Strengthening Personal Leadership through reflection and practice
From Monday 2 to Friday 6 February 2026, MSM delivered another successful edition of the Short Executive Programme on Personal Leadership Skills at the beautiful UM/MSM Tapijnkazerne campus in Maastricht. The five-day programme was facilitated by Dr Philippe Leliaert, consultant, trainer and coach in knowledge & performance management and organisational transformation.
Designed for (aspiring) team leaders, the programme focuses on developing personal leadership by increasing self-awareness and strengthening participants’ ability to work with vision, power and influence in complex organisational settings.
Participants from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds described the programme as an intensive and transformative learning journey. Ms Sisam Joshi from Nepal joined the programme on the recommendation of colleagues and with a strong desire for both personal and professional growth:
“Learning is a journey. During the learning days, locating myself, who am I, became the central question engraved within me. I am very grateful to Dr Philippe for taking me on a journey of reflection. Through shared experiences, exercises and peer learning, I gained insights into how people think, react and act. This is an essential skill when mobilising a team as you grow professionally.”
She added that the programme helped her gain a clearer understanding of herself as a leader: “Moving forward, I now carry a clearer picture of myself. The programme was a huge success, and I aim to share this knowledge and apply it in practice. I would strongly recommend this course at Maastricht School of Management.”
For Ms Anusuya Basyat, also from Nepal, the programme provided valuable insight into both strengths and areas for improvement in her leadership approach: “I decided to join the programme to reflect on my personal skills and to understand my shadow areas in leadership and how I could improve them.”
She highlighted the value of the Leadership Circle Profile (LCP) and the programme’s balanced approach: “The programme was very useful in understanding one’s leadership profile and learning to cherish strong behaviours while improving the shadow side. One of my key takeaways was that collaboration is the best way forward for achieving win-win situations.”
Ms Priyanka Malik from the Netherlands joined the programme with the aim of deepening her self-awareness and found the learning experience both engaging and revealing: “The interactive exercises and small games acted as a mirror, revealing patterns in how I think and lead. Prof. Leliaert’s engaging teaching style, combining clear concepts with practical examples, made the learning experience meaningful and enjoyable.”
She concluded that the programme offered more than insight alone: “It provided valuable perspectives and concrete tools that helped me better understand myself and define a clear path for continued growth as a leader.”
About the Personal Leadership Skills programme
To effectively manage, develop and lead others, leaders must first be able to manage, develop and lead themselves. This programme places strong emphasis on self-awareness, personal values and behaviour in different interactions and situations. It combines leadership theory with practical exercises and reflection, and is continuously adapted based on participant input.
Would you like to join the Personal Leadership Skills programme? The next programme will run from 8 - 12 June 2026. Click here for more information about the programme and how to apply.
About MSM’s Short Executive Programmes
In today’s rapidly changing societies and economies, organisations and professionals face increasing leadership challenges. MSM’s Short Executive Programmes are designed to support the sustainable development of individuals and organisations
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