GABV Leadership Academy 2027

Resilience in the
face of polycrisis

How values-based banks are leading the way. A ten-month leadership journey for senior
professionals ready to lead and innovate through disruption.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Jan – Oct

2027 · 12th edition

6 online

sessions

2 in person

Melbourne · Germany

1 certificate

PI, GABV, and MIT Co-Lab
A transformative learning experience at the intersection of personal development and system transformation, for leaders who use finance to serve people and planet.
The program is offered by the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Co-Lab and Presencing Institute.
GABV
MIT
Presencing Institute

THE PROGRAM

Lead and innovate through disruption


The GABV Leadership Academy is a transformative learning experience for senior professionals in values-based financial institutions. Titled Resilience in the face of polycrisis, it offers tools and methods to lead and innovate through disruption and complexity, helping leaders step into their full potential and deepen their impact.

Participants explore concepts and best practices in values-based banking as well as successful business models from around the world. They engage with thought leaders, entrepreneurs and business leaders who innovate to achieve triple-bottom-line success.

On completion of the programme, participants join a thriving international community of values-based bankers, the GABV Alumni group.

Blended online / in-person format

The 12th edition of the GABV Leadership Academy will take place from January to October, featuring six online sessions and two in-person modules.

IN PERSON · 11–17 APRIL

Melbourne, Australia

The first in-person meeting will be held alongside the 2027 GABV Annual Meeting, hosted by Bank Australia.



ONLINE · JAN – JUN

Six online sessions

Usually held from 2:00 to 5:30 pm UTC to ensure a global classroom. Delivered via Zoom.


IN PERSON · 10–13 OCTOBER

Germany, hosted by GLS Bank

A second in-person module to deepen the learning.

ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS

  • Individual coaching sessions with one of the facilitators
  • Peer coaching sessions with a smaller group
  • Work individually on a prototype relevant to your bank between Module 3 and 5
  • Opportunity to join the 2027 GABV Annual Meeting in Australia. Leadership retreat in nature.


Please allow 2–3 hours between modules to complete these additional elements.

JANUARY – OCTOBER 2027

The curriculum

Jan 21

Online · 2:00 – 3:30 pm UTC

WELCOME SESSION

Kick off the program, connect with fellow leaders from the global values-based banking network, and get oriented: a walkthrough of the programme structure, details on the in-person session, certificate prerequisites, and meeting etiquette. The session closes with an open Q&A, so bring your questions.

Feb 10–11

Online · 2:00 – 5:30 pm UTC

MODULE 1 · CO-INITIATING

Build common intent

  • Core concepts of values-based banking
  • Core leadership tools: levels of listening
  • Seeing current reality
  • Self-leadership: cultivating mindfulness & attention

Mar 18

Online · 2:00 – 5:30 pm UTC

MODULE 2 · CO-SENSING

Observe, observe, observe

  • Theory U: a method for awareness-based system change
  • Anchoring values-based banking at the core of your organisation

Oct 10–13

In person · Germany

MODULE 6 · DEEPENING

Connect to the Leadership Academy alumni

GABV Alumni Meeting

  • Learn from our host, and their innovative approaches to values-based banking
  • Grow your network by connecting to the GABV LA Alumni group
  • Deepen your prototype

Self-leadership

  • Cultivate mindfulness and attention
  • Social Presencing Theater: embodiment work

This is an optional meeting intended to reconnect and deepen the learning experience.

The online modules are usually held from 2:00 to 5:30 pm UTC to ensure a global classroom. If you are, for example, from Australia or Papua New Guinea and the timing does not work for you, please contact us and we will consider adjusting the timing to your needs.

The approach


The program follows the method and framework of Theory U, developed by Otto Scharmer at MIT 20 years ago. Theory U is about personal leadership and a different way of thinking.

The program addresses leadership ‘blind spots’:

  • by shifting the inner place from which leaders operate when confronted with disruption; instead of relying on past experiences, learn to innovate from the emerging future;
  • by experimenting with practices, processes and ways of being in order to respond to challenges.

Key objectives

1

Using state-of-the-art leadership methodologies, including the Theory U concept developed at the MIT Sloan School of Business, learn and practice tools and methods for leading in times of disruption.

2

In a reflective and challenging learning environment, develop leadership skills and identify personal leadership intention.

3

Through interactions with thought leaders, activists and business leaders, participants deepen their understanding of the systemic forces that underpin current disruptions.

4

Prototype solutions that enable institutions to survive the shocks created by the converging crisis we live in.

5

Acquire and strengthen the leadership capabilities and practices needed to create a positive social and ecological impact.

Benefits for your organisation

Develop leaders

who will step into their full potential and will deepen the impact of your organisation through state-of-the-art leadership methodologies in values-based banks.

Organisational transformation

Equip leaders with the skills, tools and the mindset to actively work on the transformation of your organisation, to innovate and to anchor values at its core.

A global network

Gain access to a global network of leading values-based bankers, many of whom have been frontrunners in the field of values-based banking for decades.

Participants in the Dominican Republic, 2026

Faculty

The GABV Leadership Academy is supported by a team of experts from the Presencing Institute, MIT and the Global Alliance for Banking on Values. In every edition, a number of high-level thought leaders from the field participate as guest speakers.

Who should participate?


The GABV Leadership Academy is for courageous, values-oriented leaders who want to actively co-create a future that considers the well-being of people and planet.


It is designed to be interactive and engaging, providing a safe space for peer learning and deepening connections to oneself and the other participants.

A prerequisite for participation is, therefore, a commitment to attend all the modules and to fully engage in the experience. Participants are expected to be on time, have their computer's camera turned on, and be willing to share and contribute. The ability to log on from a location without major interruptions is important.

Participants should demonstrate a readiness to look inward, be open to new ideas and show interest in thinking of innovations in values-based banking. Most importantly, they should be committed to advancing the ideas and practices of values-based banking.

Requirements

  • At least three years leading a bank or financial institution, a department, a team, or a major project
  • Commitment to fully participate
  • Submission of a short written reflection on 2–3 career milestones, main professional challenges, and motivation to participate

Prerequisites

  • Much of the programme is delivered online via Zoom. Access to a stable internet connection and to Zoom is a necessity.
  • English will be the primary language of the programme. Participants must have an adequate level of proficiency in English.

Tuition

Excluding travel and accommodation costs for Module 3 and Module 6.

GABV member banks from the US, Europe, Japan, Australia

EUR 9,800

GABV member banks from the rest of the world

EUR 7,500

Non-GABV member banks from the US, Europe, Japan, Australia

EUR 11,500

Non-GABV member banks from the rest of the world

EUR 9,800

Key Dates

___________________________________________

30 October

Application deadline

___________________________________________

December – January

Onboarding interviews

___________________________________________

21 January

Program begins

Certification

At the end of the program, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Presencing Institute & GABV, in cooperation with MIT Co-Lab.

Cancellation

If you are accepted into the program and you need to cancel your enrolment for any reason before 1 January 2027, any tuition you've paid will be refunded. No refunds will be issued after this date.



BROCHURE

GABV Leadership Academy 2027

Resilience in the face of polycrisis: how values-based banks are leading the way.

PDF · 10 pages · 6.6 MB

Download brochure

What People Say

“Of all the leadership programs I've participated in over my 19 years at a values-based financial institution, none have been as impactful on me personally and in my work as the GABV Leadership Academy.”
“The learnings from the GABV Leadership Academy impacted both my professional and personal life, helping me be more conscious of how I'm showing up in the world and how I want to contribute to it. I'm forever grateful for this experience.”
“The Leadership Academy was the greatest gift given to me. I left with a greater sense of purpose, a deeper connection to myself, and 30 new family members.”
“My biggest learning is that leadership is less about having the right answers and more about creating the conditions for people, purpose, and performance to move forward together.”
“It was a unique and at times humbling opportunity to be alongside leaders from values-led banks around the world, sharing learning, exchanging ideas and reflecting on how finance can be used as a force for good.”
“So many impactful experiences — we started as a random group of leaders and ended as a tight-knit community that will surely continue to evolve. The leaders are so knowledgeable, enthusiastic and committed to their important work.”


APPLICATION DEADLINE: 30 OCTOBER

Application process

Please fill in the online application form.
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