Strategic Leadership Development for Business Education (Seville)

This workshop will begin at 9:00 a.m. on day one and end at 4:00 p.m. on Day two.

This two-day interactive workshop is designed to prepare aspiring leaders for the transition into the top leadership roles within business schools. An AACSB International exclusive event, the program provides a comprehensive overview of the evolving expectations of academic leadership in a global context. Participants will engage in strategic self-assessment, leadership development activities, peer discussions, and action planning to accelerate their readiness for strategic leadership. Through practical exercises, real-world case discussions, and insights from experienced executive leaders, attendees will gain the critical competencies and strategic mindset needed to successfully navigate the path of strategic leadership and drive impact at their institutions.

Competencies and Skills Developed

Upon completion of this seminar, participants will be able to:

• Explore the diverse career pathways and critical success factors leading to strategic leadership roles
• Reflect on personal leadership motivations, styles, and areas for enhancement
• Develop strategic thinking and priority-setting skills essential for leading business schools
• Build external visibility, stakeholder engagement, and fundraising acumen
• Analyze and adapt to institutional culture to lead organizational change effectively
• Refine personal leadership branding and influence within and beyond the institution
• Create a personal leadership development plan aligned with aspirational career goals
• Enhance readiness for early wins and challenges in the transition to leadership.

Facilitator

Jean-Paul Arnaout, Abu Dhabi University

Prof. Jean-Paul Arnaout is the Dean of the College of Business at Abu Dhabi University and a Full Professor of Production and Operations Management. He brings over 20 years of academic and administrative experience, including more than 15 years in the MENA region, with a career that spans the United States, Lebanon, and Kuwait.
Prior to joining Abu Dhabi University, Prof. Arnaout served as Dean of the College of Business Administration at Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) in Kuwait, the university’s largest college with over 3,000 students and more than 50 faculty members. During his tenure, he led two successful AACSB Continuous Improvement Review (CIR) cycles, most recently in May 2025, and was instrumental in expanding academic offerings and industry partnerships. He also chaired the AACSB Steering Committee and remains an active member of AACSB’s Peer Review Team, supporting both initial and CIR visits around the world. Prof. Arnaout has held several key academic leadership positions over the past decade, including Head of Department, Assistant Dean, Associate Dean, and Dean. His notable research record in optimization techniques and simulation, including 30+ published articles and funded projects, complements his commitment to academic excellence.

Ihsan Zakri, AACSB International

Ihsan Zakri serves as Vice President, EMEA Growth & Engagement at AACSB International. Ihsan works with both the Executive vice president/Chief Officer Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and the Chief Accreditation officer to develop and implement integrated accreditation and member service and engagement initiatives in the EMEA region.  Ihsan has been with AACSB since 2016 and he played an important role in engaging schools in the region within AACSB’s Business Education Alliance, and in his role as accreditation liaison, he has supported the success of the 54 accredited schools, as well over 40 schools in the Middle East and Africa currently in the accreditation process. Ihsan has an international background in higher education, program and Institutional accreditation and business and program development. He gained extensive experience in accreditation and EU funded projects before joining AACSB. Ihsan has earned a master’s degree in social sciences with a concentration on the Middle East from Lund University, Sweden, and served as a faculty member at the university of Amsterdam before joining AACSB.

Contact Us

For more information please contact events@aacsb.edu.