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Sky Blue

The colour of the unclouded sky at noon

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Key information

Who's it for?

Anyone working on a project, idea, challenge, or issue related to the environment that requires you to work with people from other sectors. The programme is inter-generational.

Duration

37 hours over 5 months

Cost

£1,995 for those who are able to pay

 

Free places are also available, especially for participants from the global South.

Format

The programme combines live online sessions with work to be completed in your own time on our online learning platform.

Dates

TBC

 

Language

English

 

Sky Blue is an online leadership programme for people who are working on our environmental challenges. To tackle these challenges, we will need to re-imagine and transform the systems that support our way of life. This will require a multi-disciplinary approach. We need leaders who can cross the boundaries of sector, generation, professional discipline and belief, and who can build cross sector collaborations that deliver results.

Sky Blue brings together a dynamic group of leaders from around the world, from many different fields, who have a common focus: our environment. It gives them the cross-boundary leadership skills and broader networks to increase their impact, and a community of practice that enables the exchange of experience, ideas and strategies with their peers.

Why collaboration matters

Collaboration, between sectors, organizations and individuals, is hard. The different agendas, objectives and motivations of the parties involved means that they often fail. Or, they may succeed on the face of it, but the original ambition is lost because relationships deteriorate or the priorities of the parties become more important than the collective vision.

Collaborations that tackle environmental challenges are no different; many of the issues are extremely complex and cannot be solved by any one individual, organization or sector working alone.

The reward for effective collaboration is undeniable; and if we want people and our environment to flourish we need collaboration to work.

Sky Blue gives leaders at the heart of tackling these issues the skills, connections and peer-support that will increase their chances of success. Enabling them to create the quality of collaboration that is needed if we are to deliver sustainable, and socially just, solutions for both people and nature.

The aim, with this programme as the first step, is to convene a community of leaders around the world who are committed to our environment and who are working collaboratively, across sectors, to create a sustainable future.

Who is this for?

This programme is for you if you are:

  • Working on a project, idea, challenge, or issue related to the environment that requires you to work with people from other sectors.
  • Want to connect with leaders from different generations, fields and disciplines from around the world who are working on environmental issues.
  • Prepared to bring your ideas, expertise and experience and share them with your peers.

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Stefano Tronci
Associate Principal, Woods Bagot
"I have changed my approach to promoting sustainability across my industry. Attending Sky Blue has helped me strengthen the way I communicate sustainability in design and the way I impact my team and our sustainability effort across the company."
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O'Brian Kamwale
Senior Wildlife Policy Officer, Department of National Parks and Wildlife
"Sky Blue has helped develop my leadership and improve my communication skills. I am able to reach out and talk to the neighbouring community members, as well as the clans and tribe elders about the functions, values and benefits of the eco systems and biodiversity that we conserve in the park."

The programme experience

Active learning

Highly interactive, hands-on format and experiential, social learning

Real world

Real and live issues are explored through discussions with participants and through the eyes of inspirational leaders who share their experience of cross-boundary leadership – the obstacles and the successes

Peer to peer

Participants, working together in small peer coaching groups, have space to reflect on their challenges, hear new perspectives and develop a community of practice

World class facilitators

Our facilitators co-design an experiential journey and psychologically safe space for learning in partnership with you, creating the conditions for rich feedback, open sharing, and experimentation

Practical tools and tactics

Real takeaways that you can continue to practice and apply in your everyday work

Alumni

Everyone who completes the programme will join the Sky Blue alumni community which provides an opportunity to stay connected, share ideas and experience and support each other’s work

How it works

The programme themes

How do we work across boundaries?

Explore real-life examples of Leading Beyond Authority in action and how it has brought about change.

How do we better understand our own culture – and that of others?

Developing your Cultural Intelligence to turn potential clashes of culture into sparks of creativity.

What are the foundations of effective collaboration and what do leaders need to do to make this happen?

Explore:

  • How do I need to be? What kind of leadership is required for effective collaboration
  • Real-life examples of collaboration in action
  • How to manage obstacles and roadblocks

99%

feel better prepared to work collaboratively

91%

feel better prepared to make an impact on environmental challenges

99%

would recommend Sky Blue to another person

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Emma Reiss
Project Development Engineer, Jenx Ltd
"The cross-boundary aspect of Sky Blue has made it one of my most valuable educational experiences to date. We were really encouraged to challenge assumptions and collaborate well to tackle complex issues."
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David Miller
Director of International Diplomacy, C40 Cities
"Sky Blue brings together leaders from all sectors and backgrounds to work collaboratively on our environmental challenges. Building these networks of collaboration is the only way to address our big challenges: Sky Blue is an idea whose time has come."

Our impact

Read our impact report

See our impact

Learning outcomes

What will you learn?

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Sky Blue gives leaders at the heart of tackling environmental issues the skills, connections and peer-support to operate on a broader canvas, and enabling them to create the quality of collaboration that is needed if we are to deliver sustainable, and socially just solutions for both people and nature.

Develop the ability to cross boundaries between sectors, specialisms, geographies, generations, backgrounds and beliefs.

Develop the ability to produce change beyond your direct circle of control. People who develop this ability are more effective in unfamiliar territory, where the authority (or credibility) gained in their own organization or sector is often not present. 

Develop the ability to cross divides and thrive in multiple cultures. Our simple and empowering CQ framework helps leaders unpack their own culture and confidently work with others. 

Next steps

More information

Step with renewed purpose into the next phase of your leadership journey with the Sky Blue programme. We want to gather an exciting and dynamic mix of people from different disciplines, geographies and generations. Diversity is important to creativity (and resilience) and we aim to convene a group of people that will inspire, challenge and support one another to develop existing projects and create new ones.

Brochure download

Curious to know more?

  • Learn about the programme
  • Explore the learning journey and modules
  • Hear what our alumni have to say

We will use your email address to send you a copy of our Sky Blue brochure. A member of our team may also use your contact details to follow up with you about our leadership solutions, on the basis that processing is in our legitimate interests to promote our services. We will never sell your data and we promise to keep your details safe and secure. To read our full privacy and data protection policy click here.

Common Purpose is the data controller for the purposes of the EU General Data Protection Regulation 2018. Common Purpose takes all reasonable precautions to prevent the loss, misuse or alteration of your data. If you have queries relating to the use of your data, please email info@commonpurpose.org

By pressing the 'submit' button, you are agreeing to our data privacy terms

Apply

Applications for the next cohort of Sky Blue will open soon

Speak with us

Have more questions about the Sky Blue programme?

Get in touch

Important information

We are also committed to and accountable for advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in all its forms. 

We actively encourage applications from people of all faiths, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, economic circumstances, backgrounds, and those from disabled communities.  

If you require adjustments to take part in the application process or to participate in the programme due to a disability, neurodiversity, caring responsibilities, or any other reason, you will be able to provide details in the application form or contact us by phone or email to discuss further.  

Frequently asked questions

Yes, if you have any further questions or would just like to discuss the programme in more detail, please reach out to a member of our team in your specific location who would be delighted to help.

Get in touch

We are a global not-for-profit leadership development organization on a mission to develop people who can cross cultural, social, and institutional boundaries. We work passionately with people to help push the boundaries of what is possible, all so that they can become those who can help us to work better together, be the connectors of our unique lived experiences and lead, with a difference.

Yes! The Common Purpose Charitable Trust was established as a charity in 1989. It is registered with the Charity Commission under the Registered Charity number 1023384.

The benefits of Common Purpose leadership programmes include gaining increased:  

  • Agility in adapting to changing circumstances and environments.  

  • Empathy to what other people feel, think and need. Seeing things from their point of view.

  • Influence in leading change with limited decision-making power.  

  • Openness to new ideas, possibilities and perspectives, including views they might deeply disagree with.    

  • Purposefulness in leading with intentionality, determination, commitment and resilience.

  • Self-awareness to their behaviours and outlook, and how they interpret and respond to situations.

When it comes to learning, there is no substitute for the power of real experience and fresh perspective. Our approach uses a robust behaviour and mindset change philosophy rooted in real life leadership challenges and experiences. To turn those experiences into real learning we follow five tried and tested steps that lead to habitual change in how people think, feel and act.    

  1. Experience: Being presented with new experiences. Engaging with leaders across multiple boundaries and being immersed in new environments.   

  1. Reflection: Learning activities to gain a deeper and more personalized understanding of the learning.    

  1. Translate: Exploring how to relate new ideas and thought processes back into the learner’s role or context.

  1. Practice: Developing a set of leadership practices that can be used to turn new behaviours into habits.

  1. Assess: Embedding numerous assessments to help learners track their progress pre, during and even beyond the programme.

Experiential learning is a core component of our programmes.   

Our programmes create a carefully constructed microclimate to explore real-life leadership challenges in a safe environment, often leading to the types of purpose-driven conversations needed to achieve transformative change.  

We also focus on the importance of active learning, by getting people out of their comfort zones and into the world, seeing things, meeting people, taking part, and taking advantage of processes that stimulate multiple neural connections in the brain and promote memory. 

We are Common Purpose

A global not-for-profit devoted to good leadership

  • We deliver unforgettable and transformative learning experiences
  • Programmes for people at all levels of their careers
  • Gain the confidence, skills and mindset to be a purposeful change agent, with a difference

Who we are
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