Future Leadership _ 2026 Course Brochure

“Our experts will guide you through a structured approach and establish a new way of working to sustain innovation. ”

Future Leadership Skills

We're ready to help you build the skills for what's ahead.

Hi, we're DesignThinkers.

What makes organizations thrive in times of change? At DesignThinkers, we believe it starts with people. Founded over 20 years ago in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, our mission has always been to help organizations design services that put people at the center. As innovation increasingly relies on both human ingenuity and technological progress, DesignThinkers empowers organizations to stay ahead. We help teams develop the critical skills needed to navigate complexity, combining human-centered design and AI-powered innovation to turn change into opportunity.

This Global Portfolio showcases our 2026 course offerings & innovation programs, alongside client success stories and ways to collaborate, preparing you to lead in a changing world.

Our work is further enriched by long-standing collaborations with leading academic institutions such as Oxford University, Harvard University, the University of Amsterdam, as well as innovation hubs such as DGA and DIFC. We’ re committed to making innovation real by building capabilities, designing for impact, and shaping services that improve lives.

The Future of Work is rapidly shifting.

These are the Top 10 Core Skills you’ll need by 2030.

The world of work is transforming at an unprecedented pace, driven by advancements in AI, technology, and global interconnectedness. By 2030, core skills across industries will undergo significant evolution. To navigate this shift, the future will require a unique blend of creativity, collaboration, adaptability, and a deep understanding of complex systems. As the landscape of work evolves, so too must the way we think, collaborate, and innovate.

At DesignThinkers, we are dedicated to helping you build the skills necessary to lead in this new era. Our curriculum empowers teams with the tools to innovate, collaborate, and harness technology with purpose. These are the essential skills that will drive your success in the future:

Technology skills

AI and big data

Technological literacy

Cognitive skills

Creative thinking

Analytical thinking

Self-efficacy

Resilience, flexibility and agility

Curiosity and lifelong learning

Working with others

Leadership and social influence

Management skills

Talent management

Ethics

Environmental stewardship

Source: World Economic Forum (2025), The Future of Jobs Report

Preparing your team for tomorrow's challenges.

By 2030, the core skills needed to succeed will have evolved beyond recognition. Luckily, we provide the core programs your team needs to stay ahead. We’ ve carefully selected these key competencies: Employee Experience , Customer Experience, Co-creation in Sales, AI-powered impact, and Capability Building to ensure your team is fully prepared for the challenges and opportunities of 2030.

Experience it for yourself. Our approach combines tailored solutions with hands-on training, enabling your team to apply these skills directly for measurable results. Build the future today and stay ahead of the curve.

IMPACT

WITH AI CAPABILITY

BUILDING

"I am always impressed by DesignThinkers' ability to design and deliver sessions that are both highly tailored and impactful, and their approach is deeply rooted in collaboration and adaptability.

" Sterre van der Laken, Salesforce Executive Program Manager Design-Led Data & AI Programs, EMEA

EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CO-CREATION IN SALES

We ignite change

Culture

We shape AI-aw

innovation cultu

Our experts will guide you structured approach that in emerging technologies like establishes a future-proof w working to sustain innovat

Content

We solve tomorrow's challenges

We provide the means to bring real and viable solutions to your challenge, using AI-driven insights and validating those with real customers and key stakeholders through masterful presentation.

Capability

We train innova ready teams

Through hands-on training g, we empower your team to adopt a solutionoriented mindset and build confidence in applying emerging AI learning technologies to drive innovation.

Culture

Capability

Content

Now, let's get started!

Future Leadership Skills

The purpose of the 2-Day Future Leadership Skills course is to transform professionals of all levels into FutureLeaders. This will be achieved within 2 days of focusing on different aspects connected to Future Leadership Skills, such as StrategicThinking, Creativity, CriticalThinking, Empathyand Communicationskills. We will actively guide you in designing your PersonalAction Planequipping you to effectively implement Future Leadership Skills in your daily working environment. Our expert Facilitators will guide you in how to develop your own leadership skills while highlighting the unique knowledge and skill set of each individual participant.

"Truly a transformative experience, guided by a very inspiring facilitator who helped me harness my leadership potential. It's a real eye-opener. "

Ellen Coerdes University of Amsterdam Self

The 2-Day Future Leadership Skills course helps professionals at all levels become Future Leaders by focusing on key skills like strategic thinking, creativity, critical thinking, empathy, and communication. Through individual and team activities in a face-to-face setting, expert facilitators guide participants in developing their leadership skills and creating a Personal Action Plan to apply in their work. The course encourages selfreflection and exploration to enhance each participant’ s unique strengths.

Future Leadership Skills

Critical Thinking & Creativity

Why choose us? We're best in class for innovation.

Extensive Tools

We provide an extensive set of innovation tools that you can immediately put into practice (e.g., Stakeholder map & CJM) . After completing the course, you 'll gain exclusive access to our L&D library, packed with resources to continue your learning journey.

Expert Masterclasses

During each day, you 'll gain insights from expert-led masterclasses, where seasoned innovators share real-world strategies and lessons from the field. These sessions give you the tools and perspectives to navigate complex challenges with confidence.

Real-Life Challenges

You won ’t be working on hypothetical case studies - you ’ll tackle real-life challenges. By solving tangible problems, you 'll gain practical experience, refine your problem-solving skills, and leave with actionable strategies you can apply immediately.

Official Certification

DesignThinkers is accredited by the Dutch Council for Training and Education. After completing any of our courses, you ’ll receive a recognized official certification, validating your expertise and equipping you with a valuable credential to advance your career.

Prompting

We'll Support your process by using the latest AI applications. Prompt AI to generate ideas on your problem statement, present your persona to AI and ask your research questions, or make a prompt to enrich your CJM by simulating different situations.

Global Community

We’ re proud to welcome a diverse, global community of participants, bringing together professionals from different industries and cultures. That means plenty of opportunities for networking, fresh perspectives, and connections that can shape your future.

Enough about us, who are you?

A manager or team leader An executive or decision maker

seeking to enhance their future leadership capabilities in empowering teams to stay focused, aligned to stimulate bold innovation

A freelancer or consultant

seeking to discover how to use the human-centered mindset to drive positive change

seeking to gain a deeper understanding of the essential skills in becoming an effective future leader to confidently guide organisations through disruptive and dynamic environments

A working professional or expert seeking to

…

Our tools for growth

Stakeholder Mapping Research & Persona Customer Journey AI Prompting

Framing & Reframing Ideation

Persona Card

20-45 minutes

Individual or in groups

Sticky notes, sharpies

Personas are used to define who are the customers you are trying to help with their specific problems. They can provide a range of different perspectives on a service, allowing your team to define and engage the different interest groups that may exist within your target segment.

Customer Journey Map

45-60 minutes

Core team

Sticky notes, sharpies

Creating a Customer Journey Map builds empathy by focusing on the present journey of the customer. At its best, this is a continuous activity to plot information about why your customers do what they do and how they experience interacting with organizations and/or services through different touch points.

Idea Brainwriting Tool Service Scenario Map

+4 people

Sticky notes, sharpies

The Idea Brainwriting Tool is a simple and direct tool to start co-creating new ideas in a team. It pushes everyone to contribute in enriching and making ideas more detailed. Everyone in the group works on each other' s ideas by adding, eliminating, replacing and finetuning each idea.

20-60 minutes

Core team

Sticky notes, sharpies

The Service Scenario Map is a tool which will help you visualize the steps and actions your persona takes when using the service or product of your company. It is a visualization of the user experience, using the service designed based on the ideated ideas. 10-30 minutes

AI Prompting

5-15 minutes

Core team

Laptop or phone

Support your process by using AI for the different stages of the Double Diamond. Prompt AI to generate 5 ideas on your problem statement, present your persona to AI and ask your research questions pretending they embody the persona, or make a prompt to enrich your Customer Journey Map by simulating different situations.

Mindsetters | Hands-free

Make pairs. There is going to be a competition making paper airplanes. Let everyone put their dominant hand in their pocket. Give the participants 5 minutes to make a paper airplane; Let everyone throw their plane from behind a common line. For throwing they can use their dominant hand.

Outcomes, Objectives & Certificate

Core Skills & Applications

What to expect Learning Outcomes

High-energy Training

Learning-by-Doing DT Toolkit & Certificate Learning from internationally recognized facilitators

Multiple expert masterclasses

Did you know?

All our alumni gain unlimited access to our exclusive online L&D Library.

Human-Centred Mindset

Experience with practical tools & frameworks

Ideation & Prototyping (*AI)

Collaborate across disciplines Apply analytical thinking in practi

What's Included?

Your ticket includes a daily healthy lunch, snacks, beverages, course materials for personal use, and an official DTA certificate upon completion.

We value quality! We are accredited by the Dutch Council for Training and Education, ensuring high-quality learning experiences. Participants receive an Official Certificate upon course completion, with exclusive access to our Learn & Develop Library. KHDA Educational Services Permit: 633078

"Initially facilitating sounded like something I would never enjoy or be able to do, however after these 2 days I found my happy place in facilitating and connecting people to get to great results together. "

Stepping stones for innovation

We open paths for innovation by helping teams rethink how they create value. Guiding organizations and individuals to see change as an opportunity, we translate challenges into clear directions for growth, building the mindset and capabilities needed to be future-ready.

& we shape capabilities. We solve challenges,

A profile for

One portfolio, infinite pathways. Whet

the top, we offer tailored programs at ev

level

Begin with the Basics. Advance with a Custom Training.

From Aspiring to Accomplished. Leadership Training for What’ s Next.

Elevate Your Leadership. Drive Strategic Success.

Foundational level

Are you an eager explorer?

Do you recognise this?

Lack structured creativity methods. Feel uncertain about where to start with innovation. Struggle to translate ideas into action. Limited confidence in using design tools or AI effectively.

What's in it for you?

Improved creative confidence and practical problem-solving skills; Ability to use and apply design & AI tools with purpose; Turn ideas into tangible results

Applied level

Are you a proactive practitioner?

Do you recognise this?

Struggles with balancing day-to-day operations and long-term goals. Difficulty making confident, wellinformed decisions. Teams lack alignment and efficiency. What's in it for you?

Improved team management and collaboration;

Stronger decision-making skills; Increased operational efficiency.

Executive level

Are you a limitless leader?

Do you recognise this?

Struggles to align teams. Faces resistance to change across departments. Limited time to explore new technologies. Finds it challenging to translate strategy into action. What's in it for you?

Enhanced strategic alignment across teams and initiatives; Strengthened leadership presence in driving transformation; Increased capacity to make future-focused decisions.

Meet some of our Facilitators

Our coaches and facilitators are all subject matter experts in the field of Human-Centred Design, and have extensive experience in providing project assistance and trainings in Design Thinking. You can find all of our coaches and facilitators on our website.

About what we do Expertise

We focus on creating value for people as the most effective way to drive project success and inspire.

"A

refreshing and engaging experience that went beyond my expectations."

Tupo Muocha, UNICEF

Our worldwide team combines global reach with invaluable local expertise. We approach every challenge from the user ’ s perspective. We focus on creating value for people as the most effective way to drive project success and inspire growth for our clients’ businesses and organisations. inspire growth for our clients’ businesses and organisations. inspire growth for our clients.

Other courses that may interest you

Immersive DT Bootcamp for Professional Innovators

Become a Prompt Master and AI Expert: Unlock AI' s potential to innovate and streamline your creative process with practical, hands-on training.

Master Facilitation by enhancing your skills with advanced techniques and refine your style to effectively guide groups, focusing on People, Structure, and Outcome.

Join our 2-day Employee Experience Training for the latest insights. Develop a strategic, employee-focused vision to transform your organization.

Build confidence and master storytelling techniques to gain buyin and foster engagement with stakeholders through effective presentations and data utilization. Systems Thinking for Positive Transformation

The Facilitation Essentials course equips you with foundational facilitation skills. Raise your awareness and become an effective facilitator. * includes latest AI techniques

Get in touch via Whatsapp for questions big or small.

Some companies we'r proud to team up with

“I have been to a lot of trainings and conferences, but nothing measures up to the 5 interactive days at DesignThinkers ”

Prof.Douglas Tschopp, Director