The Leadership Mystique
KDVI’s signature, senior leadership programme.
“A unique programme in the hectic world of business. Discovers your real personality, giving courage for change both in professional and private life.”
Former Banking CEO, now Board Member
Overview | Participant Profile | Outcomes | Design | Faculty | Admissions
Programme Overview
Develop the self-awareness, resilience, and strategic agility today’s organisations need. For C-suite and senior leaders facing inflection points – reframe challenges, sharpen your influence, and lead with renewed energy and purpose.
At the heart of The Leadership Mystique lies a powerful question: What does it truly take to lead effectively in a complex and ever-changing world?
KDVI’s answer is neither one-dimensional nor off-the-shelf. Our approach is bespoke, grounded in the belief that leadership growth occurs when leaders develop the self-awareness to understand their impact, the capacity to navigate relationships, and the vision, purpose, and resilience to make courageous decisions.
The Leadership Mystique’s three-module structure is designed for busy executives who need time to reflect, apply learnings at work, and return to the group with fresh insights. With a deliberately small cohort of 10-12 participants and three dedicated faculty members, the experience is highly personalised and intimate.
Read Manfred Kets de Vries’s article on The Leadership Mystique here.
“Leadership Mystique didn’t just challenge how I lead – it changed how I see myself…This isn’t a course. It’s a rare space that stays with you for life.”
Social Entrepreneur & Founder
Who is this programme for?
The Leadership Mystique is designed for select cohorts of 10–12 senior leaders who are entering or navigating the apex of their executive careers – typically with 20+ years of experience. Participants include C-suite executives, board members, company founders, entrepreneurs, and senior partners. Many are in transition – stepping into new roles, or leading through complex, enterprise-wide change
The programme is particularly relevant for leaders who are:
- In or moving toward C-suite, enterprise-wide, or board-level roles
- Leading or supporting large-scale organisational transformation
- Scaling entrepreneurial ventures
- Transitioning into new industries, cultures, or organisational types
- Exploring what’s next after stepping away from executive positions
- Seeking deeper insight into human motivation – within teams, systems, and themselves.
Develop the self-awareness, resilience, and strategic agility today’s organisations need. For C-suite and senior leaders facing inflection points – reframe challenges, sharpen your influence, and lead with renewed energy and purpose.
At the heart of The Leadership Mystique lies a powerful question: What does it truly take to lead effectively in a complex and ever-changing world?
KDVI’s answer is neither one-dimensional nor off-the-shelf. Our approach is bespoke, grounded in the belief that leadership growth occurs when leaders develop the self-awareness to understand their impact, the capacity to navigate relationships, and the vision, purpose, and resilience to make courageous decisions.
The Leadership Mystique’s three-module structure is designed for busy executives who need time to reflect, apply learnings at work, and return to the group with fresh insights. With a deliberately small cohort of 15-18 participants and three dedicated faculty members, the experience is highly personalised and intimate.
“Leadership Mystique didn’t just challenge how I lead – it changed how I see myself…This isn’t a course. It’s a rare space that stays with you for life.”
Social Entrepreneur & Founder
Who is this programme for?
The Leadership Mystique is designed for select cohorts of 10–12 senior leaders who are entering or navigating the apex of their executive careers – typically with 20+ years of experience. Participants include C-suite executives, board members, company founders, entrepreneurs, and senior partners. Many are in transition – stepping into new roles, or leading through complex, enterprise-wide change
The programme is particularly relevant for leaders who are:
- In or moving toward C-suite, enterprise-wide, or board-level roles
- Leading or supporting large-scale organisational transformation
- Scaling entrepreneurial ventures
- Transitioning into new industries, cultures, or organisational types
- Exploring what’s next after stepping away from executive positions
- Seeking deeper insight into human motivation – within teams, systems, and themselves.
Learning Outcomes
The Leadership Mystique offers a transformative experience that strengthens leadership capacity and equips participants to navigate the multi-dimensional challenges of senior organisational life. Through immersive learning and coaching, participants gain powerful insights and actionable tools that elevate their leadership impact.
Stronger leadership presence: Develop an authentic leadership style by aligning your actions with your core values and vision. Enhance your purpose and ability to project confidence and inspire followership. As a result, the participants will become a more reflective leader.
Enhanced decision-making: Integrate new awareness and emotional intelligence with analytical rigour to make sound, confident decisions – even in the face of uncertainty and pressure.
Transformational self-awareness: Uncover the psychological forces that shape your leadership. Through reflection and feedback, identify core drivers, unconscious patterns and triggers that influence your behaviour and effectiveness.
Greater emotional intelligence: Deepen your understanding of human behaviour to handle emotional and interpersonal dynamics with empathy and composure. Build trust, navigate conflict, and lead inclusive, high-performing teams.
Resilient leadership: Cultivate adaptability, stay composed and grounded and inspire confidence during periods of change and uncertainty.
Improved team dynamics: Understand group behaviour at a deeper level. Recognise individual strengths and drivers, address hidden tensions, and build psychologically safe, collaborative group environments. Practise active listening and peer coaching skills.
Broader strategic insight: Strengthen your systemic perspective to anticipate obstacles, and shape long-term outcomes with strategic clarity and foresight. Develop a richer understanding about what it requires to lead change.
Enduring peer network: Joint a vibrant community of global senior leaders. Build deep, lasting relationships that continue to support and challenge you far beyond the programme.
Healthier organisational culture:Foster human-centred workplaces by recognising and addressing toxic behaviours, leadership derailers, and cultural dynamics that hinder organisational health.
Work-life balance: Foster a healthy balance between personal well-being and professional demands.
Programme Design
The Leadership Mystique opens a dedicated space for senior executives to explore, experiment, and evolve. The programme fosters personal insight alongside practical applications for organisational impact.
We begin by focusing on the Self and building a supportive and confidential group environment. Participants arrive with impressive track records at the highest levels of leadership and quickly discover shared formative experiences and common professional concerns.
Through a dynamic blend of teaching, experiential learning, peer dialogue, and supportive challenge, each participant is invited to reflect on their life journey and aspirations for future growth – both personal and professional.
By the end of the programme, leaders walk away with expanded perspectives, concrete insights, and renewed clarity. And importantly, they become part of a close-knit Leadership Mystique alumni network, offering connection, advice, and mutual support long after the programme ends.
For more detailed information on the core elements of the learning journey and module content, please download the programme brochure.
Faculty
Oriane Kets de Vries
Senior Faculty
Margot Schumacher
Senior Faculty
Yulia Chupina
Senior Faculty
Manfred Kets de Vries
Guest Speaker
The faculty delivering the programme may vary by cohort.
How to apply
We are highly selective in assembling each cohort to ensure participants bring the right level of experience and can learn meaningfully from one another.
1. Discover: Arrange a short call with the Programme Director or Programme Manager – email stephanie@kdvi.com
2. Application: Begin by completing the online application form
3. Interview: Selected candidates will be invited to a one-hour virtual interview to ensure alignment between their experience, motivations, and the programme’s content.
4. Decision: Following the interview, the Admissions Committee will communicate the outcome as soon as possible.
Places are confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis, taking into account professional experience, goals, and cohort diversity. As seats are limited, early application is strongly encouraged.
There are discounted places available for two leaders per cohort from NGOs, social enterprises, or impact-driven organisations. Applicants must submit an expression of interest outlining their role, organisation, the impact they aspire to make, and why this programme is the right fit at this point in their leadership journey.
March – September 2027
Module 1: 11th-14th March 2027
Module 2: 24th-27th June 2027
Module 3: 16th-19th September 2027
Delivered in person
10-12 Participants
£23,500 (excl. VAT)
KDVI t&cs apply
