Leadership and Entrepreneurship



Overview

This course explores how founders and leaders turn vision into scalable businesses, and the structural, strategic and governance decisions that allow ideas to succeed. You will approach entrepreneurship as both a leadership discipline and an execution challenge.

The course uses real-world case studies and current market conditions to examine how entrepreneurs raise capital, structure businesses, sell ideas, lead teams, and adapt to rapid technological change, including the growing impact of AI. Across these areas, leadership is treated as a practical skill shaped by vision, influence, accountability and organisational design.

Throughout, the emphasis is on application. The frameworks introduced are designed to be used across a range of professional contexts, whether you are launching a venture, joining a high-growth company, or leading within an existing organisation.

Programme details

This course will explore:

Session 1: Vision, Leadership and the Entrepreneurial Mindset

  • The role of vision in entrepreneurship and how it differs from traditional leadership  
  • How founders translate personal conviction into organisational direction  
  • Leadership versus control and how to set culture without stifling execution  
  • Common psychological traps founders fall into as businesses grow  
  • Case studies of leadership failure and success at early stages  

 Session 2: Structure, Compliance and Where Entrepreneurs Go Wrong  

  • Why good ideas fail due to poor corporate and legal structure  
  • Protecting founders through equity, governance, and decision-making rights  
  • Common compliance and structural mistakes in early-stage businesses  
  • Understanding risk, liability, and long-term implications of early decisions  
  • How professionalisation too early or too late can damage momentum  

 Session 3: Selling, Fundraising and Influencing Stakeholders

  • Entrepreneurship as a constant process of persuasion and alignment  
  • Selling to investors, partners, suppliers, and early customers  
  • How fundraising has changed and what investors now look for  
  • Choosing the right capital at the right stage  
  • Managing power dynamics and expectations after investment  

 Session 4: Scale, Technology and Building a Viable Business

  • Assessing whether an opportunity is truly scalable  
  • Unit economics, cost structures and when growth makes sense  
  • How side hustles evolve into dedicated ventures and when they should not  
  • The impact of AI on entrepreneurship, teams and competitive advantage  
  • Building systems that allow leaders to step back without losing control

Attending Your Course 

Further details will be emailed to you two weeks ahead of your course, this will include registration information and an overview of the course timetable.

If you have not received your joining instructions five working days before the course start date, please get in touch. 

In the meantime, you may wish to plan your travel: Travel information

Digital Certification

In order to be eligible for a certificate of attendance, you will need to attend the whole course. Participants who meet this criterion will be emailed after the end of the course with a link, and instructions on how to access their University of Oxford digital certificate. 

The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate, as well as share it on social media if you choose to do so.  

Fees

Description Costs
Standard course fee £685.00

Payment

You can enrol on this one-day course individually, or as part of our Leadership Skills: Discount Registration Package, 5-8 May 2026.

Fees include course materials, tuition, refreshments and lunch. The price does not include accommodation. 

All courses are VAT exempt. 

Register immediately online  

Click the 'Book now' button on this webpage. Payment by credit or debit card is required. 

Request an invoice 

If you require an invoice for your company or organisation, please email us to request an online enrolment form. Payment is then accepted online, by credit/debit card, or by bank transfer. 

Tutor

Alexander Johnson - Speaker

Alexander Johnson is an internationally renowned businessman, corporate strategist and keynote speaker. 

Born in the UK, Alexander grew up in both London, England and Kitzbühel, Austria. After an education that spanned England and Switzerland, he completed his undergraduate studies at business school and began his career with various entrepreneurial endeavours. 

Serving as a board director of waste-to-energy company Worldwide Natural Resources PLC, Alexander was cited as the youngest CEO of a company listed on the London Stock Exchange. It represented the first step into one of Alexander’s passions: progressive world-changing innovation. 

Alexander has served as an IPO, acquisitions and Venture Capital consultant. Working with companies listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and a number of US markets has given him in-depth knowledge of financial markets and business growth strategies. 

A regular keynote speaker and writer across a range of topics within entrepreneurship, leadership, investments, financial markets trading and economics. 

Alexander is a supporter of a number of humanitarian causes throughout Africa and Europe. He has also worked with the Royal Marines Charity to help with resocialisation programmes for Marines looking to find new careers after combat.  

Currently, Alexander is building a life skills programme for younger generations to provide financial and career guidance, which will be made available online and for free. 

Application

If you would like to discuss your application or any part of the application process before applying, please click 'Ask a question' at the top of this page.

Accommodation

Although not included in the course fee, accommodation may be available at our on-site Rewley House Residential Centre. All bedrooms are en suite and decorated to a high standard, and come with tea- and coffee-making facilities, free Wi-Fi access and Freeview TV. Guests can take advantage of the excellent dining facilities and common room bar, where they may relax and network with others on the programme.

To check prices, availability and to book rooms please visit the Rewley House Residential Centre website. 

Enrolled students are entitled to discounted accommodation rates for the purpose of study, at Rewley House, and can contact the administration team for the promotional code to use for making online accommodation bookings via the website.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support