Cambridge
Academy
In London

Introduction

This course builds advanced capabilities to run a high-performing executive office that enables the CEO and senior leadership to execute strategy smoothly, communicate clearly, and make better decisions with speed and discretion.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

·        Strengthen strategic support for the CEO, Senior leaders and executive teams

·        Improve priority, calendar, and workflow management at executive level

·        Produce concise, decision-ready briefs and executive communications

·        Coordinate high-stakes meetings, governance, and stakeholders confidently

·        Apply risk, confidentiality, and issue-management practices consistently

Target Audience

This course is designed for:

·        CEO Office Managers / Executive Office Managers/ Senior leader Office Managers

·        Senior Executive Assistants supporting C-suite leaders

·        Chiefs of Staff (early to mid-level) and executive coordinators

Course Outlines

Day 1: The CEO/Senior leader Office as a Strategic Function

·        Role clarity: gatekeeper, integrator, and force multiplier

·        Understanding CEO/Senior leader priorities, rhythms, and decision style

·        Designing “one office” ways of working with key teams

·        Activity: Map your CEO/Senior leader office stakeholders and value-add points

Day 2: Executive Operating Rhythm and Calendar Mastery

·        Turning strategy into a weekly/monthly operating cadence

·        Calendar as a leadership tool: focus, trade-offs, boundaries

·        Meeting hygiene: agendas, pre-reads, owners, actions

·        Exercise: Rebuild a sample CEO week for impact and realism 

Day 3: Executive Communication and Decision Briefing

·        Writing for executives: clarity, brevity, and “so what”

·        Building a decision brief: options, risks, recommendation

·        Handling sensitive messages: tone, timing, and alignment

·        Workshop: Draft a one-page brief from a messy input pack 

Day 4: Governance, Stakeholders, and High-Stakes Events

·        Board/ExCom support: packs, minutes, follow-up, version control

·        Stakeholder coordination: internal alignment and external readiness

·        Event execution: investors, visits, media, VIP protocols

·        Case practice: Plan and run a board meeting end-to-end 

Day 5: Risk, Confidentiality, and Issue Management

·        Confidentiality and discretion: practical standards and behaviors

·        Managing issues: escalation paths, decision logs, communications loop

·        Crisis support basics: rapid coordination and information integrity

·        Action planning: 30–60–90 day improvement plan for your office