In this skill seminar a particular focus will be to explore the leadership development and career issues facing global executives and to discuss strategies for managing personal development.

In the first part of this session, Dr. Waltl will share personal experiences from his 32-year career with Shell, where he held various senior executive positions in Europe, North America and Asia. He will offer career advice to participants,as well as useful tools for managing one’s own career development.

The second part is devoted to your development as a future leader. The instructor will share real-life examples, strategies for managing personal development, and career tips based on his extensive experience as senior executive. You will also have an opportunity to analyze your global managerial skills and competencies; reflect on your personal development needs and on how you can improve your effectiveness as a global leader; design a customized strategy for increasing expertise in your weak areas; and create a comprehensive personal development plan for success as a global leader.

The course is structured around two 5-hours classroom sessions. The modus operandi will be dialog and a mix of instructor input and case analysis. Key topics will be engrossed in short roundtable discussions.

There is no assigned case study, but you will have to come to this session prepared to discuss the follo­wing questions:

Pre-program assignment/Questions to consider prior to the session:

1. Complete the self-assessment of your strengths and weaknesses as a leader (or future leader) on pages 208-209 of McCall’s book(see reference below).

2. What are some of the things that if you changed would make a big difference in your life and career? Select something within yourself that you would like to fine-tune, develop, shed, or change and actively work on (e.g., become more confident when speaking in public).

3. What steps can you take today, tomorrow, and over the next year to achieve your develop­ment goal(s) and to improve your personal effectiveness and your effectiveness as a leader?

These questions are mainly for self-reflection and you will not be asked to share the details with other participants.

You will, however, be asked to share one personal development goal with a small group of participants.

Recommended Readings (optional):

McCall, M.(1998). Highflyers: Developing the next generation of leaders. Appendix: Taking charge of your development (pages 203-232). Boston: Harvard Business School Press.

Drucker, P. (1999).Managing oneself. Harvard Business Review, March-April, 65-74

Goffee, R. & Jones, G. (2000). Why should anyone be lead by you? Harvard Business Review, September-October, 63-70.

George, B., Sims, P., McLean, A. & Mayer, D. (2007). Discovering your authentic leadership. Harvard Business Review, February, 129-138.

Senge, P. (1992). The fifth discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization. Doubleday, New York.

°Sharing practical experiences and insights gained in senior leadership positions in a leading multinational company

°Main focus on discussions of practical examples and case studies

Josef Waltl is President of EUROPIA, the European Oil Industry Association and former Executive Vice-President of Royal Dutch Shell plc from which he retired in 2009.

He worked for 32 years with Shell, where he had an extensive international career in the Downstream business working in Europe, Asia and the Americas . During his time with the company he held many senior executive positions of increasing seniority, CEO and Chairman of the Management Boards of Shell Austria AG and Shell Germany GmbH, Vice-President of the Management Board of Shell Europe Ltd. and Executive Vice-President of the global Downstream Board of Royal Dutch Shell plc and served as the Chairman and member of the Board of Directors of The Shell Company of Turkey, Shell Italy S.p.A., Shell Company in Egypt, Shell Hungary KFT and various other subsidiary companies of Royal Dutch Shell plc.

Josef Waltl is born 1949 in Austria and holds degrees in electrical engineering and business administration.