Leading With Purpose
Virtual Executive Education Program
2026 Cohort: April 20 – June 26
Application deadline: March 20
Learn how to put human and environmental flourishing at the heart of value creation. Join expert practitioners, leading professors, and a community of purpose-driven peers as you explore this better way of seeing and doing business.
Drive Positive Impact
If you are a senior leader with a deep conviction that business should be used as a force for good, this program could be for you.
It offers the skills, tools, and network you’ll need to ensure your company is making the world a better place, while also performing at the highest level.
Hands-on training, interactive tutor groups, and expert-led sessions will be spread across nine weeks to accommodate your existing commitments.
Hear From Experts
Our global faculty model brings together world-class experts from leading universities and businesses. You’ll learn from seasoned practitioners speaking candidly about their own leadership experiences and gain access to the latest research shared by top professors. Please note that speakers may vary.
-
Marya Besharov
Professor of Organisations and Impact at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School
-
Nathalie Seddon
Professor of Biodiversity & Director of Nature-based Solutions Initiative at the University of Oxford
-
Karim Harji
Oxford Impact Measurement Programme Director at Saïd Business School
-
Erin Meezan
Chief Sustainability Officer at JLL
-
Tricia Wilhelm
Group Head of Social Impact at Anglo American
-
Sue Garrard
Former EVP of Sustainable Business Development and Communications at Unilever
-
Matthew Barzun
Co-Founder & Chair of Tortoise Media; Former U.S. Ambassador to the UK & Sweden
-
Melanie Dulbecco
CEO at Torani
-
Natalia Ball
Global Chief Growth Officer for Pet Nutrition at Mars, Incorporated
-
Rahul Malhotra
Head of Group Brand Strategy & Stewardship at Shell
-
Kresse Wesling
Award Winning Environmental Entrepreneur; Co-Founder and Director of Elvis & Kresse
-
Alastair Colin-Jones
Executive Director at Mutual Value Labs
The Program
-
9 Weeks
2 hours live teaching, 1 hour in tutor groups, and 2 hours self-paced learning each week
-
Virtual
Rich blend of interactive and individual online learning – accessible from any location around the world
-
Tutor Support
Learn in small peer groups with an experienced tutor to guide you throughout your journey
Join a Community of Practice
As well as learning alongside other senior leaders during the program, you will gain access to a global network of graduates. Over the nine eight years, more than 500 people have participated in our course, coming from a diverse range of companies — some of which are represented by the logos shown.
Learn How to Apply an Impact-Driven Operating Model
The program will teach you how to implement the Economics of Mutuality – a proven operating model that generates ‘mutual’ value. Enduring value for society, the planet, and your business.
Powered by digital tools, the model equips companies to drive this superior form of value creation through impact-led management practices.
Practical and scalable, it enhances business performance by embedding purpose-driven strategies and metrics into day-to-day operations.
-
Purpose Opportunity Identification
Uncover new opportunities by engaging purpose as strategy – pinpointing societal or environmental challenges to address that are relevant to your capabilities and industry. This fertile ground for growth and impact is where your company's interests meet collective interest.
-
Growth Strategy Development
Gain unparalleled insight into your ecosystem of stakeholders – understanding root causes behind key pain points. Expand your visibility of value creation opportunities and surface value erosion risks to be mitigated, such as breakdowns in trust or misallocation of resources.
-
Impact-Led Solution Design
Design profitable and scalable business solutions that enable your company to create and capture value across your ecosystem. Use financial and non-financial management metrics to reveal the whole picture and provide leading indicators of performance and impact.
-
Capability Building
Transform your company’s operations and culture by developing mutual practices and mindsets through our learning and engagement offerings. Boost employee motivation and retention by upskilling and aligning your organization behind a common purpose.
Have Questions? Let’s Chat
Ready to explore whether this program is the right fit for you or your organization? Schedule a call with one of our program consultants. Choose a convenient time, bring your questions, and get tailored guidance to help you move forward with confidence.
Alumni Testimonials
We asked graduates of the program to share their key highlights and takeaways from the course.
Join a Growing Movement
The Economics of Mutuality operating model emerged from a multi-year business innovation program developed by Mars that engaged a range of cross-sector partners including Oxford University’s Said Business School. The program delivered proof of concept practical application across business units, sectors, and markets along with teaching curricula and case studies.
The team behind the program spun out of Mars in 2020 to advance and implement the operating model more widely. Under the independent brand of the Economics of Mutuality Alliance, a partnership of two non-profits and two for-profits including Mutual Value Labs, they now collaborate with companies, investors, universities, and NGOs around the world to serve the common good.
This executive education program offers a gateway into a dynamic and growing movement that is advancing better business. Click the button below to find out more about the course and how to apply.
Apply Today
If you’re interested in attending, click the button below and fill out the online form. Our Program Director will assess your application and respond promptly to let you know if you meet the program entry criteria.
Application Deadline: March 20
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Leading With Purpose gives you proven tools, frameworks, and case studies to lead transformation in your own organization. Graduates consistently say it’s one of the most practical, career-enhancing programs they’ve taken – and it helps you build work you can be proud of.
-
A diverse group of senior leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs from around the world. Participants typically come from large multinationals, fast-growing scale-ups, social enterprises, and investment firms. One of the biggest benefits of the program is who you learn with – peers who are facing similar leadership challenges and who share a commitment to purpose-driven performance.
-
Expect around 5 hours per week:
2 hours of live teaching with expert faculty
1 hour of tutor group discussion
2 hours of self-paced learning
The program is designed to work alongside demanding schedules.
-
Applications close on March 20, 2026. After that, you'll need to wait for the next cohort, but please register your interest with Liam Sharkey by emailing hello@mutualvaluelabs.com so he can contact you as soon as applications for the next program open.
-
Many courses lean heavily toward either academic theory or practitioner experience. This program brings both together in a single, integrated approach.
For over a decade, we’ve worked with 500+ leaders from pioneering organizations such as Mars, Unilever, JLL, Torani, and Anglo American – developing a practical operating model backed by research from Oxford University and real-world business transformation.
-
We ask that you do everything you can to enable you to attend the live sessions, so you can benefit from the real-time interaction and discussion. Successful completion of the course and award of certificate from Mutual Value Labs will be dependent on you attending a minimum of 8 out of the 9 modules. If you know you are unable to attend a live session, we ask that you let the program team know in advance; catching up via the module recording on the learning platform will be considered as your attendance.
-
You’ll receive access to all course materials one year after completing the program. You will also have ongoing access to our membership platform along with graduates of the course from previous years. This includes events, resources, and networking.
-
Many organizations fund this program through their professional development, learning & development, or leadership budgets. We can provide any documentation your employer needs.
That said, a sizeable portion of participants choose to personally invest. The skills, tools, and network you’ll gain are highly transferable and will benefit your leadership career long-term.
-
Yes. As a non-profit-owned company, we believe these ideas should be accessible. If the program fee is a barrier, you can apply for a scholarship, bursary, or discounted rate. Team discounts are also available.
-
After you have submitted your application form, our Program Directors will assess your application and respond promptly to let you know if you meet the program entry criteria.
Once accepted, ahead of the course start date, you’ll receive a welcome kit, calendar invites, orientation materials, access to the learning platform and our member practitioners community, and everything you need to feel prepared.
-
Leading With Purpose is designed for:
Senior leaders, executives, and founders
Strategy, finance, sustainability, innovation, and transformation leaders
Business unit and country leads
Investors seeking purpose-aligned value creation
No prior knowledge of the Economics of Mutuality model is required.
Although the program has no formal educational requirements, admission is a selective process based on your professional experience, organizational responsibilities, and motivations for applying.
-
The program runs over 9 weeks from April 20 – June 26, 2026, with a one-week break starting May 25.
-
The program will be split into two cohorts based on time zone:
Cohort 1 (suitable for the Americas and EMEA): Live virtual sessions will take place on Tuesdays, 14:00-16:00 UK time
Cohort 2 (suitable for EMEA and Asia Pacific): Live virtual sessions will take place on Thursdays, 09:00-11:00 UK time
You can specify which cohort you would like to join when you fill out the application form.
-
The 2026 cohort fee is GBP £4,500. Team discounts are available as well as a range of bursaries, scholarships, and financial aid options to support committed and deserving participants.
-
Yes. Participants receive a Certificate of Completion issued by Mutual Value Labs upon successfully completing the program.
-
Cohorts are typically 35-50 participants. All participants are assigned to a tutor group of 4-6 people to enable peer-learning and support in small groups facilitated by a professional coach.
-
Live sessions take place on Zoom, and all materials, recordings, and community discussions are hosted on our easy-to-use digital learning platform, Circle.
-
Graduates leave with:
A purpose-led strategy and transformation plan tailored to their organization
Tools for measuring holistic performance (people, planet, profit)
Leadership practices for managing complexity and systems change
A strong community of peers and experts to support ongoing application
-
Absolutely. Our team is happy to answer questions, help with employer approvals, or determine whether the program fits your goals. Just email Liam Sharkey at hello@mutualvaluelabs.com
-
Leading With Purpose is built around practical application. Each week, you’ll run small “micro-experiments” inside your organization, test tools in real time, and bring challenges to your tutor group for support. By the end of the program, you’ll have a concrete, actionable plan tailored to your business—not just ideas, but real progress already underway.
-
Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a certificate of completion from Mutual Value Labs and the ability to add the credentials to your LinkedIn profile.
You will continue to have access to the learning materials for one year after the program ends - plus ongoing access to our members' community, with exclusive events, resources, and further learning opportunities for alumni.
-
If you’re interested in attending, click this link and fill out the online form. Our Program Director will assess your application and respond promptly to let you know if you meet the program entry criteria.