Overview
The Certificate in Strategy & Critical Thinking builds your ability to think critically, lead strategically, and drive sustainable results across a variety of contexts. Strengthen the connection between strategy and execution, align organizational efforts with greater clarity and purpose, and gain practical tools, processes, and frameworks you can apply immediately to lead with lasting and meaningful impact.
Program Details
Format
- Online
- Weekly Sessions
Duration/Timing
- 5 weeks
- Fridays
- 9 am – 12 pm (EST)
Next Offering
Module 1 | March 27, 2026
Module 2 | April 10, 2026
Module 3 | April 17, 2026
Module 4 | April 24, 2026
Module 5 | May 1, 2026
Program Fee
$1,800 + HST
Participant Profile
This program is designed for leaders and aspiring leaders who are committed to making a meaningful impact. Ideal participants are those looking to strengthen their strategic leadership and critical thinking skills and apply them directly to real-world challenges in their current and future roles.
Ready to strengthen your strategic and critical thinking skills?
Lead with Strategy. Think with Impact.
In today’s world, critical thinking and strategic leadership are essential for success. Strategy isn’t just about frameworks, it’s about processes, people, and guiding others toward a shared vision.
What You'll Learn
- Strategies to inspire and guide others through complex and evolving challenges with confidence and clarity.
- Tools to drive effective strategy execution by aligning and directing organizational activities for impactful results.
- Skills to sharpen your critical thinking and address strategy, leadership challenges, and growth opportunities.
How You'll Learn
- Masterclass with an Expert - Learn directly from a senior professor who brings deep expertise and practical, real-world experience to every session.
- Applied Learning & Assessment - Demonstrate your understanding through short assignments, designed to assess learning and translate insights into actionable outcomes.
- Peer Learning & Collaboration - Engage in group discussions to share insights, challenge perspectives, and enhance learning through teamwork.
This session covers essential strategic principles and critical thinking techniques, teaching participants to analyze complex information, identify strategic opportunities, and make informed decisions. Through interactive discussions and group activities, participants will engage with peers, discussing real-world situations and fostering collaborative problem-solving.
This session covers key elements such as identifying and overcoming barriers to clear thinking, like inattentional blindness, and improving decision-making by focusing on what can be controlled versus influenced. Through interactive exercises, participants refine their ability to ask insightful questions, evaluate information objectively, and apply a structured framework for critical thinking. The module concludes with actionable steps and practical strategies for integrating critical thinking into leadership roles to drive more effective outcomes.
This session focuses on strengthening the essential processes for strategic thinking, distinguishing it from strategic planning. Participants will delve into the importance of strategic thinking in leadership and engage in exercises designed to analyze complex situations and anticipate future challenges. Key elements include understanding the attributes of strategic versus tactical decisions, the relationship between critical thinking and strategy, and creating a personal framework for strategic thinking.
This session focuses on executing strategy through effective leadership and harnessing the contributions of others. Participants will identify key individuals essential for strategy implementation and examine the traits of successful strategic leaders. The course explores concepts such as Situational Leadership, the “YOUR stakeholder model,” and stakeholder cluster strategies. It also covers the difference between compliance and commitment, the “Know, Feel, Do” framework, and the art of persuasion.
This session focuses on integrating and enhancing participants' strategic thinking, critical thinking, and leadership skills. It provides a comprehensive approach to applying these skills in real-world contexts. A key component is the professional action planning exercise, where participants identify a current professional challenge and develop a detailed action plan to address it. They will receive constructive feedback on their proposed plans, creating opportunities for further refinement and adjustment.
Meet the Faculty
Kevin Yousie
Kevin is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, in the Institute for Management & Innovation at the University of Toronto, where he teaches General Management and International Business in five graduate programs as well as two undergraduate programs. His particular area of focus is Strategic Management. He is Chair of U of T’s annual tri campus IMI Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Competition. He has served on boards and has been actively engaged in consulting for more than twenty years. His client list now includes more than 70 organizations including Fortune 500 companies, large international banks, pension funds, insurance companies, regulators, credit union organizations, as well as not-for-profit and philanthropic organizations largely within the sustainable economy sector.
"Throughout this program and coming out of the program, I was able to gain insights from peers and Professor Yousie about different work environments and projects. I also was able to validate my knowledge and pick up many new ways of assessing, designing and implementing strategic projects. This learning experience was jam packed with knowledge, practical applications and opportunities to test out your learnings on a current strategic project."
Amarachi Nwamadi
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager
The Home Depot
FAQs
All of our programs are offered entirely online using Zoom (a free basic account is required). There is no in-person component.
The program fee includes all modules and all necessary course materials, including any licensed content. There are no additional costs, Software access or online tools (if applicable) are also fully covered by the fee.
The instructor will assign brief assignments and track attendance and participation throughout the program. Participants should expect to complete approximately 1–2 hours of pre-work and reflection assignments prior to each module.
A Certificate of Completion will be awarded to all participants who meet all program requirements, including attending at least 90% of the sessions. Certificates are mailed to participants, and a digital copy can also be provided via email upon request.
For programs that include an assessment component, the certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the required assessment activities. Assessments may include assignments, reflection essays, or a project, and are typically graded on a pass/fail basis.
Programs that include an assessment:
- Canadian Income Tax Practice
- Data Analytics
- Effective Healthcare Management
- Strategy & Critical Thinking
Programs that do not include an assessment:
- Effective Leadership for Senior Managers
- Pharma Challenges and Opportunities
- Governance & Ethics
- Effective Management of People
You may be eligible for a discount if you are;
- A U of T or IMIx alum
- Eligible for a special offer (e.g., Early Bird Discount, Team Discount, etc.)
- A team of 2 or more individuals from the same organization
- A group of 2 or more individuals enrolling together (e.g., friends or family)
Visit our Funding and Financial Support page for more information.
Cancellation Policy
If you are no longer able to attend a program, requests must be sent via email to imi.executiveprograms@utoronto.ca. The following options will apply:
- 21+ days notice: You will be eligible for a 100% refund
- 10+ days notice: You will be eligible for a 50% refund
- Less than 10 days notice: you will not be eligible for any refund
In any of the above cases, you will have the option to take a credit or transfer registration to another person.