About The Course

The purpose of Social Leadership Singapore program (SLS) is to develop people in the social sector and government to be effective and dynamic agents of change that can exercise leadership and mobilize people and resources to tackle important social challenges facing local communities and the nation. The programme is a four-month course that consists of 7 days of training combined with readings, assignments, and application projects.

The programme will be an opportunity for participants to think more deeply and systematically about the array of challenges that they face, the leadership strategies they employ, and the processes needed for mission fulfillment and the orchestration of meaningful change.

SLS has run in Singapore since 2009, and the program has been in great demand with more than 430 alumni. It has been evaluated every year and consistently rated highly, relevant, and extremely useful.

Programme Objectives

• To develop a group of action-oriented leaders who are committed to strengthening the social and cultural fabric of society and making an extraordinary difference to the well-being of the nation.
• Impart valuable strategies and tools on how to intervene to harness resources and mobilize people to face demanding adaptive challenges and accomplish desired aims.
• Help participants reflect on their current leadership performance, and develop new and more powerful ways of exercising leadership as it pertains to managing their organizations, mobilizing volunteers, and generating desired results.
• Enhance the participants’ capacity to diagnose, frame and provide leadership for the different kinds of adaptive challenges that must be addressed, such as the development challenge, transition challenge, maintenance challenge, creative challenge, activist challenge, and crisis challenge.
• Develop a deeper grasp of the complexity and interdependence of all parts of society as it pertains to their area of concern and contribution.
• Increase the capacity for cross-sector collaboration and support.
• Develop a greater self-awareness of how personal values, philosophies, biases and self-knowledge influence one’s leadership style and approach, and determine what in one’s style and approach might need to be modified or changed.

Why attend?

In today’s complex and rapidly changing environment, social issues require more than just good intentions—they demand courageous, values-driven leadership. This programme empowers you to step forward as a dynamic change agent who can influence mindsets, mobilize resources, and lead cross-sector collaborations to create lasting social impact.

Through this transformative journey, you will:
1. Develop the strategies and confidence to lead in times of uncertainty and change.
2. Gain practical tools to influence stakeholders and build powerful coalitions across public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
3. Strengthen your ability to navigate ethical dilemmas and resolve conflicts with integrity.
4. Deepen your understanding of how complex social systems work—and how you can intervene effectively to drive change.
5. Enhance your self-awareness to lead with authenticity, purpose, and resilience.

Join a community of like-minded leaders committed to building a better society, and leave equipped with the clarity, courage, and capabilities to make a meaningful difference.

Course Highlights

Who Should Attend

Positions of responsibility in NPOs, the public service, community organisations, and companies interested in corporate social responsibility. They should be people who are passionate about being a change agent, improving the quality of their leadership, and contributing to the social sector.

Course Fees & Funding

Standard Fee – $11,900 (without GST)
Early bird till February 3, 2025 – $11,000 (without GST)
Group discount of $1k/pax (Groups of 4+): $10,900/pax (without GST)
Sponsorship for Charities – $$5,950*

All prices stated exclude GST.
*Up to 50% limited sponsorship available for Singapore registered charities / social service agencies, subject to approval

Dates and Time
Module 1: 7-9 July
Module 2: 4-5 August
Module 3: 8-9 September

About the Facilitator

Dr Dean Williams is the author of two popular books, Real Leadership: Helping People and Organizations Face Their Toughest Challenges, and Leadership for a Fractured World: How to Cross Boundaries, Build Bridges, and Lead Change.
Dean was a professor at Harvard University’s Kennedy School for 20 years, teaching courses on leadership and change, and was the recipient of numerous awards for outstanding teaching. He also directed the Global Change Agent program, and was a founding member of Harvard’s Center for Public Leadership.

Today he is president of The Leader’s Compass Pte. Ltd, an international consulting firm that is based in Singapore. Since 2006, he has run the popular leadership program, Social Leadership Singapore. He has served as an advisor to numerous companies and governments and has worked throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, Australia, and the United States.

He is currently writing a new book titled, The Renaissance Process: Lessons from the Italian Renaissance on How to Unleash the Divine Spark for Creativity and Transformation..