TEACHING THE BOSS TO UNLOCK GROWTH POTENTIAL

THE University of South Australia is hoping to unlock the growth potential of small-to-medium businesses around the country through a new development program sponsored by ANZ Bank.

Companies generating $5 million to $50 million are those with the most to benefit from the curriculum which seeks to teach CEOs how to manage business growth in a seminar style environment.

"Our program is aimed at companies which have a product, a key market, some revenue and some net profitability who have either hit a speed bump, or are on a fast growth spurt that they want to continue with," says Dr Jana Matthews, director of the program.

Community living and complex needs provider SACARE has joined the program, alongside the Precise Advanced Manufacturing Group and cleaning systems specialist Dominant, all flying colours for the Adelaide business sector within the current group of 10 participants in the program Australia-wide.

Matthews says the program was created to foster a growth-focused leadership mindset within Australian executives, bridging the gap of experience that exists between starting entrepreneurs and successful corporate CEOs.

"Many universities will often teach how to work in a large corporation, but don't necessarily teach how to work in a small growth environment which is an entirely different species altogether," says Matthews.

"We guide people through learning how to delegate, hire the right people, plan effectively, hold each other accountable to decisions, trust and communicate."

Over the course of a series of three-day modules, participants identify the challenges facing their business and discuss the solutions they plan to implement in an environment which ensures peer accountability and support from professionals with practical industry experience.