Corporate leadership training
Innovation and Leadership Training Course in Vietnam
Help your leaders harness creative thinking, recognise emerging opportunities and run quick, structured experiments while building teams that feel free to propose change, so innovation drives growth in products, services and processes, through practical workshops and exercises.
- In-person, virtual
or blended - Customised for
your organisation - Delivered worldwide,
including Vietnam - For executives, managers
and innovation leaders
Course overview
What Is Innovation Leadership?
Innovation leadership combines an entrepreneurial mindset with the people skills that make new ideas stick, so a whole team keeps looking for improvements. The course builds that capability step by step, from recognising emerging opportunities and generating creative options to validating them through fast, affordable experiments and leading the people and processes that take the strongest into daily use.
With practical frameworks, real-world case studies and interactive workshops, participants apply design thinking and agile methods to a challenge from their own work, taking it from first insight to tested prototype as leaders in Vietnam might.
Vietnam’s business landscape is vibrant and fast-moving, and the course helps executives, managers and aspiring leaders, whether they run a startup, a corporate innovation team or an established organisation going through digital transformation, build a culture of innovation, adapt to market shifts with agility and turn creative thinking into strategic growth.
Why it matters
Why Innovation Leadership Matters in Vietnam
Rapid advancements and dynamic market shifts are the norm in Vietnam’s competitive business environment. Leaders who nurture creativity and manage change well help their organisations build lasting advantage in an evolving market.
Problems without old answers
Rapid advancements and shifting markets bring problems that familiar solutions do not fit.
Ideas need a safe home
Teams hold back creative ideas when leaders do not invite them or punish every misstep.
Ideas alone are not enough
Results come from ideas that are prototyped, refined and carried through to implementation.
Building for the future
Innovative organisations give Vietnam resilient businesses with a lasting competitive edge.
The Knowles leadership approach
From Insight to Impact
The course traces how an idea travels from a first sign of opportunity to a change that becomes routine, giving participants a six-step cycle they can repeat with their teams whenever conditions shift.
Innovation leadership in action
- 1. OpportunityWhere could we do better?
- 2. InsightWhat do users need?
- 3. IdeasWhat could we try?
- 4. PrototypeHow can we test it cheaply?
- 5. LearnWhat did the test show?
- 6. ScaleHow do we roll it out?
Key benefits
Why Organisations Choose This Course
This programme helps your leaders and your organisation to:
More Ideas, Better Ideas
Stimulate creativity in individuals and teams throughout the organisation.
Faster from Idea to Result
Agile, iterative testing pushes promising ideas forward and filters out weak ones early.
Smarter Risk-Taking
Take risks in small, deliberate experiments with clear limits.
Focus on Real Problems
Channel creativity into the business challenges with most strategic value.
Teams That Speak Up
Foster open feedback so everyone contributes ideas.
A Culture of Improvement
Embed continuous improvement in the organisation’s culture, not only in projects.
Have questions about this course?
Our team is happy to help. Send us a message and we will get back to you within one business day.
Course curriculum
A practical and structured learning journey.
Twelve units across three stages lead participants from an entrepreneurial way of thinking, through structured experimentation with design thinking and agile methods, to leading teams that innovate, with case studies and practical frameworks at every step.
- Unit 1
Innovation Mindset
- Understand innovation in all its forms, from minor refinements to whole new business models.
- Develop an entrepreneurial mindset that sees change as opportunity.
- Spot the routines that discourage creative thinking.
- Unit 2
Spotting Opportunities
- Scan markets, technologies and customer experience for gaps.
- State an opportunity as a sharp, workable challenge.
- Examine successful innovations from various industries.
- Unit 3
Testing Assumptions
- Question the long-held beliefs behind current practice.
- Reframe a challenge to reveal options others overlook.
- Recognise the biases that make teams favour the familiar.
- Unit 4
Diverse Perspectives
- Combine people with different skills, roles and experience.
- Foster constructive feedback when opinions clash.
- Gather input from users, customers and partners early.
- Unit 5
Generating Ideas
- Run idea-generation workshops that broaden the options.
- Use creativity techniques to escape the obvious solution.
- Expand on others’ suggestions before evaluating them.
- Unit 6
Design Thinking
- Work through the stages: empathise, define, ideate, prototype, test.
- Practise empathy to uncover what users really need.
- Define the problem from the user’s point of view.
- Unit 7
Selecting Ideas
- Apply a structured framework to evaluate and prioritise ideas.
- Align each idea with the innovation roadmap and goals.
- Choose which ideas get resources now and which wait.
- Unit 8
Testing Ideas Fast
- Use rapid prototypes and short agile iterations to try ideas.
- Set metrics and benchmarks before each test begins.
- Iterate on the evidence, or stop and redirect resources.
- Unit 9
Vision and Inspiration
- Craft a clear vision and roadmap for innovation.
- Show people how innovation supports the organisation’s goals.
- Lead with empathy and energy through uncertainty and change.
- Unit 10
Room to Experiment
- Build an inclusive climate where every idea gets a hearing.
- Treat setbacks as chances to learn and iterate.
- Give experiments defined time, space and resources.
- Unit 11
Collaborative Teams
- Assemble diverse teams with complementary skills.
- Set clear roles while letting teams own their ideas.
- Recognise and reward innovative ideas and initiatives.
- Unit 12
From Pilot to Practice
- Use governance and accountability to carry ideas through.
- Secure backing from leaders and affected teams.
- Write a roadmap for your next innovation initiative.
Course agenda
Two-day course agenda.
A sample agenda showing how the two days run, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The final agenda is agreed with you.
Welcome, objectives and introductions
The innovation mindset
Morning break
Spotting opportunities
Lunch
Challenging assumptions
Diverse perspectives
Afternoon break
Generating ideas
Day one reflection
Close
Recap and goals for the day
Design thinking
Morning break
Selecting and testing ideas
Lunch
Vision and inspiration
Room to experiment and collaborative teams
Afternoon break
From pilot to practice
Innovation action plan and next steps
Close
Participant resources
What participants receive.
A practical set of resources to support learning during the course and application afterwards.
Course Workbook
Content, summaries and activities for every unit.
Templates and Worksheets
Ready-to-use tools to apply learning at work.
Action Plan Template
Turn learning into clear next steps.
Job Aids and Quick Guides
Key models, checklists and frameworks for daily use.
Digital Resources
Additional materials to revisit after the course.
Certificate of Completion
Recognition of the training completed.
Practical application
From theory to real workplace impact.
Each participant brings a current business challenge and works it through the cycle, from understanding users to presenting a tested prototype, in exercises shaped by the rapid market changes leaders in Vietnam deal with.
Opportunity Hunt
Scan your own work for problems and unmet needs worth solving.
Ideation Sprints
Produce many ideas under time pressure, then develop the strongest.
Prototype Challenge
Make a working mock-up of an idea and have others try it out.
Pitch Practice
Present your idea persuasively and secure backing from a mock board.
Who should attend
Designed for leaders who want new ideas to succeed.
It is for executives, managers and aspiring leaders across industries keen to drive innovation, whether they lead a startup, a corporate innovation team or an established organisation through digital transformation, and for leaders in education, government or NGOs.
- ExecutivesSteer the organisation towards a culture of innovation.
- Team LeadersLead cross-functional teams that develop ideas.
- Government OfficialsApply innovation to the way public services work.
- NGO LeadersDevelop creative responses to community needs.
- EntrepreneursGrow a startup by acting on emerging opportunities.
- EducatorsEncourage creativity in teaching and learning.
Course format and delivery
Flexible options to suit your organisation.
Choose the format and duration that fit your schedule and learning needs, whether at your workplace in Vietnam, online or a mix of both.
In-Person Training
Delivered at your organisation in Vietnam or at a suitable venue.
Virtual Training
Interactive, engaging live online delivery.
Blended Learning
A combination of in-person and virtual sessions.
Customised Training
Tailor case studies, organisation focus, delivery mode, modules and duration. Explore Customized Training
- Typical Duration2 Full Days9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Also available as a 1-day, half-day, 90-minute or 60-minute session.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites and experience level.
No prior experience is required. The course suits anyone who wants to lead new ideas, whatever their sector or role, and works well for mixed groups.
No formal prerequisites
Open to anyone who wants to bring new ideas into their work.
All experience levels
From first-time managers to senior executives.
Designed for mixed groups
Different sectors and roles bring the varied views that spark ideas.
Bring a real challenge
Come with a problem at work you would like to solve.
Course framework
A structured approach to developing leaders.
The framework is a loop of four moves: learn the principles of innovation, apply them to a real business challenge, reflect on the outcome and embed what works in your own organisation.
Practical and Actionable
Frameworks such as design thinking and agile, ready to use at work.
Relevant to Vietnam
Shaped by the dynamic market conditions organisations in Vietnam face.
Learning by Making
Participants prototype, test and iterate rather than just talk.
The innovation learning cycle
- 1. LearnCore leadership principles
- 2. ExploreCase studies and discussion
- 3. PractiseRole-plays and simulations
- 4. ReflectSelf-assessment and journaling
- 5. ApplyReal-world projects
- 6. GrowMentoring and peer support
Key learning outcomes
From knowledge to lasting leadership impact.
By the end of this programme, participants will be able to:
- 01
Spot opportunities
Recognise emerging opportunities and the problems most worth solving at work.
- 02
Generate ideas
Apply design thinking and creativity techniques to produce varied, original options.
- 03
Choose wisely
Prioritise ideas with structured frameworks, data and sound judgement.
- 04
Test and learn
Design quick experiments and iterate on the results.
- 05
Make it safe to try
Foster a climate where risk-taking is supported and failure teaches.
- 06
Make ideas happen
Lead a tested idea through implementation with clear accountability.
Innovation grows where curiosity is rewarded and every failed experiment leaves the team a little wiser.
Example exercises and tools
Learn by doing.
Practical exercises, frameworks and real business scenarios let participants discover opportunities, develop ideas and prove them on a small scale before making larger commitments.
Exercises mirror situations Vietnamese leaders may face, from guiding an established business through digital transformation to helping a startup respond to a sudden market shift or organising a corporate innovation team around Scrum or Kanban. Participants take one challenge of their own through the design thinking stages to a tested prototype and leave with a roadmap for leading it at work.
User Interviews
Put yourself in the user’s shoes by interviewing a peer about a real frustration.
Assumption Busting
Test the hidden assumptions in a workflow and drop those that no longer hold.
Rapid Prototyping
Build a rough prototype quickly and refine it after feedback.
Idea Pitch
Pitch your idea briefly and respond to probing questions.
Assessment
Assessment and learning progress.
A mix of steps before, during and after the programme keeps learning relevant and turns it into action.
Before the training
Share your goals and team context.
Agree the objectives and focus areas.
Confirm the format, timing and group.
During the training
Role-plays, simulations and practical exercises.
Feedback from experienced leaders as skills develop.
Group discussion and reflection.
After the training
A personal action plan for the workplace.
Self-assessment and guided journaling to track progress.
Ongoing learning through peers, mentors and the alumni network.
Workplace application
Relevant to your context.
Participants put the methods to work on real challenges in organisations across Vietnam, from refining one workflow to launching a digital service.
- Process ImprovementStreamline processes with agile practices.
- New ServicesDesign user-centred products and services.
- Pilot ProjectsPrototype and pilot before scaling.
- Team BrainstormsLead workshops that generate ideas.
- Growth OpportunitiesTurn market trends into opportunities.
- Social ImpactAddress social challenges with new ideas.
Let’s discuss your requirements
Request a Customised Leadership Programme.
Talk to our team about how this course can be tailored for your organisation in Vietnam or other locations worldwide.
- Share your priorities
- Receive a tailored proposal
- Explore delivery options
Adapting for Vietnam
Adapting the programme for Vietnamese organisations.
We tailor the course so it reflects your people, your sector and the context you work in.
Local case studies
Examples and case studies drawn from leaders in Vietnam.
Cultural awareness
Content that respects cultural nuances and builds inclusive environments.
Community focus
Projects that address real local and community issues.
Industry and organisation focus
Examples, terminology and scenarios from your sector.
Delivery worldwide
Flexible delivery across Vietnam and worldwide.
We deliver this programme in Vietnam and in other locations worldwide, with flexible formats and options to suit your organisation.
- In-person
- Virtual
- Blended
At Your Workplace
In-house sessions at your office in Vietnam.
A Venue You Choose
Delivered at a training venue that suits your team.
Live Online
Interactive virtual sessions wherever your people are.
Across Countries
Programmes coordinated across several locations worldwide.
Client experiences
What our participants say.
Word-for-word feedback from participants at organisations in Singapore. Read all reviews
Yes, particularly for beginners who need a clear, structured way to start organizing workplace information.
Learning how to translate high-level company strategy into clear, measurable operational targets for our teams.
Yes, it serves as an excellent starting point for teams managing cross-cultural integration.
Yes, since learning how to think critically is essential for both daily work tasks and personal decision-making.
Yes, I would recommend it. Gaining a clear framework on communication styles is highly useful for de-escalating tough client situations
Yes, because it helped me learn the basics of critical thinking to generate new ideas, analyze articles, and make arguments.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this course.
What is the main focus of this course?
How to lead innovation: recognising opportunities, generating and testing ideas with design thinking and agile methods, and building a culture that supports experimentation and change, applied to real challenges in Vietnam.
What topics does the course cover?
Twelve units in three stages: thinking like an innovator (innovation mindset, spotting opportunities, testing assumptions, diverse perspectives), from idea to experiment (generating ideas, design thinking, selecting ideas, testing ideas fast) and leading innovation (vision and inspiration, room to experiment, collaborative teams, from pilot to practice).
Who should attend this course?
Executives, managers, team leaders, entrepreneurs and startup founders, educators, aspiring leaders and public sector and NGO leaders who are passionate about driving innovation.
Is the course suitable for new or first-time leaders?
Yes. Aspiring leaders gain a practical toolkit for drawing out ideas, while experienced leaders learn to embed innovation in structures and culture.
Is the course practical or theory-based?
It combines frameworks with plenty of practice. Participants apply design thinking and agile methods to a real challenge, build a prototype, pitch it and learn from case studies across industries.
How long is the course?
The standard course runs over 2 full days, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It can also be delivered as a 1-day, half-day, 90-minute or 60-minute session.
Can the course be customised for our organisation?
Yes. We can adapt the content, examples and format to your goals, industry and team. See Customized Corporate Training for how we tailor programmes.
Can we use examples from our own industry?
Yes. We design and deliver our courses with subject matter experts in each field. Tell us about your industry, context and terminology when you enquire, and it will be taken into account.
Can we combine this course with other topics?
Yes. We can combine related topics into one programme or build a learning pathway across several sessions and levels.
Is this course available outside Vietnam?
Yes. We deliver this programme in other countries worldwide, in person or live online, and can coordinate it across several locations.
What delivery options are available?
In person at your workplace or a venue you choose, live online, or a blend of both.
What kind of exercises and activities are included?
Empathy interviews, assumption tests, timed ideation workshops, rapid prototyping, idea pitches, case studies of successful innovations and a personal roadmap, with feedback throughout.
Do participants receive mentoring during the course?
Yes. Participants receive mentorship and constructive feedback from experienced leaders throughout the course.
Will participants build a professional network?
Yes. Participants connect with fellow participants, build mentoring relationships with facilitators and guest speakers, and can join an alumni network for ongoing learning.
How does the course support personal growth?
Through regular self-assessment and reflection, guided journaling to track progress and set goals, and techniques for mindfulness and stress management.
Is the course relevant to the Vietnamese context?
Yes. It is designed for leaders in Vietnam’s fast-paced, competitive business environment, with case studies and exercises on market shifts, digital transformation and innovation.
Which cities in Vietnam can the course be delivered in?
We can deliver it in cities across Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Can Tho, Bien Hoa and Hue, and other cities on request. We also offer a full range of leadership courses in Vietnam.
Can we download a course brochure?
Yes. Download our course brochure for an overview of our training programmes.
How do we request a proposal?
Share your goals and requirements through the enquiry form on this page. Our team replies within one business day with suggestions and a tailored proposal.
Who can we contact about this course?
Email [email protected], call +65 6714 6663 or use the enquiry form on this page. We reply within one business day.
Next steps
From enquiry to delivery.
A simple, transparent process from your first message to the training day.
- 1
Enquiry
Share your training needs and priorities.
- 2
Consultation
We discuss and refine the scope with you.
- 3
Proposal
Receive a tailored proposal with delivery options.
- 4
Confirm
Review, adjust and agree the details.
- 5
Delivery
We deliver the programme for your team.
Get in touch
Get in touch about this course.
Tell us about your team and goals, and we will recommend the right format for your organisation in Vietnam. Fill in the form or contact our team directly.
- Email us[email protected]
- Call us+65 6714 6663
- Quick replyWe get back to you within one business day.
- Ask before you commitTalk to our team about the right course and format for your needs.
This course is customisable
We can tailor the content, examples and activities to your team’s industry, goals and workplace context. Explore Customized Training
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