Critical Thinking for Finance Leaders
Be A.C.T.I.V.E. and Lead Beyond the Numbers
In today’s fast-changing finance landscape, critical thinking is a leadership imperative. This course introduces a practical, high-impact framework—A.C.T.I.V.E.—to help finance leaders think deeper, wider, and wiser. You’ll strengthen the five critical thinking muscles: courage, curiosity, consciousness, connection, and clarity, enabling you to lead with more confidence, empathy, and strategic foresight.
This 3-part live course combines experiential learning, real-world scenarios, and peer interaction to empower finance leaders to navigate complexity, elevate team decision-making, and influence across the business. You’ll leave with new thinking habits that drive long-term value, not just short-term KPIs.
Next Live Workshop Dates
Workshop: Master Your Judgement
Learn how to surface blind spots and cognitive biases before they impact your judgement. Discover practical tools to enhance awareness and make sound, conscious decisions under pressure.
- Wednesday, 11 June 2025
- 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm BST (10:30 am – 12:30 pm ET)
- Field of Study: Personal Development 2 CPE Credits (2 CPD Hours)
Workshop: Courageous Thinking
Build confidence to challenge assumptions—especially your own. This session will guide you through applying courageous inquiry, balancing logic with emotional insight, and leading with ethical clarity.
- Wednesday, 18 June 2025
- Time: 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm BST (10:30 am – 12:30 pm ET)
- Field of Study: Personal Development 2 CPE Credits (2 CPD Hours)
Workshop: Strategic Impact
Learn how to connect the dots across data, people, and systems. You’ll practice making real-time decisions that consider long-term value, culture, and stakeholder impact.
- Wednesday, 25 June 2025
- Time: 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm BST (10:30 am – 12:30 pm ET)
- Field of Study: Personal Development 2 CPE Credits (2 CPD Hours)
Course Overview
What we Cover:
Bias awareness, values-driven leadership, systemic thinking, ethical decision-making, real-time judgement, and cross-functional influence.
The Challenges:
Modern finance leaders are overwhelmed by data, complexity, and high-stakes decisions. Conventional logic alone can no longer address systemic risks, cultural dynamics, or long-term consequences.
The Barriers:
Cognitive bias, siloed thinking, short-term pressure, lack of reflective time, and the undervaluing of emotional intelligence in financial leadership roles.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completing this course, you’ll be able to apply a powerful critical thinking framework to real business decisions. You’ll strengthen your ability to:
✅ Spot hidden biases before they sabotage your strategy
✅ Balance data, emotion, and systemic insight in real-time decisions
✅ Challenge assumptions (especially your own)
✅ Lead decision-making that aligns with long-term value, not just short-term KPIs
✅ Model critical thinking as a leadership act
You’ll leave equipped to lead thinking—not just numbers.
Business Benefits:
Stronger decision-making | Greater team alignment | Leadership credibility | Long-term value creation
Course Facilitator
Damian Smith
Lead Facilitator
Damian Smith is a “recovering CFO” with 25 years of experience across finance and sales leadership. A former BN$ Regional CFO and systemic team coach, Damian specialises in transforming finance leaders into strategic thinkers who influence at the highest levels.
Prerequisites: No Prerequisite knowledge is required to be successful in this course
Advanced Preparation: No advanced preparation is required
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Live
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