Following the recent session on Strategic Thinking and Innovation in Leadership for Higher Education (HE) with Caroline Dunne in March, GuildHE will be running a series of three 90-minute online workshops designed for early-career and aspiring leaders, giving them tools they can apply immediately in their institutions.

The three workshops align with the priority areas identified by GuildHE for leadership development: navigating HE governance, managing teams and projects, and influencing and communication.

Session 3 of 3: Influencing and Communication

How to build influence, craft clear messages and create genuine engagement

In smaller and specialist HE institutions, influence rarely comes from hierarchy alone. Leaders must work across boundaries, build trust quickly, and communicate with clarity - especially when ambiguity, change and competing priorities are the norm. This session explores the difference between broadcasting information and creating genuine engagement, and shows how influence is earned through relationships, clarity of intent, and a compelling narrative. Participants will learn practical tools to help them communicate with confidence, shape outcomes, and mobilise support for their ideas or projects.

About the speaker:

Caroline Dunne is a Leadership Coach and Change Practitioner with over 25 years’ experience working with senior leaders in complex, fast-evolving higher environments. She partners with academic and professional services leaders who are navigating sustained pressure, uncertainty and major change.

Caroline’s work is grounded in lived experience. She has held senior executive and advisory roles across diverse universities in the UK and Australia, including serving as Chief of Staff to a Vice-Chancellor at a large, multi-campus institution. From the executive corridor to faculties, schools and central portfolios, Caroline has led and supported large-scale transformation programmes, cultural renewal and the development of internal change leadership capability.

Cost:

  • £40 (per session)
  • £110 (discounted rate for all three sessions)

Registrations links: To secure your place, please register and complete payment.

Register for this session only

GuildHE Strategic Thinking in Leadership Workshop with Caroline Dunne session links:

  • Session 1 of 3 (15 June 13:00-14:30): Navigating HE Governance
  • Session 2 of 3 (23 June, 13:00-14:30): Managing Teams and Projects 
  • Session 3 of 3 (3 July, 13:00-14:30): Influencing and Communication (this webpage)

Available to GuildHE members only. To know more about GuildHE membership, please email [email protected]