Executive Education

Master of Science in Risk Management

Executive Program by the Stern School of Business and the Amsterdam Institute of Finance

• Organizational Design and Leadership (2012)

• This two day workshop examined human characteristics (personality, emotions, culture, and values) that influence risk taking and demonstrated the importance of courage and innovation in creating organizational structures that foster sustainable performance. Participants critically examined the human ability to change and develop throughout the life-span and learned how to influence and encourage those behaviors that are necessary for intercultural collaboration.

Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Human Resources and Career Management - masrh.ch

Executive Training Program jointly run by the Business School and the Psychology Departments at the Universities of Geneva, Lausanne, Neuchâtel, and Fribourg

• Organizational Behavior (2006-present)

• This five day workshop covers topics such as personality, decision-making, status, politics, leadership, and organizational culture. Participants learn a critical and systemic approach to understanding behavior in organizations. At the end of the course, students are asked to examine a specific behavior from the individuals, group, organizational, and environmental level and to discuss the implications of changing this behavior for their specific organization or institution.

• Quality of Life at Work (2006-present)

• This three day course covers topics such as person-environment fit, work-life balance, stress, burnout, bullying, mobbing, conflict, and anger management. We examine the factors that can explain the health and well-being of employees, if and how employee well-being is related to productivity, and to what degree managers and leaders should take an active role in improving quality of life at work. At the end of the course, participants write a proposal that should simultaneously improve quality of life and productivity in their organization.

• Executive and Business Coaching (2011-present)

• In this three day practical workshop, students are introduced to the major tools of executive coaching and given a practical framework to help them choose the right coach for their needs and organizations. Through group exercises and critical discussions, we examine the advantages and disadvantages of different coaching approaches and practice common coaching tools.

Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Entrepreneurship and Business Development (University of Geneva - entrepreneurship.unige.ch)

• Influencing others (2012)

• This two day course covers emotional competence and the multiple ways of selling ideas and creating visibility within the organization. We discuss interpersonal negotiation, managing the boss, and how to create long term client relationships. The ethical use of power and influence are the main message throughout the course.

• Motivation and Employees Engagement (2011)

• This two day course covers leading theories and models to explain employee motivation and engagement from economic and psychological perspectives. Participants examine the advantages and limits of these models for different types of organizations and employees and identify practical solutions that can be implemented under different environmental constraints.

Master Level University Courses

Applied Psychology: Organizational Behavior (University of Geneva) (2008-2011)

Masters level course for psychologists that covers topics such as personality, emotions, teamwork, status and politics, leadership, and organizational culture. Invited specialists from industry provide case examples of how psychology can help managers and employees become more effective.

Applied Psychology: Decision making (University of Geneva) (2008-2011)

Masters level course in which students are shown how research and theories from psychology can be applied to decision making processes in organizational behavior, human resources, management, economics, and marketing. Research and practice are confronted throughout the course and critically discussed to determine possible synergies and probable challenges.

Current Trends in Organizational Behavior (Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz, Angewandte Psychologie, Olten) (2010 – 2012)

Advanced workshop taught in English. Students learn to critically read recent empirical research to understand decision-making, conflict, and politics when organizations are faced with constant change. At the end of the course, students should understand the advantages and limitations of empirical research for understanding behavior at work.

Applied Psychology: Project management, group processes, and effective proposals (University of Geneva) (2007)

This practical workshop taught students how to prepare and defend a concrete project proposal to a company, in which client considerations and theoretical and empirical psychology are balanced. Throughout the project planning and development phase, student groups were coached on how to work in teams. The final project included a written proposal with a budget as well as a proposal talk.

Personality and Social Processes (University of Bern) (2007)

Advanced psychology seminar taught in German. The seminar focused primarily on the role of individual differences (personality, motivation, gender) for decision-making and social relationships. Students read recent empirical research and discussed the findings in small groups.

The Role of Individual Differences and Context Effects for Emotions (University of Geneva) (2006-2008)

This practical workshop focused on the role of personality, culture, and context for emotional process; taught students how to collect data via on-line questionnaires and instruments; allowed them to analyze data to answer specific research questions; and required them to present their ideas in public.

Emotional Intelligence or Emotional Competence? (University of Geneva) (2004)

This advanced seminar focused on the use and misuse of emotional intelligence research to explaining and predicting behavior. Students learned to apply knowledge about different emotional competencies to management, education, and clinical psychology.