In this program, leaders will learn to think and act like enterprise-level strategists—framing better questions, making disciplined trade-offs, and communicating strategy with clarity and confidence.
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Format: In-person
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Dates: May 27–28, 2026
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Duration: 2 days
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Location: St. Petersburg Campus – Student Life Center room 2100
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Tuition: $2,795 (group and partner pricing available)
As leaders move into senior roles, their success depends less on operational excellence and more on how they think. They are expected to make high-stakes choices about where to compete, how to win, and how to allocate scarce resources in the face of uncertainty. Yet many otherwise strong leaders struggle to shift from “running their area” to thinking and leading at the enterprise level.
Thinking Like a Strategist is a two-day, in-person program that builds the practical habits and tools of strategic thinking. Participants learn how experienced strategists frame problems, distinguish symptoms from deeper structural issues, recognize patterns in complex environments, and make explicit trade-offs instead of chasing every good idea. The program integrates proven strategy frameworks with real-world decision-making, so leaders practice the cognitive work strategists actually do.
By the end of the program, participants leave more confident and credible as strategic leaders. They are better prepared to connect day-to-day decisions to long-term value creation, navigate ambiguity with discipline rather than anxiety, and communicate strategy in ways that align their teams and peers around clear direction and priorities.
Key Takeaways
Participants will learn how to:
- Think more clearly about strategic choices and trade-offs at the enterprise level
- Use proven strategic frameworks appropriately, based on the decision at hand
- Navigate uncertainty and risk with greater confidence and discipline
- Communicate strategic logic in clear, compelling narratives that align stakeholders
- Show up as more credible, enterprise-focused strategic leaders rather than functional operators
Who Should Attend
This program is designed for:
Roles:
Senior leaders, executives, business unit leaders, and high-potential leaders preparing
for enterprise-level or C-suite responsibility.
Industries:
Leaders from any industry who operate in complex, competitive, or rapidly changing
environments.
Situational readiness:
- Leaders moving from operational excellence into broader strategic responsibility
- Executives tasked with shaping strategy, portfolios, or growth initiatives
- Leaders who must influence cross-functional or enterprise-wide decisions amid ambiguity
Curriculum & Topics
Module 1: Why Strategic Thinking Matters More with Seniority
Explores why strategic thinking is a critical executive differentiator and what changes as leaders move up, including common failure modes of non-strategic leadership.
Module 2: What Strategists Know
Covers industry and organizational insight, profit pools, competitive dynamics, strategic fit, and core strategic decision domains such as market positioning, business models, and capabilities.
Module 3: Core Strategic Thinking Skills (Part I)
Builds skills for framing the right strategic problem, avoiding premature solutions, and recognizing patterns in complexity while separating signal from noise.
Module 4: Growth, Uncertainty, and Portfolio Choices
Examines growth pathways, portfolio decisions, and how to make strategy under uncertainty using tools like scenario planning and staged commitments.
Module 5: Leading Strategically & Sustaining Strategic Discipline
Focuses on making explicit trade-offs, communicating strategy with clarity, developing strategic mindsets over time, and sustaining strategic discipline amid operational pressures.
Faculty
Jon Canger, PhD - Program Facilitator
Jonathan Canger, PhD is a senior human capital and organizational effectiveness executive with more than 40 years of experience at companies including Verizon, Motorola, Coca-Cola, Monster.com, and Marriott. He is Managing Partner of Zennia Research and serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of South Florida, where he teaches in the Muma College of Business and the Department of Psychology.Benefits for Organizations
Participants will return with improved ability to:
- Frame strategic issues in ways that clarify real choices and trade-offs
- Use common strategy frameworks thoughtfully rather than mechanically
- Make more disciplined investment, growth, and portfolio decisions under uncertainty
- Communicate strategic direction in ways that align teams and enable faster execution
This program supports organizations seeking to:
- Strengthen the strategic bench of senior and high-potential leaders
- Improve quality and consistency of strategic decisions across business units
- Build a more enterprise-oriented leadership culture, not just strong functional silos
- Navigate market, competitive, and technological change with greater agility and focus
Program Format
This program is delivered in an immersive, interactive format designed to maximize engagement and peer learning. A detailed agenda will be shared with registered participants in advance.
Certificate & Pathways
Participants will receive a USF Executive Education Certificate of Completion.
Logistics
Detailed program information, including the agenda, parking instructions, and recommended hotel accommodations, will be provided to registered participants prior to the program start date.
All cancellation and substitution requests must be submitted in writing.
Cancellations
Cancellations received 14 days or more prior to the program start date will receive a full refund, minus a $250 administrative fee. Cancellations received within 14 days of the program start date are non-refundable.
Substitutions
Substitutions may be made at any time prior to the program start date at no additional cost. If pre-program assessments have already been completed, associated assessment fees are non-refundable.
Program Changes
The University of South Florida reserves the right to cancel or reschedule a program. In the event of cancellation by the University, registered participants will receive a full refund.
Group Pricing & Custom Options
Discount Eligibility
USF alumni and active-duty military members and veterans are eligible for a 10% discount on all open-enrollment programs.
Please enter the appropriate discount code at checkout. Discounts are offered in good faith. Proof of eligibility may be requested prior to program start.
Discounts cannot be combined with other promotional offers.
USF Alumni
USF alumni receive 10% off open-enrollment programs with code USFALUMNI10.
Military & Veterans
Active-duty military members and veterans receive 10% off open-enrollment programs with code MILITARY10.