Mastery of Business & Empathy: Leadership in the Next Economy

A 10-month reinvention of the traditional MBA, equipping leaders with the practical tools, philosophies & inner work to reinvent business for the Next Economy.

Start Date:
February 4, 2025
Duration:
10 months
Format:
3 hours weekly online plus two in-person retreats
Cost:
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Nature & Environment
Business & Economics
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Self & Belonging

In partnership with

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Are you a creator, dreamer and leader?

Are you looking for a learning experience that expands your horizons, builds meaningful connections, and deepens your impact in the world?

Join us as we collectively redesign, reimagine and renew the world. Developed in partnership with global champions, the MBE reinvents and extends the traditional MBA to build the leaders we need for a better world.

This program equips leaders with the tools, strategies, networks and philosophies to successfully govern a purposeful organisation. If you’re interested in learning more about the MBE, we’d love to speak with you. Book a call with our team.

Why choose the MBE?

The system is broken.
We can no longer go on as if it is business as usual.

We live in an historic moment of turmoil, transition and opportunity: a climate and biodiversity emergency threatens the planet, our world remains a vastly unequal place, and a pandemic has taken lives, livelihoods and caused the greatest economic rupture since the Great Depression. History tells us that in moments of great uncertainty and pain, extraordinary progress can be born.

Our vision is to build the Next Economy – a system of leadership and governance that supports human flourishing while living in harmony with the natural world.

Apply now

Who is the MBE for?

We are seeking intrepid explorers who are ready to lead their organisations towards a better world for people and the planet.

The MBE program is targeted at leaders from business, social enterprise and civil society who are conscious of our urgent social and economic context. We are seeking those who are ready to use their power to shepherd in a safe and just economic paradigm for humanity.

We have no formal pre-requisites and base our application process on diversity, lived experience and vision for a better future. We are searching for those seeking a unique peer-to-peer learning experience rather than topdown lectures and traditional accreditations. We actively encourage applications from people of all ages, backgrounds and experiences.

“I found the cohort inspirational and diverse and that is what made the course enjoyable. Each of the guides moved us all to a new place - Small Giants can take all the great credit for the people you have brought into our lives and the wisdom you share. I am grateful to each of you for the deep thinking you have challenged us with.”

Ian Robinson

CIO Water NSW

“This has been a challenging year for me in many ways. The course served as a beautiful escape and delve into this North Star that I’ve always felt so deeply within myself but the MBE has put shape to it creating space for me to act. The course has inspired me to read more, think differently, ask more questions… it’s been everything for me. I can’t wait for this to integrate and permeate.”

Erin Roy

Commercial Storyteller

“The MBE gives you new ideas and differen’t perspective. It asks, ‘How can profit and growth and earth go hand in hand? Doing the MBE might be the only way our children and grandchildren might respect us. “

Steven Braekveldt

CEO Ageas Group

The curriculum

The MBE offers an interconnected mandala of modules, connecting the inner and outer worlds in service of the Next Economy

Through an interactive blend of live virtual sessions, group work, coaching and transformative retreats we will explore the role of community and culture, the power of storytelling and communication, the magic of purpose-led operations and governance, the complexity of decision-making and strategy, the potential of finance, and the critical importance of imagination, creativity and flow.

The Program Structure

An infusion of wisdom and action

The MBE is a 10-month program running from the end of January with each content module held virtually via Zoom.

Each module is split into four weekly sessions with 3 hours of contact time per week. There will also be at least one week between each module for integration, reflection and homework.

Our time together will include globally renowned and expert guest speakers, one on one coaching, case studies and group work. Participants can expect an immersive, participatory and peer-to-peer driven experience. There will be a pre-reading pack shared for each module and participants will complete projects and reflections outside our contact hours (an additional 3 hours per week).

We will also come together for two experiential in-person retreats in Australia.

Key dates

  • A Good Society:  February 2025 (in-person)
  • A Good Life: August 2025 (virtual)
  • Graduation: November 2025 (in-person)
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The Mastery of Business & Empathy is an opportunity to really learn from some amazing global leaders ... each and every week when we have a class there’s something new for me to apply into my organisation.

Your facilitators

The MBE Guides

The MBE is delivered by a team of experienced facilitators led by Small Giant’s Academy co-founder and Chair Danny Almagor and Head of MBE, Tamsin Jones.

Danny Almagor OAM

Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Small Giants

Danny Almagor is co-founder (with his wife Berry) and the Executive Chair of Small Giants. Danny was the inaugural Social Entrepreneur in Residence at RMIT, the founder and former CEO of Engineers Without Borders Australia and is the co-founder and Chair of the Impact Investment Group, and more recently created Sentient Impact Group. He has founded over a dozen for profit and non profit organisations including The Sociable Weaver, The Impact Club, Beyond Family Office and Beyond Creative. He has served on numerous boards, including many of the Small Giants family of businesses such as Tom Organic, The School of Life, The Cape ecovillage and Pacific Biotechnologies, as well as non-profit boards and advisories boards including the Jewish Museum of Australia, Stand Up, Smiling Mind, The Gross National Happiness Centre in Bhutan and Toniic. Danny has been recognised through many awards including a Churchill Fellowship, RMIT Alumnus of the Year, EY Social Entrepreneur of the Year, UN PRI Social Investment Pioneer and the Medal of the Order of Australia.

He has studied Aerospace Engineering, Business Administration and outdoor education. He loves to cook, read, rock climb, talk about philosophy, garden, travel and jump on the trampoline with his three kids. He doesn’t like to run marathons, watch horror films, drink beer, spend time on social media, or invest in anything that isn’t impact.

Danny Almagor OAM
Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Small Giants

Danny Almagor is co-founder (with his wife Berry) and the Executive Chair of Small Giants. Danny was the inaugural Social Entrepreneur in Residence at RMIT, the founder and former CEO of Engineers Without Borders Australia and is the co-founder and Chair of the Impact Investment Group, and more recently created Sentient Impact Group. He has founded over a dozen for profit and non profit organisations including The Sociable Weaver, The Impact Club, Beyond Family Office and Beyond Creative. He has served on numerous boards, including many of the Small Giants family of businesses such as Tom Organic, The School of Life, The Cape ecovillage and Pacific Biotechnologies, as well as non-profit boards and advisories boards including the Jewish Museum of Australia, Stand Up, Smiling Mind, The Gross National Happiness Centre in Bhutan and Toniic. Danny has been recognised through many awards including a Churchill Fellowship, RMIT Alumnus of the Year, EY Social Entrepreneur of the Year, UN PRI Social Investment Pioneer and the Medal of the Order of Australia.

He has studied Aerospace Engineering, Business Administration and outdoor education. He loves to cook, read, rock climb, talk about philosophy, garden, travel and jump on the trampoline with his three kids. He doesn’t like to run marathons, watch horror films, drink beer, spend time on social media, or invest in anything that isn’t impact.

Tamsin Jones

Head of Programs

Tamsin is the Head of Programs and the Mastery of Business and Empathy at Small Giants Academy. She brings several decades of leadership experience and systems change in Europe, Australia and Africa. Tamsin believes the best way to predict the future is to create it, change moves at the speed of trust and the superpower of leadership today is our ability to listen. After working as a policy advisor to the Premier of South Australia over two successful campaigns, Tamsin went on to ignite and co-create a string of initiatives including co-founding: Workshop17 inclusive innovation hub in Cape Town; TheBoardroom Africa to bring board gender balance; and The Rallying Cry to shift investment at the intersection of gender and nature for climate outcomes. She is a strategic advisor to CEOs on feminine leadership, gender lens investing and embodiment and holds an MBA from the University of Oxford as a scholar of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship.

Tamsin is the Head of Programs and the Mastery of Business and Empathy at Small Giants Academy. She brings several decades of leadership experience and systems change in Europe, Australia and Africa. Tamsin believes the best way to predict the future is to create it, change moves at the speed of trust and the superpower of leadership today is our ability to listen. After working as a policy advisor to the Premier of South Australia over two successful campaigns, Tamsin went on to ignite and co-create a string of initiatives including co-founding: Workshop17 inclusive innovation hub in Cape Town; TheBoardroom Africa to bring board gender balance; and The Rallying Cry to shift investment at the intersection of gender and nature for climate outcomes. She is a strategic advisor to CEOs on feminine leadership, gender lens investing and embodiment and holds an MBA from the University of Oxford as a scholar of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship.

Simon Fieldhouse

Leadership and Culture Specialist

Simon is a Leadership and Culture Specialist. He’s a coach and advisor, change agent, master facilitator and culture practitioner with 20 years of experience with small, medium, and large organisations in insurance, finance, energy, retail and philanthropic sectors.

He has an MBA, is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an accredited practitioner in change methodologies.

Simon Fieldhouse
Leadership and Culture Specialist

Simon is a Leadership and Culture Specialist. He’s a coach and advisor, change agent, master facilitator and culture practitioner with 20 years of experience with small, medium, and large organisations in insurance, finance, energy, retail and philanthropic sectors.

He has an MBA, is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an accredited practitioner in change methodologies.

Gayle Hardie

Co-Founder - Global Leadership Foundation

Gayle and her Global Leadership Foundation co-founder, Malcolm Lazenby, are passionate about and committed to making a positive difference to people, organisations and communities – both locally and globally.  They each bring over 30 years of experience and internationally recognised expertise in developing, strengthening and transforming individuals, teams, organisations and communities.

As a ‘for purpose’ organisation and a certified B Corp, Global Leadership Foundation, uses its business as a “force for good”, placing its profit each year into a philanthropic fund for the development of leaders in community. It’s pro-bono and low bono work also strengthens and supports individuals, organisations and communities to build compassionate and sustainable approaches to leadership and life.

Global Leadership Foundation along with its Global Fellows, works with boards, and senior leaders all over the world in a range of areas, including: transformational leadership and change in individuals and organisations, strategic planning and development, emotional health and leadership resilience, leading through facilitating, strengthening collaboration, and board and executive mentoring and coaching.

Gayle Hardie
Co-Founder - Global Leadership Foundation

Gayle and her Global Leadership Foundation co-founder, Malcolm Lazenby, are passionate about and committed to making a positive difference to people, organisations and communities – both locally and globally.  They each bring over 30 years of experience and internationally recognised expertise in developing, strengthening and transforming individuals, teams, organisations and communities.

As a ‘for purpose’ organisation and a certified B Corp, Global Leadership Foundation, uses its business as a “force for good”, placing its profit each year into a philanthropic fund for the development of leaders in community. It’s pro-bono and low bono work also strengthens and supports individuals, organisations and communities to build compassionate and sustainable approaches to leadership and life.

Global Leadership Foundation along with its Global Fellows, works with boards, and senior leaders all over the world in a range of areas, including: transformational leadership and change in individuals and organisations, strategic planning and development, emotional health and leadership resilience, leading through facilitating, strengthening collaboration, and board and executive mentoring and coaching.

Jo Brick

Jo Brick is an officer in the Royal Australian Air Force. With a background in international law and strategy, she has worked in defence and national security for 25 years. She has been a legal advisor to senior military commanders, and was an instructor and Chief of Staff at the Australian Defence College. Jo is a fellow of the Small Giants Academy, having completed the Mastery of Business & Empathy in 2022.

Jo Brick is an officer in the Royal Australian Air Force. With a background in international law and strategy, she has worked in defence and national security for 25 years. She has been a legal advisor to senior military commanders, and was an instructor and Chief of Staff at the Australian Defence College. Jo is a fellow of the Small Giants Academy, having completed the Mastery of Business & Empathy in 2022.

Khalid Malik

Mastery of Business & Empathy Producer

Khalid Malik is a journalist and broadcaster and is working with us producing the Mastery of Business and Empathy program. In this personal essay, Khalid shares his experience of looking for work in Australia.

Khalid Malik
Mastery of Business & Empathy Producer

Khalid Malik is a journalist and broadcaster and is working with us producing the Mastery of Business and Empathy program. In this personal essay, Khalid shares his experience of looking for work in Australia.

Guest Faculty, a global network of change-makers

Erin Kuo

Chief Sustainability Officer at Yarra Capital Management

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Erin Kuo
Chief Sustainability Officer at Yarra Capital Management

Jay Coen Gilbert

Co-Founder B-Lab & Executive Advisor (former CEO), Imperative 21

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Jay Coen Gilbert
Co-Founder B-Lab & Executive Advisor (former CEO), Imperative 21

Lydia Fairhall

Conscious Leadership Facilitator and experienced board director, currently sitting on the Small Giants Academy GOP (Board)

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Lydia Fairhall
Conscious Leadership Facilitator and experienced board director, currently sitting on the Small Giants Academy GOP (Board)

Lydia is a Conscious Leadership Facilitator. Her professional background is in executive arts leadership, festival curation and producing for theatre and film, in both urban and remote communities. She was previously the dual recipient of the Sidney Myer Creative Fellowship and the Australia Council for the Arts Community Arts and Cultural Development Fellowship, where she formed much of the work she does today in facilitating conscious leadership, spiritual direction and next economy transitions for both companies and individuals.

Lydia has a BA in Social Sciences and is currently undertaking post-graduate studies in theology. She enjoys a continued arts practice as a singer/songwriter and freelance writer, creating two back to back albums True North and The Narrows in 2019–21. Lydia loves to enjoy her free time either in the ocean, church or the bush, and outside of her work she enjoys a simple, quiet life with her partner and two children.

Kaj Lofgren

Head of Labs & CEO Regen Melbourne

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Kaj Lofgren
Head of Labs & CEO Regen Melbourne

Kaj is the Director of the Small Giants Academy Action Labs, where he leads the incubation and development of new initiatives. This has included the creation of Regen Melbourne, launching B Corporation in our region, bringing the School of Life to Australia and co-creating the Mastery of Business and Empathy and Impact Safari. He is a guide on a number of the SGA programs including Impact Safari Scandinavia: the Future of Cities.

Lorna Davis

Ex-CEO Danone North America & former B-Lab Board Member

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Lorna Davis
Ex-CEO Danone North America & former B-Lab Board Member

Berry Liberman

Co-Founder, Small Giants Academy

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Berry Liberman
Co-Founder, Small Giants Academy

Berry Liberman is a podcaster and writer who focuses on themes of leadership, storytelling, consciousness, money, and human cultural evolutio and connection.

Berry, whose family office Small Giants has a 100% impact portfolio, is a pioneer in the impact investing landscape globally, across media, the built environment, venture capital, regenerative agriculture, financial services, nature-based climate solutions, biodiversity, and energy systems.

Berry is the Creative Director of Small Giants Academy, a not-for-profit accelerator, education and media initiative with a focus on leadership fora hopeful future. Berry was the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Dumbo Feather Magazine — now The Wisdom & Action Podcast — with an abundant audience of conscious leaders from all sectors.

As a mother to three beautiful children, her work is in service to them and generations to come.

Aziz Abu Sarah

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Aziz is a renowned figure in peace-building and conflict resolution. With experience in 60 countries, including conflict zones like Afghanistan and Syria, he's made significant contributions to fostering peace and reconciliation.

Aziz’s work has earned him the titles of National Geographic Explorer and Ted Fellow. He has written opinion pieces for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Al-Quds, Haaretz, and has been published by National Geographic, CNN, TED, and Al Arabiya. He has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the World by the Royal Strategic Centre in Jordan each year since 2010.

He has served as Executive Director at the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution, George Mason University and as the Chairman for the Parents Circle Family Forum. He is the cofounder of InterAct International, a non profit advancing sustainability, education, and cross cultural connections.

His work has been recognised with numerous awards, including the Goldberg Prize for Peace in the Middle East and the Intercultural Innovation Award from the UN Alliance of Civilizations, with recognition from former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.

Learn more about Aziz Abu Sarah

We spoke with Aziz in Issue 34 of Dumbo Feather Magazine.

Explore the conversation

Our Advisory Group

Erin Axelrod

Worker-Owner, LIFT Economy

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Ingrid Burkett

Co-Director, The Yunus Centre at Griffith University

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Ingrid Burkett
Co-Director, The Yunus Centre at Griffith University

Alex Hannant

Co-Director of The Yunus Centre at Griffith University and Co-Chair at B Lab

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Alex Hannant
Co-Director of The Yunus Centre at Griffith University and Co-Chair at B Lab

Bronwyn Dugtig

Programme Manager, University of Oxford

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Bronwyn Dugtig
Programme Manager, University of Oxford

Andrew Davies

CEO, B Lab Australia and New Zealand

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Andrew Davies
CEO, B Lab Australia and New Zealand

Your investment

What does the MBE Cost?

AUD $23,600 inc GST

Upfront and interest-free monthly payment plans are available.

The MBE is for people of influence across industries and sectors – from executives to grassroots change-makers. A limited number of partial scholarships are available for social innovators and leaders experiencing systemic and/or financial barriers to participation. If you are interested in a scholarship position, please complete an application – shortlisted applicants will be invited to apply for scholarships.

The Fellows Community

The MBE connects you to a rich community of fellows – a network of thinkers and leaders building a better future together.

Completing the Mastery of Business and Empathy is just the beginning of your journey. Our Fellowship is made up of leaders who integrate wisdom and action to support each other, co-create learning opportunities and actively collaborate on impactful projects for a more hopeful future.

FAQs and Details

Who is facilitating the MBE?

The MBE is led by the Small Giants Academy, guided by co-founder and Chair Danny Almagor OAM and the Head of MBE Tamsin Jones. Our program taps into a global network of esteemed guest speakers, featuring influential figures like Lorna Davis, Geoff Manchester, Nora Bateson, Berry Liberman, and more. Supporting this, we have facilitators such as Simon Fieldhouse from Mush Consulting, Gayle Hardie from the Global Leadership Foundation, and Jo Brick from the Royal Australian Air Force

What constitutes the successful completion of the MBE?

Active participation throughout the program, including attendance at sessions, and completion of reflection exercises and project work, will result in successful graduation from the Mastery of Business and Empathy.

Is there a minimum rate of participation to graduate?

Our time together will include guest speaker sessions, case studies and group work. Participants can expect an immersive, participatory and peer-to-peer driven experience. As such, participation at each weekly session is required. We do not have a minimum rate of participation as such, and of course, life sometimes gets in the way! Some sessions will be recorded for catch-up viewing, however, regular participation is expected.

Is the program self-directed?

The emphasis of our program is on peer-to-peer learning. Our time together will also include guest faculty sessions, case studies and group work. Participants can expect an immersive, participatory and peer-to-peer driven experience.

What payment plans are available for the MBE program?

We offer payment plans. Our standard options include both 3-month and 10-month plans. However, we understand that each applicant's circumstances are unique. Therefore, we discuss payment arrangements on a case-by-case basis to ensure they align with your goals. Additionally, we offer scholarships that can be applied for after your application is received. Please reach out to us for more information on payment options and scholarship opportunities.

Is the MBE formally accredited?

Our Mastery of Business and Empathy is a non-accredited course and does not result in the award of a qualification recognised with the Australian Qualifications Framework. As such unfortunately HECS/HELP funding is not available. We do offer a monthly payment option.

What sets the MBE program apart from traditional MBA programs?

The MBE program offers a unique peer-to-peer learning experience, focusing on community, culture, storytelling, purpose-led operations and governance, decision-making and strategy, finance, and imagination. It moves away from top-down lectures and traditional accreditations, emphasizing diversity, lived experience, and a vision for a better future.

What is the MBE program and who is it for?

The MBE program, developed in partnership with global champions, is designed to expand horizons, build meaningful connections, and deepen impact in the world. It reinvents and extends the traditional MBA to build leaders needed for a better world. It is aimed at individuals from business, social enterprise, and civil society who are ready to lead their organizations towards a better world for people and the planet.

Who is facilitating the MBE?

The MBE is led by the Small Giants Academy, guided by co-founder and Chair Danny Almagor OAM and the Head of MBE Tamsin Jones. Our program taps into a global network of esteemed guest speakers, featuring influential figures like Lorna Davis, Geoff Manchester, Nora Bateson, Berry Liberman, and more. Supporting this, we have facilitators such as Simon Fieldhouse from Mush Consulting, Gayle Hardie from the Global Leadership Foundation, and Jo Brick from the Royal Australian Air Force

What constitutes the successful completion of the MBE?

Active participation throughout the program, including attendance at sessions, and completion of reflection exercises and project work, will result in successful graduation from the Mastery of Business and Empathy.

Is there a minimum rate of participation to graduate?

Our time together will include guest speaker sessions, case studies and group work. Participants can expect an immersive, participatory and peer-to-peer driven experience. As such, participation at each weekly session is required. We do not have a minimum rate of participation as such, and of course, life sometimes gets in the way! Some sessions will be recorded for catch-up viewing, however, regular participation is expected.

Is the program self-directed?

The emphasis of our program is on peer-to-peer learning. Our time together will also include guest faculty sessions, case studies and group work. Participants can expect an immersive, participatory and peer-to-peer driven experience.

What payment plans are available for the MBE program?

We offer payment plans. Our standard options include both 3-month and 10-month plans. However, we understand that each applicant's circumstances are unique. Therefore, we discuss payment arrangements on a case-by-case basis to ensure they align with your goals. Additionally, we offer scholarships that can be applied for after your application is received. Please reach out to us for more information on payment options and scholarship opportunities.

Is the MBE formally accredited?

Our Mastery of Business and Empathy is a non-accredited course and does not result in the award of a qualification recognised with the Australian Qualifications Framework. As such unfortunately HECS/HELP funding is not available. We do offer a monthly payment option.

What sets the MBE program apart from traditional MBA programs?

The MBE program offers a unique peer-to-peer learning experience, focusing on community, culture, storytelling, purpose-led operations and governance, decision-making and strategy, finance, and imagination. It moves away from top-down lectures and traditional accreditations, emphasizing diversity, lived experience, and a vision for a better future.

What is the MBE program and who is it for?

The MBE program, developed in partnership with global champions, is designed to expand horizons, build meaningful connections, and deepen impact in the world. It reinvents and extends the traditional MBA to build leaders needed for a better world. It is aimed at individuals from business, social enterprise, and civil society who are ready to lead their organizations towards a better world for people and the planet.

Connect with us

Learn more about the MBE

If you’re interested in learning more about the MBE, we’d love to speak with you.
Book a call with our team, register for our information evening, or sign up to learn more about the journey of our MBE program.

For Employers

Invest in transformational leadership development that makes real difference to your organisation.

Accelerating the personal and professional evolution of your top talent builds a resilient and agile organisation that’s ready for the future.

Sponsor your employee to complete a Mastery of Business and Empathy (MBE) and join a fellowship of outstanding leaders re-imagining business for a rapidly changing world.

Nature & Environment
Business & Economics
Equality & Democracy
Self & Belonging