Think piece

From Reflection to Action: How the Marketing Leaders Programme Transformed My Leadership Approach

By Omar Abouseif

The Marketing Society Marketing Leaders Programme Lion

Being part of the 2025 Marketing Leaders Programme (MLP) has been a truly valuable experience both professionally and personally, encouraging me to step back and reflect on my purpose, my impact on others, and how I can grow further as a leader while staying future-focused.

The Future, Engage, Deliver (FED) model/framework stood out form me. Thinking first about the future you want to create, engaging people around that vision, and then aligning to deliver together as one team. It’s simple but powerful, and I’ve already found myself applying it in my work whether on a strategy, a small project, or in personal life.

Another key learning was around impact, asking myself whether the effect I intend to have on others is actually the effect I create. That reflection has stayed with me and will shape how I approach leadership going forward.

I’m grateful to Shell and the leaders who supported me in joining MLP and to Anni and Russ for designing and delivering such a meaningful program.

Authored by Omar Abouseif, Global Associate Sector Marketing Manager Shell

Three aspects took the program to the next level

Beyond the content itself

The speakers

Great leaders from diverse industries who shared practical insights and experiences

The environment

Stepping away from day-to-day routines into a calmer, more focused setting that made space for real learning

The cohort

A group of peers with massive experience, from different backgrounds who quickly built trust, challenged each other, and created a space where honest conversations could happen

About The Marketing Leaders Programme

The Marketing Society, together with Accenture Song developed the Marketing Leaders Programme (MLP) to help shape the great global marketing leaders of tomorrow. 

This residential experience combines marketing and people leadership skill development and is delivered in a nurturing, rural retreat by leading industry figures and leadership experts. Building on the work of Leadership Coach Steve Radcliffe, the programme addresses the strategic, commercial and leadership challenges facing senior marketers and their teams today, with a focus on what marketing leaders need to do and how they need to be in our rapidly changing world.

We have coached hundreds of promising senior marketers over the last 20 years from Aviva, Bacardi, Barclays, British Gas, Tesco, McDonald's, Heineken and Unilever to name but a few. 

Discover more here

Marketing Leaders Programme

 

The Marketing Leaders Programme: Behind the scenes