Format: Live instructor-led online training via Zoom / Microsoft Teams

Program and portfolio leadership training course

Introduction

Program and Portfolio Leadership is an advanced professional training course designed to equip leaders, managers, and executives with the strategic knowledge, leadership competencies, and governance skills required to successfully manage multiple projects, programs, and portfolios within complex organizational environments. Effective program and portfolio leadership enables organizations to align investments with strategic objectives, optimize resource utilization, manage organizational change, maximize benefits realization, and deliver sustainable value. This course provides participants with practical approaches to strategic leadership, portfolio governance, stakeholder engagement, performance management, and organizational transformation while strengthening decision-making capabilities across interconnected initiatives.

The course focuses on strategic portfolio management, program leadership frameworks, governance structures, benefits realization, organizational change management, resource optimization, stakeholder management, risk leadership, portfolio performance monitoring, and executive decision-making. Participants will learn how to lead complex programs and portfolios, establish governance systems, prioritize investments, manage competing organizational demands, and ensure alignment between projects and strategic objectives. Through practical exercises and case studies, participants will develop leadership capabilities necessary for achieving organizational excellence and long-term sustainability.

Organizations operating in government institutions, development agencies, international NGOs, donor-funded programs, multinational corporations, financial institutions, infrastructure projects, and private enterprises increasingly require leaders who can successfully manage portfolios and programs while driving innovation, accountability, and performance improvement. This training equips participants with advanced leadership techniques that support organizational agility, strategic execution, resource efficiency, and successful delivery of transformational initiatives across multiple sectors.

Through interactive leadership workshops, portfolio simulations, strategic planning exercises, governance assessments, and real-world case studies, participants will gain practical experience in leading programs and portfolios, managing stakeholders, optimizing performance, strengthening governance, and delivering strategic results. The course prepares professionals to become influential leaders capable of guiding organizations through complex challenges, achieving strategic goals, and creating measurable value through effective program and portfolio leadership.

Course Objectives

1. Understand principles and frameworks of program and portfolio leadership.
2. Align programs and portfolios with organizational strategy.
3. Develop effective governance and leadership structures.
4. Strengthen executive decision-making capabilities.
5. Manage program and portfolio risks effectively.
6. Optimize resource allocation across programs and portfolios.
7. Enhance stakeholder engagement and communication.
8. Lead organizational transformation and change initiatives.
9. Monitor portfolio performance and benefits realization.
10. Promote leadership excellence and strategic value creation.

Organization Benefits

1. Improved strategic alignment of programs and portfolios.
2. Enhanced leadership effectiveness across organizational initiatives.
3. Better governance and accountability mechanisms.
4. Increased return on investment from programs and portfolios.
5. Improved resource optimization and efficiency.
6. Strengthened organizational agility and adaptability.
7. Better risk management and decision-making processes.
8. Enhanced stakeholder confidence and engagement.
9. Improved benefits realization and project success rates.
10. Sustainable organizational growth and competitiveness.

Target Participants

• Program Managers
• Portfolio Managers
• Project Directors
• Senior Project Managers
• PMO Directors and Staff
• Chief Executive Officers
• Executive Directors
• Strategic Planning Managers
• Operations Managers
• Government Program Coordinators
• NGO Program Directors
• Development Practitioners
• Risk Management Professionals
• Consultants and Advisors
• Senior Leaders responsible for organizational transformation

Course Outline

Module 1: Foundations of Program and Portfolio Leadership

1. Introduction to program and portfolio leadership
2. Leadership principles in strategic management
3. Program, project, and portfolio relationships
4. Leadership competencies and capabilities
5. Strategic leadership frameworks
6. Case Study: Leading a multi-project strategic initiative

Module 2: Strategic Planning and Portfolio Alignment

1. Organizational strategy and portfolio alignment
2. Strategic planning methodologies
3. Portfolio vision and mission development
4. Strategic investment prioritization
5. Portfolio planning frameworks
6. Case Study: Aligning portfolios with corporate strategy

Module 3: Governance and Leadership Structures

1. Governance principles and frameworks
2. Program and portfolio governance models
3. Executive leadership roles and responsibilities
4. Governance boards and committees
5. Decision-making structures and accountability
6. Case Study: Designing governance structures for a large portfolio

Module 4: Program Leadership and Benefits Management

1. Program management principles
2. Benefits realization frameworks
3. Managing program interdependencies
4. Program leadership strategies
5. Measuring program success
6. Case Study: Benefits realization in a development program

Module 5: Portfolio Resource and Financial Leadership

1. Resource planning and optimization
2. Financial governance and oversight
3. Budget management across portfolios
4. Resource balancing techniques
5. Investment decision-making processes
6. Case Study: Managing resources across multiple programs

Module 6: Risk Leadership and Organizational Resilience

1. Portfolio and program risk management
2. Strategic risk assessment methodologies
3. Crisis leadership and resilience planning
4. Risk governance structures
5. Risk communication and escalation
6. Case Study: Managing strategic risks in complex portfolios

Module 7: Stakeholder Leadership and Communication

1. Stakeholder engagement frameworks
2. Executive communication strategies
3. Influencing and negotiation skills
4. Stakeholder relationship management
5. Conflict resolution and consensus building
6. Case Study: Managing stakeholder expectations in a national program

Module 8: Change Leadership and Organizational Transformation

1. Organizational change management principles
2. Leading transformation initiatives
3. Change readiness assessments
4. Building adaptive organizations
5. Managing resistance to change
6. Case Study: Leading a digital transformation portfolio

Module 9: Performance Management and Portfolio Monitoring

1. Portfolio performance frameworks
2. Key performance indicators and metrics
3. Portfolio dashboards and scorecards
4. Benefits tracking and reporting
5. Continuous performance improvement
6. Case Study: Monitoring strategic portfolio performance

Module 10: Leadership Ethics and Corporate Responsibility

1. Ethical leadership principles
2. Corporate governance and accountability
3. Integrity and transparency in leadership
4. Responsible decision-making
5. Sustainability and social responsibility
6. Case Study: Ethical leadership in project governance

Module 11: Innovation and Emerging Trends in Portfolio Leadership

1. Innovation management strategies
2. Digital transformation leadership
3. Artificial intelligence in portfolio management
4. Future trends in leadership and governance
5. Building innovation-driven organizations
6. Case Study: Leading innovation through portfolio management

Module 12: Leadership Excellence and Continuous Improvement

1. Leadership assessment and development
2. Building high-performing teams
3. Knowledge management and organizational learning
4. Continuous improvement frameworks
5. Sustaining leadership effectiveness
6. Case Study: Developing a leadership excellence roadmap

General Information

1. Customized Training: All our courses can be tailored to meet the specific needs of participants.
2. Language Proficiency: Participants should have a good command of the English language.
3. Comprehensive Learning: Our training includes well-structured presentations, practical exercises, web-based tutorials, and collaborative group work. Our facilitators are seasoned experts with over a decade of experience.
4. Certification: Upon successful completion of training, participants will receive a certificate from Foscore Development Center (FDC-K).
5. Training Locations: Training sessions are conducted at Foscore Development Center (FDC-K) centers. We also offer options for in-house and online training, customized to the client's schedule.
6. Flexible Duration: Course durations are adaptable, and content can be adjusted to fit the required number of days.
7. Onsite Training Inclusions: The course fee for onsite training covers facilitation, training materials, two coffee breaks, a buffet lunch, and a Certificate of Successful Completion. Participants are responsible for their travel expenses, airport transfers, visa applications, dinners, health/accident insurance, and personal expenses.
8. Additional Services: Accommodation, pickup services, freight booking, and visa processing arrangements are available upon request at discounted rates.
9. Equipment: Tablets and laptops can be provided to participants at an additional cost.
10. Post-Training Support: We offer one year of free consultation and coaching after the course.
11. Group Discounts: Register as a group of more than two and enjoy a discount ranging from 10% to 50%.
12. Payment Terms: Payment should be made before the commencement of the training or as mutually agreed upon, to the Foscore Development Center account. This ensures better preparation for your training.
13. Contact Us: For any inquiries, please reach out to us at training@fdc-k.org or call us at +254712260031.
14. Website: Visit our website at www.fdc-k.org for more information.