TALENT ACADEMY EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME

CONCEPT

The Talent Academy Executive Programme is more than just another training; it’s a strategic investment in your career. With a focus on globally recognised standards, our programme is locally delivered, at an affordable price, allowing you and your team to contribute to and consistently align the management of people with the business strategy. It will show you how to define talent management as a source of value creation, understand HR as a strategic activity and not just an administrative support function.

Designed by Connect-CEE to be immediately practical, the programme uses case studies, experiential tools, and group interactions to ensure that learning is both interactive and relevant. Move beyond disconnected tactics, coordinate activities for genuine impact upon performance. The 5th edition will take place between September - November 2025.

The executive programme follows a validated curriculum by The University of Buckingham – Transilvania Executive Education (TEE)’s educational partner, the institution which will issue the graduation certificate upon submitting the assignments included in the curriculum.

TARGET GROUP

This programme brings together a diverse group of professionals whose results depend on the performance of others, ensuring a rich learning environment and valuable practical experience sharing throughout:

  • Industry: Any industry
  • Mid-level and senior specialists
  • HR and Organizational Development Managers
  • Entrepreneurs and Business Managers
  • Team leaders and Project Coordinators
  • Professionals involved in Change Management
  • Aspiring leaders looking to expand their competencies in HR and strategic leadership

CONTENT

Based on feedback received from past participants, this programme has been carefully designed to address the real-world challenges and priorities faced by executives in today’s business environment. The content reflects the practical needs identified by learners and aligns with current trends in leadership and organisational development.

Strategic Contribution: Get a proven toolkit to develop an integrated approach to improving performance across your organization that is rooted in and sustains your business strategy.

Enhance Skillset for Business Growth: Elevate your capabilities, fostering your potential to contribute significantly to the success of your organization and fast-forward your career.

Overcoming Business Obstacles: Closing the Knowledge Gap: Planning is not strategy. A plan is how to structure the delivery of a strategy to create value that is informed by analytical insights. This programme provides a structured means of learning how to develop a strategy for managing people that sustains broader business strategy.

Application-Driven Learning: Participants will apply their newfound knowledge through short assignments, utilizing their workplace as a case study. This ensures that learning is not just theoretical but directly applicable and provides immediate benefits to the business.

The Talent Academy will start on Wednesday, 24th September, and will take place in Cluj-Napoca. The programme includes:

  • 6 face-to-face modules delivered over 3 months
  • 2 modules scheduled each month
  • Each module will take place on Wednesday and Thursday (2 consecutive days)
  • Teaching hours: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM (including the lunch break)
  • Assignments will be submitted after every module
  • Graduation diploma from The University of Buckingham upon completion

The learning experience will be based upon an initial explanation of a theory or model, followed by group discussions, and case studies to ensure that participants both understand and can apply knowledge. Over time participants will be encouraged to join up models and ideas across modules to develop a richer and more critical approach to work. After every module, an assignment will be given to the participants. Teaching and the materials available for study will be in English.

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WHO IS DELIVERING THE PROGRAMME

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Dr. ANDREW TAYLOR - Managing Director @CONNECT CEE, EMBA Programme Director @Transilvania Executive Education

The 6 modules are facilitated by Dr. Andrew Taylor, founder of Connect-CEE and Director of TEE Executive MBA programme. Andrew has 30 years of international business experience, as a head-hunter, management consultant, business school lecturer and learning facilitator. From Hong Kong to Toronto to Singapore his skills are valued by many companies. Most clients associate Andrew with using a charismatic and inspirational style of consulting that is demanding, motivational and effective.

Andrew has several academic publications:

In the last four years, he contributed to the delivery of the TEE Executive MBA modules on Leadership and Organisational Change, People and Perfomance, and Complexity and Strategic Disruption.

Participants’ insights

"When you believe you know everything, the courses at Talent Academy prove that you still have a lot to learn. I can’t wait for our next meeting."

"The Talent Academy course is very challenging. Module by module I realize I have a lot to learn. The course is deeply anchored in everyday reality so I really can apply the knowledge at the job."

“If you are an HR professional looking to elevate your business acumen understanding, then I would highly recommend this programme. I would describe this as an enlightening experience, highly concentrated, with a wide range of useful examples, not only theoretical, but also practical. Talent Academy is delivered in such a way to offer you a glimpse of what an EMBA program would look like. For me, this was also the decisive point to enroll afterwards into the EMBA program with University of Buckingham.”

"When I started the Talent Academy with Andrew I was a bit sceptical because I already went to such a program via KPMG some years ago and I was not sure what could turn out to be new. I was pleasantly surprised to discover a very dedicated and compassionate facilitator, teacher, researcher, and co-partner in learning. The modules delivered by Andrew are very actual and spot on for the struggles IT companies have in Cluj these days and offers proven solutions for my needs and questions. Andrew managed to bring together cool professionals united in curiosity for the latest trends, the need to learn from a group experience, and very funny British humour. I am grateful to be part of this programme and to have the opportunity to team up with Andrew in solving whatever questions might this discovery process raised".

“I am delighted to write this endorsement for Andy, who has been an outstanding professor for the Talent Academy course. Andy's teaching style has a unique blend of humour, thought-provoking discussions, and challenging questions that has made the learning experience enriching. He has a remarkable ability to make complex concepts accessible and engaging. He creates an environment where participants are encouraged to think critically and explore new ideas and I highly recommend this programme for people in HR or People Operations roles.”

“After more than 15 years in the HR field, I thought that not too many things might be new when you take part in a training program. With Talent Academy I was very happy to discover that every session brought a lot of new and useful information. Thank you, Andy!”

“Talent Academy offers 6 very concentrated sessions of knowledge which should be attended by any dedicated HR professional who finds him/herself in a strategic position.”

“This training was very useful for me, and offered me a new and complex perspective of my professional world.”

“After attending the Talent Academy programme, I was truly impressed by the impact it had on my personal development and professional growth. One key takeaway is how the precise use of HR terminology can elevate your influence and position you as a strategic partner at the decision-making table. This insight has been invaluable in my day-to-day HR activities. The program not only equipped me with a deeper understanding of HR strategy but also provided practical tools and strategies to implement in my day to day activity. One of the most beneficial aspects of the programme was its focus on value creation, emphasizing the alignment of HR practices with overall business objectives. Looking ahead, I am eager to apply the knowledge gained from the Talent Academy to drive organizational success and sustainable growth. The program has given me the confidence and skills needed to contribute significantly to our HR strategies and overall business objectives. I am excited about the future and the positive impact I can make as an HR professional.”

PROGRAMME ENDORSED BY

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Participants’ insights

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