ready leadership models in the Future Leadership Lab
Methods: lectures, case studies, peer feedback, mindset stories, simulations, and guest contributions.
Guest speakers: Renowned athletes, entrepreneurs, and executives complement the program with practical insights.
Program Format and Module Dates
3-day program at WHU Campus Düsseldorf
- Day 1 – Ambidexterity: Build your leadership identity and understand how to balance present performance with future opportunities. Explore corporate foresight and apply insights through the Dirk Nowitzki case.
- Day 2 – Performance in Practice: Translate leadership principles into action by developing sustainable performance systems and applying leadership mindsets to real-world challenges, using case studies on Thomas Müller and Xabi Alonso.
- Day 3 – Impact & Future: Strengthen decision-making under pressure, use failure and success as drivers of growth, and design future-ready leadership approaches in the Future Leadership Lab.
Module Dates
Program Benefits
Leadership today means operating in environments defined by uncertainty, pressure, and competing demands.
This program equips leaders with the mindset and tools to:
- Develop a high-performance leadership mindset
- Balance short-term execution with long-term strategic positioning
- Lead effectively in complex and uncertain environments
- Translate ambiguity into actionable decisions
- Build sustainable performance systems
- Gain a deep understanding of the core elements of sustainable high-performance leadership with five proven mindsets
- Reflect on your leadership style and strengthen authenticity
- Develop future-proof strategies based on megatrends and elite sports principles
- Expand your peer network across industries and functions
- Strengthen strategic foresight capabilities
Upon completion, you will be awarded a WHU Executive Education Certificate, a recognized mark of your commitment to growth, leadership, and lifelong learning, issued by one of Europe’s top business schools.
Participant Profile
- Experienced leaders (C-1) responsible for cross-functional and/or international teams
- Senior managers preparing for C-level roles
- Executives seeking to enhance leadership impact in high-performance contexts
- Decision-makers operating in complex environments
- Leaders responsible for transformation and long-term strategy
- Leaders with around 10 years of leadership experience, ready to expand their mindset toolkit
Join Prof. Sascha L. Schmidt, Dr. Michael Ilgner, and Kerstin Forword for a live look inside WHU’s new executive program, Beyond Winning: The Leadership Mindset.
What to expect:
- Hear how the program connects high-performance sports and leadership development
- Get an overview of the 3-day learning journey and the key topics explored
- Ask your questions directly during a live Q&A
Speakers:
- Dr. Michael Ilgner – Founder & CEO, One May Group
- Prof. Sascha L. Schmidt – Chair Holder and Director, WHU Center for Sports and Management
- Kerstin Forword – Project Manager, WHU Center for Sports and Management
Spots are limited; secure yours now.
FAQ
1What is an executive leadership program?
An executive leadership program is a structured learning experience designed to help senior leaders improve decision-making, leadership capabilities, and strategic thinking.
2Who should attend this leadership program?
Senior executives, leaders in complex environments, and decision-makers responsible for performance and transformation.
3What makes this program unique?
It combines principles from elite sports, ambidextrous leadership, and corporate foresight to enable sustained performance under uncertainty.
4Where does the program take place?
The program is held on the WHU Campus Düsseldorf.
Our Admissions Team is happy to assist you.
We look forward to connecting with you!