The program curriculum is carefully reviewed and modified each year to reflect market trends and to ensure that participants learn critical leadership and decision-making skills that are relevant to the changing global economy in the financial sector. The underlying learning objectives are to provide an evidence-based framework for strategic and critical thinking and round that out with sessions with industry experts who will provide context for how participants can apply what they have learned.
Research suggests that all employees thrive when their leaders emphasize multiculturalism and create inclusive workplace cultures. To facilitate a positive culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion, organizational leaders and supervisors can systematically employ decision-making tactics to build a culture that drives organizational success.
Elevate Your Power of Influence
Gain a better understanding of your personal communication style and the styles of others. Learn to adapt your approach to maximize effective communication with your customers and stakeholders, elevating your power of influence, especially in a global cross-cultural environment.
How Generative AI is Rewiring the Banking Industry
This session will be led by an AI strategy expert from SWIFT and will include topics related to:
- Generative AI practices and applications
- Use cases in financial institutions
- Opportunities for improved efficiency
- Enhanced decision-making capabilities
- Innovative product management
- Challenges with ethical concerns, security, and privacy
Global Supply Chain Landscape and Management
The current geopolitical situations around the world have significantly affected the global supply chain landscape. This session will explore the current state of the geopolitical environment and discuss the rising trends of de-globalization and regionalization in supply chains. It will examine how banks can play a crucial role in supporting and stabilizing disruptions through financial instruments and services to mitigate risk and enhance efficiency.
Making Critical Decisions
Drawing on cognitive psychology and behavioral economics, this course examines common biases that impede effective decision-making. We will:
- Analyze common decision errors leaders make
- Explore strategies to avoid these errors
- Identify crucial ingredients for good group decision-making
- Examine methods to aggregate individual opinions into high-quality decisions
Economic Outlook and Global Market Trends
Engage with a chief economist from a leading Chinese bank to gain invaluable perspectives on the intricacies of the Asian financial market. Additionally, explore the VC perspective from the United States, examining global trends and their implications for banking and finance worldwide.
Balance Sheet Management
This session will:
- Highlight the importance of balance sheet management and identify key focus areas
- Discuss asset liability management strategies
- Review key financial ratios
- Provide insights into regulatory and economic trends
- Explore strategies for diversifying funding to enhance stability
Fintech: What Do Banks Need to Know?
Hear from the Global Head of Fintech Technology and US Head of Technology Investment Banking at RBC Capital Markets. With deep expertise in payments, financial software, and market structure, the speaker will share insights into Fintech trends and the impact on the banking industry.
Negotiation Skills
Become a more effective communicator and decision-maker through:
- Techniques for building and maintaining professional relationships
- Learning to apply appropriate influence
- Structuring agreements
- Developing buy-in among stakeholders
Global Venture Capital Overview and Banking Industry Strategies
This session will explore:
- VC perspectives on investment strategies and decision-making
- Assessment of global trends in funding
- Emerging sectors
- Macroeconomic factors
- Impact on the banking industry
- Opportunities for collaboration
- Future developments in the VC banking landscape
Global Liquidity and Instant Payments
This session will bring together perspectives from Corporate Treasury, Regulatory, and Commercial Banking to address:
- Global liquidity management
- Regulations mandating instant payments
- Real-time payments and associated technologies
Effective Leadership
Effective Leadership sessions (with simulated exercises) will focus on critical leadership attributes, qualities, skills, and competencies needed to create and sustain organizational success. Participants will explore dynamic leadership issues facing today’s financial institutions, challenging students to build on established skills and exchange ideas to enhance leadership effectiveness. Objectives include helping participants to:
- Gain deeper understanding of the roles, requirements, and expectations of leaders in banking
- Understand leaders’ role as change agents in a global economy
- Develop managerial leadership skills to transform organizations
- Create a culture of shared responsibility
- Improve their understanding of effective decision-making as a method to foster an achievement-oriented culture
Company Visits
In 2024, the group visited Boeing and Amazon, engaging with corporate executives to learn about leadership and challenges facing successful global companies.
“Gave practical views of Amazon’s approach, to Treasury especially on its value proposition in addressing internal fund requirements.” -Inigo Regaldo, GBP Class of 2024
“[The Boeing visit was] OUTSTANDING. Many practical examples with a good base of theory to set in stone.” -Bill Waters, GBP Class of 2024
Capstone Project
Participants will work in teams to evaluate the changing role of banks and financial institutions in the global economy, presenting their findings to the board after two weeks. Project Requirements:
- Project will focus on identifying, evaluating, and selecting current disruptions facing the financial industry.
- Consider disruption implications for customers and potential global economic ripple effects.
- Determine strategies to address disruptions and provide customer solutions.
- Prepare actionable, measurable recommendations for the Board, including:
- 3–5-year roadmap
- Detailed timeline
- Financial projections
An interactive and rich learning experience
What makes the UW-GBP program unique is the balance and blend between academic content and industry perspectives. Faculty are carefully selected to reflect strong evidence-based research as well as relevant consulting and teaching experience. They are insightful, experienced, and dedicated to progressive thinking. Participants have called UW-GBP faculty thought-provoking, stimulating, and inspirational.
A key deliverable is the capstone project. The objectives of this project are to:
1. Address real-world challenges outside of the classroom sessions.
2. Provide time to apply what you learn in class.
3. Receive valuable feedback from experienced board members on issues surrounding the financial institutions.
All sessions and program materials will be in English.