Over coffee, Sarah reminisced, “That was one of those moments. A woman. No formal education. Let alone Oxbridge, the quality stamp many seek. The opportunity to find her way instead came with the PgCert in Leadership and Management.” As the Head of the School of Marketing and Management at Coventry University, Sarah Horton-Walsh shared the story of a student—a civil servant—who seized the opportunity to participate in the Future Leaders Scheme (FLS) commissioned by the Leadership College for Government and designed and delivered by Coventry University. This initiative, housed within the Cabinet Office and the Government Skills and Curriculum Unit, equips public and Civil Service leaders with the know-how to tackle today’s most complex problems.
The message was clear: in times of change, people need to change. This primarily stems from newfound self-awareness and awareness of one’s environment. Therefore, an organization’s ability to adapt lies in its people, not its policies. That’s why the British government has chosen to nurture its talent by helping them realize their leadership capabilities. They do this through a programme where Coventry University plays a crucial role.
“That story had a happy ending because that student changed how she saw herself,” Sarah continued, emphasizing her vital role as the Future Leaders Scheme Programme Lead. In this capacity, she leads a team tasked with designing and developing the curriculum to enable participants to accelerate development and enhance their leadership effectiveness. “Ultimately, that’s precisely the aim of the project,” she added, “to promote self-awareness, the first step in building successful teams capable of addressing contemporary challenges.”
“She isn’t the only student we have had, though,” Sarah emphasized. “The programme is gaining traction and has become highly competitive and sought after, with over 3,000 applications for 420 spots per year,” she explained.
The government blog dedicated to the project collects the voices of these students, sharing their journeys and the lessons they have learnt. For example, one participant writes: “I have learnt that the doubts and insecurities I have about my role as a leader are common to most participants on the scheme. Many of us feel like ‘impostors’, and the programme is helping us to realise that this is normal and how to cope with it.”
When asked about the importance of learning to her, Sarah reflected, “When I left industry after eighteen years of managerial career, I thought it would be easy in the end. I know my stuff, I go to class, teach, and done. In reality, I was wrong because step by step, it didn’t take me long to realize that the challenge required and requires constant adaptation and personal growth. It’s a journey that never ends.”
What the future holds, we ask. “We have made significant progress so far and we will carry on fostering impact. In fact, we have received an exceptional extension until 2026. I don’t want to play the number of zeros game, which I don’t love, but this is a multi-million pound project to Coventry University and a valuable partnership with the Cabinet Office; delivering real contribution and impact in challenging and changing times.”
The Guest
Sarah Horton-Walsh is the Head of School of Marketing and Management at Coventry University.
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Coventry University School of Marketing and Management Blog 