Client Story (Digital)

Delivering Digital Leadership and Transformation Online

• Client: University

• Format: Online

• Audience: 100+ executives from across Asia Pacific

• Topic: Digital Leadership and Transformation

• Classes: 90 mins; weekly

• Duration: Over nine months

Teaching over 100 seasoned executives online is a challenge that demands creativity, structure, and engagement. The size of the audience and the virtual format can easily turn the session into a one-way lecture, with only a handful of participants actively contributing. However, with thoughtful design and a focus on the learners, this challenge can become an opportunity to create a highly engaging and impactful experience.

Starting with Engagement

The session begins with an online survey and quiz. This step sets the tone for the session, making participants active from the start. The survey helps uncover what the executives know, their current perspectives, and where they stand on the topic of digital transformation. More importantly, it creates a sense of ownership for the learners, pulling them into the experience right away.

This early activity allows me to tailor the session dynamically, ensuring that the content addresses their specific knowledge gaps and interests. It also provides a foundation for meaningful interactions later in the session.

The First Buzz

Right after the survey, I open the floor with thought-provoking questions. This often surprises participants, as they don’t expect to contribute so early in a virtual session. These questions are carefully crafted to encourage participants to share insights from their industries and highlight the latest developments they are observing.

This approach creates the first buzz of the session. Instead of me establishing the topic's importance, the learners themselves demonstrate its relevance through their examples and experiences. This approach energises the room, sets a collaborative tone, and highlights the value of diverse perspectives from the outset.

Sharing Concepts and Setting the Framework

Once the momentum is high, I introduce the core content of the session. This part is concise, engaging, and designed to keep the energy up. Using relatable examples, short video clips, and visually impactful elements, I present the latest developments in digital leadership and transformation.

At this stage, I also introduce a clear framework. Sharing the framework early gives the learners a tool they can immediately apply during group work. The key is to keep the content crisp and relevant, leaving room for learners to dive deeper during the interactive portions of the session.

Group Work and Breakout Rooms

The heart of the session lies in the case study analysis. Learners are divided into breakout rooms, where they work in teams to tackle a real-world scenario. The time for group work is intentionally short to create a sense of urgency, ensuring focused and efficient discussions.

My co-facilitator and I join the breakout rooms, not to lead but to listen. This is where the magic happens. By observing the discussions, we identify participants who share valuable insights or bring unique perspectives. This allows us to structure the subsequent classroom discussion thoughtfully, ensuring that key voices and ideas are highlighted.

Facilitated Discussion

When the group reconvenes, I lead a structured discussion. Instead of relying on volunteers, I call on specific participants based on their contributions in the breakout rooms. This ensures that diverse perspectives are shared and the discussion remains dynamic and balanced.

This structured approach also allows quieter participants, who may not typically raise their hands, to share their thoughts. It creates an inclusive environment where every learner feels valued and heard.

Reflection and Key Insights

Following the discussion, I guide the learners through a reflection on the case study. This includes a summary of the key takeaways and a comparison with the real-world outcome of the featured company. This step helps learners critically evaluate their decisions and consider alternative strategies, deepening their understanding of the topic.

Making It Personal

The final part of the session focuses on application. By this stage, learners have explored industry trends, discussed concepts and frameworks, and analysed a case study. Now, they reflect on how these insights apply to their own industries and organisations.

I encourage participants to think about actionable takeaways they can implement immediately. This step ensures that the learning is not only theoretical but also practical and relevant to their specific contexts.

The Impact

The impact of these sessions has been immensely encouraging, particularly given the challenges of engaging over 100 executives in an online setting. The ratings have consistently reflected a strong appreciation for the structure, interactivity, and relevance of the sessions—something that is rarely achieved in large virtual classrooms.

Learners have praised the sessions as “one of the best learning experiences” and commended their organisation and delivery. Many highlighted how the sessions kept them “engaged and interested,” even when scheduled on Friday evenings or Saturdays.

This feedback reinforces the value of a carefully designed, learner-centric approach that prioritises interaction, practical insights, and personal relevance. It’s a reminder of how impactful learning can be when it’s designed with the audience in mind.