MBA Essentials Overview

The MBA Essentials program equips professionals with critical business and leadership skills to thrive in today’s fast-paced and competitive environment.

MBA-level skills are increasingly essential for career advancement in today’s competitive and fast-paced business environment. The MBA Essentials Program bridges the gap by equipping aspiring leaders and professionals with a holistic understanding of core business principles.

Delivered in a condensed format, this program allows participants to gain impactful leadership, strategic, and financial skills without the extensive time or cost commitment of a full MBA.

This program combines foundational knowledge with practical tools to help participants lead with confidence, navigate challenges, and drive organisational success.

Designed with flexibility in mind, participants can choose between an engaging online format or an immersive in-person experience, allowing them to continue working while gaining new skills.

You will learn to lead with confidence, navigate complex business challenges, and achieve greater impact within your organisation. With features like digital badges, guest presentations by industry leaders, and a focus on actionable outcomes, MBA Essentials empowers you to elevate your career and create meaningful results.

Note: This course is not the equivalent of an MBA degree.

Whether you are an aspiring leader or a new manager, this program provides the tools needed to enhance your decision-making, strategic thinking, and career development potential.

The program balances theoretical knowledge with practical techniques across four core areas: People Management, Finance, Commercial and Legal Acumen, and Strategy & Risk Management.

Key Details

Mode: Online through Faculty led virtual workshops and supported eLearning and online resources
When: 12 evening sessions weekly from 6pm-9pm AEDT/AEST 18th March 2025 - 3rd June 2025

How you will learn

The AcademyGlobal MBA Essentials program is delivered through flexible and engaging learning options, designed specifically for busy professionals. Participants can choose between online or in-person modes to best suit their needs.

For online participants:

The program is hosted on an interactive and user-friendly learning platform that allows you to progress through the modules at your own pace.
New modules are released weekly, providing a structured yet flexible approach to learning.
You will gain access to a variety of resources, including video lectures, downloadable reading materials, case studies, and practical tools to apply your learning in real-world scenarios.
Engage with your peers and facilitators through online discussions, collaborative exercises, and project-based activities to deepen your understanding.

Who should attend?

This program is ideal for:

Aspiring leaders, managers, and team leaders looking to step into or advance in leadership roles.
Professionals and specialists aiming to enhance their business acumen and develop essential soft skills to accelerate career progression or transition into broader management roles.

Course Fees and Entry Requirements

Course Fee: $3,950 AUD (including GST)
Early Bird Rate: $2,950 AUD (including GST) if enrolled by 28th February 2025

Upon completing the program, participants will receive an AcademyGlobal MBA Essentials Certificate of Achievement and digital badge.

There are no formal prerequisites for this course, but a foundational understanding of business concepts and basic numerical skills is recommended.

Program Content

Explore key areas of business expertise through practical and engaging content tailored for real-world application.

The program is structured into four focused modules, each designed to equip you with essential skills and knowledge to excel as a leader.

People Management: Develop essential leadership skills to inspire and manage high-performing teams, drive collaboration, and create a thriving work environment.

Key topics include:

Exploring various leadership styles
Mastering effective communication techniques
Resolving conflicts and managing team dynamics
Strategies for retaining and developing talent

Finance: Gain the financial expertise needed to make informed decisions and optimise organisational resources.

Learn to:

Interpret financial statements and key performance ratios
Create accurate budgets and forecasts
Implement cost management and reduction strategies
Evaluate investment opportunities and capital expenditures

Commercial and Legal Acumen: Enhance your understanding of business contracts, compliance, and risk management.

Topics include:

Effective negotiation and management of contracts
Ensuring compliance with industry-specific regulations
Identifying and mitigating risks in commercial agreements
Understanding legal obligations and their business implications

Strategy & Risk Management: Develop the tools and mindset to craft strategic plans, make informed decisions, and manage uncertainties effectively.

Topics covered:

Using strategic planning frameworks
Enhancing decision-making with a strategic perspective
Building resilience and managing risks proactively
Measuring performance with OKRs and KPIs

Faculty

The AcademyGlobal MBA Essentials program is led by experienced faculty and industry guest speakers who bring a wealth of knowledge and practical insights to the course, ensuring a rich and engaging learning experience throughout your journey.

Fiona Maggs BSc (Hons), MBA

Fiona is a Principal at AcademyGlobal and an accomplished corporate leader with extensive experience in multinational firms, including Coca-Cola Amatil and Unilever. She has designed and facilitated training programs for the University of Technology Sydney, professional bodies and numerous government departments. With deep expertise in leadership, strategy, and negotiation, Fiona is dedicated to helping professionals unlock their potential.

Giles Gunesekera OAM BCom, MAppFin, FIML

Giles is a Principal at AcademyGlobal with over 30 years of experience in governance and leadership across commercial, government, and not-for-profit sectors. He is the Founder and CEO of Global Impact Initiative, an organisation that creates impact investments combining financial returns with positive social or environmental outcomes. An experienced facilitator and board director, Giles brings a unique blend of business, financial, and governance expertise. Recognised with an Outstanding Alumnus award from Oxford, he is passionate about fostering sustainable, results-driven change.

Elizabeth McLardy CPA, MHRM, BCom, BIT

Elizabeth brings 25 years of experience in the Accounting and Finance profession. She has worked as a Senior Business Analyst and Management Accountant with top ASX 100 companies, mentoring professionals pursuing CPA and CIMA qualifications. A passionate educator, Elizabeth has taught management accounting at university level, contributed to the CPA program, and delivered training for private sector organisations. Her board and treasurer roles with not-for-profits highlight her commitment to financial integrity and community service.

Paul Vorbach MCom, LLM, MBA, FAICD

Paul is the Founding Managing Director of AcademyGlobal and an adjunct faculty member at the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at UNSW. With 30 years of experience in investment, financial services, and management education, Paul has held senior roles at Deloitte and Citi.

He has conducted executive assignments across 20 countries, partnering with leaders in commerce, academia, government, and the not-for-profit sector. Paul specialises in governance, finance, procurement, and risk management, bringing extensive expertise in designing and delivering impactful capability-building programs.

AcademyGlobal

AcademyGlobal (AG), is committed to developing individual and organisation-wide capability. We design, deliver, and embed engaging and rewarding learning experiences that build knowledge, skill, and confidence. Founded in Sydney in 2004, AG is now a leading provider of learning and development programs for public, private and not-for-profit sectors throughout Australia and internationally. Since its inception, AG has conducted training in over 20 countries across 5 continents.

The knowledge, experience and qualifications of our faculty are unparalleled, having held senior roles across leading commercial firms, government departments or academia. Our faculty have deep knowledge and practical expertise across strategy, leadership, negotiation, procurement, contract management, logistics and supply chain, finance, project management and risk management.