Executive leaders in Dubai conference venue
April 20–22, 2026 · Dubai, UAE

The Crisis Leadership Playbook You Wish You Had

A 3-day executive program designed by faculty from IMD, Stanford, and SRI International — combining VR crisis simulation, real-world case studies, and personal coaching to transform how you lead under pressure.

🎓 IMD · Stanford · SRI Faculty
🥽 VR Crisis Simulation
👥 Limited to 25 Leaders
In partnership with:
IMD Business School Stanford GSB SRI International
Program Starts In
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The Pressure Isn't Going Away.
But Your Response to It Can Change.

Most senior leaders are never formally trained for the moments that define their careers. They improvise. They react. And too often, they wish they'd been better prepared.

The External Challenge

Crises, restructuring, market disruptions, regulatory changes — the decisions are getting bigger and the margin for error is shrinking. You need a proven playbook, not improvisation.

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The Internal Struggle

Deep down, you wonder: "Do I really have what it takes to stay calm and lead effectively when everything is on the line?" The weight of this responsibility is lonely.

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The Philosophical Truth

Leaders shouldn't have to learn crisis management through failure. There should be a way to build this capacity proactively — before the crisis hits, not after.

We Understand the Weight of Decisions That Keep You Up at Night

"When the board is watching, your team is anxious, and the pressure is mounting — you don't need motivation. You need mastery."
Executive education session

Leading Under Pressure is designed by three world-class institutions — Queen Hedvig Academy, SRI International, and Aspire HR Consultants — combining 70+ years of executive education, Silicon Valley innovation, and Middle East market expertise.

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IMD Business School

World's #1 in open executive education (Financial Times). Home to our Academic Director.

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SRI International

The lab that invented Siri, the computer mouse, and 80+ years of breakthrough R&D. Provider of our VR simulation technology.

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Special Forces Methodology

Our Academic Director served in Egyptian Special Forces — bringing battle-tested crisis decision frameworks to the boardroom.

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Peak Human Performance

Faculty includes the first Lebanese woman to complete the Seven Summits — teaching resilience from the most extreme conditions on earth.

Learn From Leaders Who've Led Under the Most Extreme Conditions

These aren't typical corporate trainers. These are people who have led in war zones, summited Everest, and built billion-dollar technologies.

Prof. Sameh Abadir
Prof. Sameh Abadir
Academic Director · IMD Professor
Egyptian Special Forces veteran
IMD Professor of Leadership & Negotiation
15 years at INSEAD — Best Professor Award
Advisor to Emirates Nuclear, ArcelorMittal, Merck
Joyce Azzam
Joyce Azzam
President, MounTurtle Academy · UN Women Ambassador
First Lebanese woman to complete the Seven Summits
Summited Everest (May 2019)
Overcame chronic lung condition — peak human resilience
1 of only 15 UN Women Goodwill Ambassadors globally
Steve Ciesinski
Steve Ciesinski
Stanford GSB Lecturer · Former President, SRI International
Silicon Valley veteran — decades of innovation leadership
Led IPOs, M&As, and landmark tech product launches
Builder, strategist, and mentor to startups worldwide
Peter Marcotullio
Peter Marcotullio
SVP Commercialization · SRI International
25+ years at SRI International
5 patents — deep tech commercialization expert
Stanford Executive Management graduate
Rania Abdalla
Rania Abdalla
Founder & MD · Aspire HR Consultants / Kestria UAE
25+ years executive HR leadership
Egypt's Top 50 Most Influential Women (2020)
Former senior executive at PepsiCo (UK, UAE, Egypt)
Robert Mazelanik
Robert Mazelanik
Program Director · Queen Hedvig Academy
Leadership storytelling expert
Executive education program design specialist
Partner at Queen Hedvig Academy, Warsaw

Three Steps to Leading Under Pressure with Mastery

The program extends beyond 3 days in Dubai — it's a complete transformation journey from self-assessment to sustainable change.

1
Assess
6 Weeks Before · Remote

Complete a confidential leadership-under-pressure self-assessment. Identify your stress patterns, decision-making blind spots, and resilience baseline. Arrive knowing exactly where to focus.

2
Immerse
3 Days · Dubai, UAE

Dive into VR crisis simulations, real-world case studies from Special Forces to Silicon Valley, and peer-learning with 25 senior leaders. Practice high-stakes decisions with world-class faculty coaching you live.

3
Integrate
6 Weeks After · Remote

Leave with a personal action plan and a 1-hour coaching session to embed your crisis leadership tools into daily practice. Transform what you learned into how you lead — permanently.

Return to Your Organization as the Leader Who Thrives Under Pressure

Concrete tools, frameworks, and capabilities — not just inspiration.

Executives thriving
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Crisis Decision-Making Framework

A proven methodology for making sharper decisions when information is incomplete, time is critical, and stakes are highest.

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Early Warning Systems

Learn to identify the early warning signs of organizational failure and human error before they become crises.

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Psychological Safety & Trust

Build the capacity to create psychological safety in high-stress teams — the foundation of resilient, high-performing organizations.

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Elite Peer Network

Join a cohort of 25 senior leaders from diverse industries who become your private advisory board for years to come.

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Personal Coaching Integration

A 1-hour personal coaching session to help you translate insights into lasting behavioral change in your leadership practice.

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Triple Certification

Receive certificates from IMD Business School, SRI International, and Queen Hedvig Academy — recognized globally.

Executive in VR crisis simulation

VR Crisis Simulation: Experience Pressure Before It's Real

In partnership with SRI International — the non-profit research institute that created Siri, the computer mouse, and 80 years of pioneering technology — we place you inside realistic, high-stakes crisis scenarios using immersive VR.

Your body, emotions, and instincts respond to VR simulation the same way they respond to real crisis. So the learning sticks.

  • Experience realistic crisis scenarios with mounting pressure in real-time
  • Make decisions with incomplete information while being observed by faculty
  • Receive immediate coaching on your emotional responses and decision patterns
  • Decode your leadership blind spots in a safe-to-fail environment
  • The only executive program in the Middle East using this methodology

Backed by the World's Most Respected Institutions

A collaboration that brings together academic excellence, innovation leadership, and regional expertise.

IMD Business School #1 Open Executive Education (FT)
Stanford GSB Heart of Silicon Valley Innovation
SRI International 80+ Years of Breakthrough R&D
Queen Hedvig Academy 20+ Years Executive Education
Aspire HR / Kestria Leading Executive Search, MENA

The combination of VR simulation and world-class faculty created an experience unlike any program I've attended. I returned to my organization with tools I use daily in high-pressure situations.

Senior Executive
Queen Hedvig Academy Program Alumnus

Aspire HR's team demonstrated an exceptional understanding of our leadership development needs. Their ability to connect us with the right talent and programs has been invaluable to our growth.

George Sedky
CHRO, Ghabbour Corporation

Your Last Crisis Cost Far More Than This

An investment that pays for itself in one better decision under pressure.

Standard
4,900
per participant
  • 6-week pre-program assessment
  • 3-day immersive in Dubai
  • VR crisis simulation
  • Post-program coaching (1 hour)
  • Triple certification (IMD, SRI, QHA)
  • All program materials
Alumni
4,300
Queen Hedvig Academy alumni
  • Everything in Standard
  • 12% alumni discount
  • Extended alumni network
  • Priority seat reservation
  • Alumni recognition
  • Continued learning access

What's Included in Your Investment

6-week pre-program leadership assessment
3-day immersive program in Dubai
VR crisis simulation experience
1-hour personal coaching session
All learning materials & frameworks
Peer networking with 25 senior leaders
Certificates from 3 institutions
Lunches, refreshments & welcome reception
Reserve Your Seat Now →

⚡ Limited to 25 participants — seats are filling

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know before applying.

This program is designed for experienced organizational or team leaders — C-suite executives, VPs, GMs, Managing Directors, and Regional Heads — who manage complexity, risk, and high responsibility. It's ideal for leaders who want to lead with clarity, courage, and connection during turbulence. Typical participants come from industries like finance, energy, healthcare, government, real estate, and FMCG.
We bring IMD and Stanford-caliber faculty at a fraction of the cost (€4,900 vs. €7,500–$45,000), combine with SRI International's VR crisis simulations (which no other program offers), and focus specifically on crisis leadership — not general management. We also include 6-week pre-assessment and post-program coaching, making the transformation sustainable. Plus, our faculty includes leaders who have actually led under extreme conditions — Special Forces, Seven Summits, Silicon Valley.
In partnership with SRI International, we use immersive virtual reality technology to place you in realistic, high-stakes crisis scenarios. You make real-time decisions under mounting pressure while faculty observe your emotional responses, decision patterns, and communication style. After the simulation, you receive a detailed debrief that decodes your strengths and blind spots. Research shows that VR simulation triggers the same physiological responses as real crises — making the learning deeply experiential and lasting.
Absolutely. The program is designed for busy senior leaders. The pre-program assessment (done remotely over 6 weeks) ensures you arrive focused. The 3 days in Dubai are intensively designed — every hour delivers practical value. The post-program coaching session helps you integrate learnings into your work without additional travel. Most importantly, the skills you build here can prevent the kinds of crises that consume weeks or months of your time.
Yes! We offer a group rate of €4,300 per person for 3 or more registrations from the same organization. Group participants also receive a team assessment report and a shared debrief session. Many organizations send their senior leadership team together to create a shared crisis leadership framework. Contact us to discuss group arrangements and reserve spots.
The fee covers the complete program: 6-week pre-program assessment, 3-day on-campus experience in Dubai (all sessions, VR simulation, workshops), learning materials, lunches and refreshments during the program, a welcome reception, post-program 1-hour coaching session, and certificates from IMD, SRI International, and Queen Hedvig Academy. Travel and accommodation are arranged separately.
You'll receive certificates from three globally recognized institutions: IMD Business School (Lausanne, Switzerland), SRI International (Menlo Park, USA), and Queen Hedvig Academy (Warsaw, Poland). These certificates are recognized across industries and geographies.
Click "Reserve Your Seat" to fill in a brief application form. Our program team will review your application and contact you within 24 hours with next steps, including payment details and logistics. For group registrations or private briefings, select "3+" participants in the form and mention your requirements in the motivation field — our team will reach out to coordinate.

Pressure Reveals Character.
This Program Shapes It.

April 20–22, 2026 · Dubai, UAE · Limited to 25 Leaders

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⚡ Seats are limited and filling — secure your place today

Apply for Leading Under Pressure

Complete this application and our program team will review it and contact you within 24 hours.

Personal Details
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Experience & Interest

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Have a Question? Let's Talk

Share your details and our program team will reach out to discuss the program, group arrangements, or any questions you have.

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