Leaders Must Change With the Times: Why Studying Leadership Online Keeps Me Evolving

“To lead people to a fruitful future, you need to connect with them in the present. And this really defines the way that I see my growth as a leader.”

– Slim Chiha, Medicinal Chemist, and Co-Founder and CEO, PROSION Therapeutics

It’s clear that Slim Chiha has a deep love for learning. He jokes that he was an annoying child, always asking questions. But it was that curiosity and need for answers that fueled his interest in chemistry – a passion that has driven his career journey since graduating from high school. Slim speaks fondly of his time studying, mentions “eight wonderful years” that included a PhD and postdoctoral research, focused on an innovative solution to treating hard-to-treat diseases, such as cancer. He is now leading his team through the transformation from academia to a biotech company.

Pivoting from research to leadership

Academic excellence does not necessarily translate to effective leadership, but Slim shows incredible insight in his approach to his new role as a CEO and co-founder of PROSION Therapeutics. On what makes a strong and impactful leader, he says, “I really do believe that self-awareness defines great leadership. As a leader, you have to constantly reflect on your own actions and behavior, but also seek alternative perspectives as feedback to grow.”

One way he has chosen to broaden his own capabilities and explore new viewpoints is through further education. Slim registered for the Oxford Executive Leadership Programme to support his growth from an academic and researcher to someone who could successfully lead a new start-up and achieve the goals of improving patients’ quality of life. The online programme from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford is designed to equip participants with practical skills for the modern business environment and help them develop the tools to be a driving force for change.

Leading through disruption

The company’s values of innovation, collaboration, disruption are similarly cherished by Slim; this outlook stood them in good stead as they navigated the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. When he speaks of the impact of working remotely, he is clear about the need for a leadership style founded on adaptability, empathy, and trust: “We had to learn, as leaders, not only to incorporate our perspective on it [remote work] but really allow every single team player to bring their own perspective and vision.” Slim also relied on this approach when entrusting knowledgeable employees with the job of leveraging digital transformation to evolve from academia to a functioning biotech company. He says of the team that took on this development, “As leaders, our job is to empower them.” Later on in the interview, he reflects on his duty to his employees: “One common misconception about leadership is that it’s about power, and I think that’s wrong. Leadership is really about responsibility.”

The value of online learning as an entrepreneur

The journey of an entrepreneur – even one as passionate about education as the job at hand – involves a careful balance of time and energy. Slim looked online to develop his leadership skill set so that he could fit his learning around his daily responsibilities to the company. “You can really learn at your own pace. For someone like an entrepreneur, that’s a great advantage.” He goes on to say, “The online programme helped me refocus my main tasks as a leader: engaging with my team [and] connecting with potential stakeholders.”

His testimony is full of encouragement for future participants, “Be prepared to embark on a wonderful journey through different perspectives on leadership, and take the time to implement the lessons learned into your day-to-day role.” Slim also has advice for future leaders, suggesting that they “reflect on the way they display responsibility and accountability”.

Slim is unequivocal in his view on the value of learning. He quotes Malcom X, “Education is your passport to the future as tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” He goes on to say: “And I believe that investing in your own knowledge and your own education is the best investment.”

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