University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business
Leadership: Creating a People-Centric Organisation
Cultivate a people-centric, purpose-driven, and collaborative organisation by embracing conscious self-leadership and implementing positive management techniques.
Start date
10 March 2025
Course duration
6 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
7–10 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
To adapt to the rapidly evolving and uncertain nature of the current workplace, businesses must prioritise people-centred leadership that enables purpose, passion, and performance. This requires leaders who are inspiring, self-aware, and inclusive.
The Leadership: Creating a People-Centric Organisation online short course from the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (GSB) provides professionals with the skills to become more effective and conscious leaders. By focusing on the importance of self-leadership, you’ll learn how to strategically improve employee engagement and satisfaction, create a purposeful and collaborative work environment, and deliver high performance.
Over six weeks, the course explores conscious leadership, positive management, diversity and inclusion, stress management, and effective communication. You’ll learn practical techniques for adapting your leadership approach and exploring your strengths and development areas to build a more sustainable, people-centric organisation. The course provides a valuable opportunity to engage authentically with peers and industry experts to learn and grow.
Is this course for you?
This course focuses on equipping managers with the necessary skills to improve their leadership abilities and help their team members achieve their maximum potential, irrespective of their position within the organisation. This course is perfect for young professionals who wish to advance their careers and aspire to leadership roles. It is equally valuable for established executives seeking to differentiate themselves in the workplace or looking to take their careers to the next level. Additionally, seasoned managers and subject-matter experts can benefit from the course's rich content, which offers invaluable insights, techniques, and approaches to develop self-awareness and grow as leaders.
GSB has received the prestigious triple crown of international accreditation from the three most influential organisations in global business education: the European Foundation for Management Development (EQUIS), the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and the Association of MBAs (AMBA). GSB is one of just three business schools in Africa that has obtained triple-crown accreditation.*
* UCT Graduate School of Business (2020).
Course overview
Course overview
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
To adapt to the rapidly evolving and uncertain nature of the current workplace, businesses must prioritise people-centred leadership that enables purpose, passion, and performance. This requires leaders who are inspiring, self-aware, and inclusive.
The Leadership: Creating a People-Centric Organisation online short course from the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (GSB) provides professionals with the skills to become more effective and conscious leaders. By focusing on the importance of self-leadership, you’ll learn how to strategically improve employee engagement and satisfaction, create a purposeful and collaborative work environment, and deliver high performance.
Over six weeks, the course explores conscious leadership, positive management, diversity and inclusion, stress management, and effective communication. You’ll learn practical techniques for adapting your leadership approach and exploring your strengths and development areas to build a more sustainable, people-centric organisation. The course provides a valuable opportunity to engage authentically with peers and industry experts to learn and grow.
Is this course for you?
This course focuses on equipping managers with the necessary skills to improve their leadership abilities and help their team members achieve their maximum potential, irrespective of their position within the organisation. This course is perfect for young professionals who wish to advance their careers and aspire to leadership roles. It is equally valuable for established executives seeking to differentiate themselves in the workplace or looking to take their careers to the next level. Additionally, seasoned managers and subject-matter experts can benefit from the course's rich content, which offers invaluable insights, techniques, and approaches to develop self-awareness and grow as leaders.
GSB has received the prestigious triple crown of international accreditation from the three most influential organisations in global business education: the European Foundation for Management Development (EQUIS), the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and the Association of MBAs (AMBA). GSB is one of just three business schools in Africa that has obtained triple-crown accreditation.*
* UCT Graduate School of Business (2020).
What will set you apart
The skills to implement conscious self-leadership, directed action, and positive management into your leadership approach.
The ability to recommend practices that enable continuous growth, inclusivity, and a high-performance organisational culture.
The skills to foster self-awareness both in yourself and your organisation to lead more effectively, and improve company-wide satisfaction and success. 
A digital certificate of completion from the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business.
Unlimited access to edX’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.Course curriculum
Orientation module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
The people-centric organisation
Module 2
Self-leadership
Module 3
Positive management
Module 4
Creating a purposeful organisational culture
Module 5
Diversity, inclusion, and continuous growth
Module 6
Enabling high performance
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What past students
think
Andre de Lange
Head of IT & Innovation, Real People Home Finance, GetSmarter Past Student
The online experience was fantastic. I met a lot of professional people who shared their experience and put many of the concepts in real-life perspective. The knowledge I gained from the course is going to be a great value in my career further. Thank you UCT GSB, I will be back for more.
Course Convenor
Linda Ronnie
Professor in Organisational Behaviour and People Management, School of Management Studies, University of Cape Town
About the certificate
Acquire modern leadership strategies and earn an official certificate of completion from the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with a digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.
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Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter operates as edX's partner for premium online short course products from the world's leading universities and institutions. With edX, we leverage our people, technology, and resources to power your education and your potential.
We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.
Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.
Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.
Financing options
We've recently partnered with financial services firm, FeverTree, to offer you another convenient way to finance your short course education. Find out how you can apply for a short-term loan below.
How do I apply?
- You have the option of applying for a full course-cost loan agreement with FeverTree (South African citizens and short courses only)
- FeverTree works with GetSmarter to ensure your studies are financed right away, giving you the chance to join the soonest presentation
- You can find out if you pre-qualify in seconds. Send an SMS with your “Name*Surname*ID Number*Gross Salary” to 30082
- FeverTree’s application process is simple and quick – expect a 15-minute turnaround to find out if you’ve been successful with your loan application
- Even if you aren’t successful in your FeverTree application, you’ll still be eligible for the payment plan options with GetSmarter
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