Executive Education
For Individuals
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION LEADERSHIP
In an era where digital technology and generative artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping traditional business models, products, services, and operations, the Digital Transformation Leadership (DTL) program empowers leaders to craft customized digital innovation strategies for success.
The DTL program has been custom-designed in close collaboration with industry partners and DIGITAL to empower leaders to innovate using digital technology. Leaders and decision-makers craft customized strategies for their organizations, propelling them toward successful digital transformation and creative business solutions.
Why take this program?
The Digital Transformation Leadership program is tailor-made for senior-level leaders who play pivotal roles in driving digital transformation within their organizations. Participants will understand the foundations for digital transformation, assess an idea or opportunity for digital innovation, and develop a pitch to communicate that vision to their team, peers, and senior leadership. Ideal for leaders who are engaged in a digital innovation initiative.
Program Overview
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the program, participants will be able to:
- Understand the current state of digital platform technology and critical areas of focus for digital transformation, including new business models, customer experience, and operational excellence.
- Expand perspectives on digital opportunities from products to platforms.
- Increase leadership capabilities, including vision, engagement, governance, and inclusion.
- Apply the steps to enable digital transformation in their organization.
- Engage in the design of a digital change project.
Program Structure
This 12-week program includes three online synchronous sessions, weekly peer learning sessions, and asynchronous course material. Sessions provide faculty and industry-led content, case studies, discussion boards, and applied activities. The time commitment is approximately 4-6 hours per week.
Your acquired knowledge will be translated into action through active engagement in a distinctive digital change project. This endeavour will be enriched by constructive evaluations from peers, industry experts, and seasoned professors, collectively enhancing the depth and effectiveness of your learning experience.
Curriculum
The program enables participants to improve their digital and leadership capabilities.
Digital Capabilities: Gain the strategic insight and skills to become a leader in technology-driven organizations. Develop a digital mindset and understand the new elements of digital capability, including process improvement, employee experience, business model innovation, and the opportunity of digital platforms. Understand empathetic, people-centered approaches to service design and the importance of visualizing and communicating solutions. Learn aspects of agile, lean, and hybrid approaches to project management and improve skills in managing change in organizations.
Leadership Capabilities: To manage and lead technology-driven organizations, you must work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders and within your ecosystem. Learn how to be successful and create vision, engagement, and governance while valuing inclusion. Recognize opportunities for negotiating change and apply the skills and mindsets for digital innovation. Showcase your effectiveness and efficiency as you contribute to digital transformation in an applied project.
Program Schedule
Next Cohort Starts: February 18, 2025
The DTL program is delivered online, with weekly virtual synchronous sessions throughout the 12-week program. Each week concludes with an activity based on concepts from the week. Contact our team to explore more details about the program.
Recommended Profiles
The DTL program is best suited for senior-level leaders who drive digital innovation and implement change in their organizations, mobilize people and resources towards digital change. They can be in any sector or industry.
Recent participants have had around 5 years of managerial experience. Past participants have had roles such as:
- Executive Director
- Director
- VP
- SVP
- Product Manager
- Portfolio Manager
- IT Manager
Program Cost
- The Digital Transformation Leadership program was created in partnership with DIGITAL, and with their generous support and matched funding, students can access the program for CAD 3,500 plus GST, which covers the entire program, including the application fee.
Is your employer sponsoring you in this program?
Your employer may be eligible for support through the Canada Job Grant. Contact sfu_dial@sfu.ca if you need assistance.
Faculty
Dr. Blaize Horner ReichProfessor Emerita, Management Information Systems, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, SFU BeedieBefore obtaining her Ph.D., Dr. Reich worked for 15 years in Canada and Asia as an IT professional and consultant. Her specialties were information management, IT governance, and strategic planning. Dr. Reich is the RBC Professor of Technology and Innovation within the Beedie School of Business. She is an internationally recognized expert in IT governance, technology-based organizational transformation, and project management. Her research has been published in leading journals, and she speaks regularly at academic and practitioner conferences. Dr. Reich is a founding director of the CIO Association and a board director of ITAC Talent’s Business Technology Management program. She is also a board director of BCAA and Central 1. Dr. Reich was named an Academic Fellow of the International Council of Management Consulting Institutes in 2016 and a Fellow of the Canadian Association of Management Consultants in 2017. |
Dr. Jeffrey YipAssistant Professor, Management and Organization Studies, SFU BeedieJeffrey Yip is an Assistant Professor of Management at the Beedie School of Business. His research is in leadership, mentoring, and career development. His professional experience includes leadership development at the Center for Creative Leadership, as co-founder of the Halogen Foundation in Singapore, and as a consultant to public and private organizations. Prior to SFU, Jeffrey taught graduate courses in organizational psychology, interpersonal dynamics, and talent management at Claremont Graduate University (CGU) and Boston University. At CGU, he directed the Talent Science Lab and served as an advisor to the Accenture Talent Innovation Lab. He currently directs ListeningWorks - a research initiative on listening, and serves as representative-at-large for the Academy of Management Careers Division. His work has been supported by research fellowships and awards, including a Fulbright Scholarship, the Lim Kim San Fellowship from Singapore Management University, a research fellowship from the Learning Innovations Laboratory (LILA) at Harvard University, and the Arnon Reichers Best Paper award from the Academy of Management. |
Dr. Andrew GeminoProfessor, Management Information Systems & Associate Dean, Executive Education, SFU BeedieDr. Andrew Gemino is an award-winning teacher whose distinctions include two TD Canada Trust Distinguished Teaching Awards from the Beedie School of Business and the Teaching Excellence Award from SFU. His primary research interests include information technology project management and business analysis techniques. Andrew has also co-authored an award-winning textbook and is past President of the AIS Special Interest Group on Systems Analysis and Design. |
Dr. Sarah LubikDirector of Entrepreneurship, SFU Co-Champion, Technology Entrepreneurship@SFU Lecturer, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, SFU BeedieSarah Lubik is a lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at SFU Beedie School of Business and Co-Champion of the Technology Entrepreneurship Programs at SFU. Sarah was appointed SFU's first Director of Entrepreneurship, aligning, supporting, and accelerating entrepreneurship education and early-stage incubation at SFU. She is also a mentor at SFU's Venture Connection incubator. |
Dr. Andrew HarriesTom Foord Associate Professor of Practice in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, SFU BeedieAndrew Harries is the Tom Foord Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at SFU’s Beedie School of Business and is a business advisor and corporate director. At SFU Beedie, he blends the latest in entrepreneurial theory and practice in his courses on entrepreneurship and innovation, product management, and resourcing new ventures. In his advisory practice, Andrew works closely with pre-revenue and growth-stage companies on business strategy, financing, leadership, and governance and how to create viable, high-growth business models. Andrew also chairs the board of directors at Bsquare Corporation (NASDAQ: BSQR) and was a co-founder of Sierra Wireless Inc. (SQ.TO, SWIR). |
Dr. Ian McCarthyW.J. VanDusen Professor of Innovation and Operations Management, SFU BeedieIan McCarthy is the W.J. VanDusen Professor of Innovation and Operations Management. He came to SFU from the University of Warwick, England, where he was a Reader and Head of the Organizational Systems Strategy Unit. He worked for several years as a manufacturing engineer before earning his Ph.D. in operations strategy from the University of Sheffield. |
DR. TERRI GRIFFITHProfessor, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Keith Beedie Chair In Innovation & Entrepreneurship, SFU BeedieTerri Griffith holds the Keith Beedie Chair in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business. She spent two decades in Silicon Valley and in 2012 was honored as a Woman of Influence by the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Terri helps her students and their organizations accelerate performance and prepare for the future of work. Terri brings energy and evidence-based innovation to organizational design and technology management through her research, teaching, speaking, and writing. Her current research focuses on remote and hybrid work strategies, especially the bottom-up application of automation and artificial intelligence. |
Dr. Joseph PeppardProfessor, Director of Executive Education, University College DublinJoe researches, teaches, and consults in IT leadership, digital strategy and innovation, digital transformation, and the creation of value from IT investments. Findings from his studies have been published in leading journals, including California Management Review, Harvard Business Review, MIS Quarterly Executive, and the MIT Sloan Management Review. He had held academic roles in Germany (ESMT Berlin), the UK (Cranfield School of Management, Loughborough University, Trinity College Dublin), the Netherlands (Groningen University), Italy (Politecnico di Milano), and Australia (University of Sydney). |
Meet Our Alumni
Check out our Alumni Stories and discover how leaders across different industries are turning up the dial on digital transformation and driving digital change by transforming ideas into innovative solutions.
Apply Today
Build your customized roadmap to drive digital transformation. Contact us for more info and funding options.
The next cohort starts
February 18, 2025
DTL is the right fit for you...
if you are a senior-level professional who leads and drives digital innovation and implements change in your organization.
If you are an early- to mid-career professional, please consider the DTM program.
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Contact Us
Are you ready to develop a new skill and transform your mindset?
Phone: 778.782.3193
Email: sfudial@sfu.ca