New Approaches for Sustainable Growth: Advancing Cross-sector Collaborations, New Capability Building, and Executive Leadership Development

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Jörn Bühring
Luca Simeone

Abstract

Effective executive leadership is essential for the success and direction of any organization, regardless of the industry in which it operates. However, with today's interconnected economic production and distribution processes spanning complex networks operating in diverse geographic, social, and cultural markets, uncertainty has become more pronounced. In light of these changes, we propose a learning approach based on the Cross-Sector Partnership theory, which involves creating leadership collectives that work across sectors. These collectives can create innovative strategies for sustainable progress. We believe that universities can play a crucial role in fostering collaborations between different sectors, including industry and government. As hubs of knowledge creation, research, and talent development, universities are well-positioned to offer executive education programs, masterclasses, and professional development opportunities. Such initiatives can help create a culture of continuous learning and skill acquisition, which is vital for sustainable growth. By emphasizing the importance of cross-sector collaborations, we can build critical capabilities for sustainable progress and leverage executive leadership development as a powerful tool for achieving this goal.

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Author Biographies

Jörn Bühring, The Abu Dhabi University, College of Business, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Jörn Bühring is a Ph.D., and is currently a Visiting Professor at the Abu Dhabi University (ADU), College of Business, and the Department of Strategy, Leadership, and Management. Before that, and for nearly a decade, he was based at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Design, where he spearheaded a research culture that is cooperative, innovative, and highly impact-focused (i.e. Design Economies, Ignite Innovation, Executive Leadership Education). Jörn continues to lead a collaborative approach that brings together academia, industry, and policy stakeholders (cf. Triple Helix) to develop high-impact design knowledge, concepts, and forward-looking solutions. His research explores Design Foresight, Vision, and Fiction techniques as emerging processes within strategic decision-making, Strategic Design, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Management. A full member of the “World Futures Studies Federation” (www.wfsf.org), he holds an honorary Adjunct Associate Professor position within the College of Business at RMIT University in Australia, a Program Advisory Board Member position at the College of Business, Abu Dhabi University, UAE, and is a Scientific Council Member at the Alternative Planetary Futures Institute (ApFi) in Washington DC., USA.

Luca Simeone, Aalborg University, Copenhagen, Denmark

Luca Simeone is a Ph.D., and an Associate Professor at Aalborg University in Denmark. His main interest is in the managerial, strategic and organizational aspects of design. Luca has carried out research, teaching and consulting activities in various universities (Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Milan Polytechnic, Malmö University, and University of the Arts London), (co)authoring 5 books and publications for outlets including Long Range Planning, CoDesign, Journal of Business Research, Journal of Knowledge Management, Technovation, and R&D Management.