Business leadership and management graduates recognised at celebratory event

An inaugural celebratory event was held at the University of Wolverhampton’s Business School to recognise the achievements of the first cohort of the WMCA (West Midlands Combined Authority) Strategic Leadership course.  

Held on 16 December, the celebration focused on the achievements of the first participants who successfully completed this course designed to nurture future leaders in the region. 

The event brought together graduates, academic staff and industry stakeholders to reflect on the impact the Executive Education within the Business School can have in the region.    

The course is aimed at equipping professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate complex challenges and drive meaningful change in their organisations and communities. 

One student who graduated was Sangamesh Vadagave. Sangamesh said: “The WMCA Strategic Leadership course has been truly transformative. It gave me the confidence to tackle leadership challenges with a fresh perspective and a strategic mindset.  

“The leadership group sessions were one of the most valuable opportunities in the course to really reflect and share challenges. It allowed us to embed the module learning and gave us a safe space to be open while motivating us to see different perspectives and try new ideas.”  

The event also saw local leaders speak about leadership in its different formats and how to apply this to industries. Speakers included Rachel Barlow, Managing Director of the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital Programme Company, who spoke about the early benefits of opening a new hospital.  

Rik Klair, a retired Police Superintendent from West Mercia Police, spoke about pushing boundaries and diversity: a dynamic leader from West Mercia Police. Kate Terry, from WMCA, discussed the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Higher Level Skills Strategy.  

Rachel said: “I was delighted to share my leadership experience and wanted to share learning in relation to our new care model which is already demonstrating benefits in a major UK health infrastructure project.  

“The leaders attending this event represented many sectors which was of great interest as the Midland Met Health Campus was founded on the principles of education, empowerment, and enrichment, ensuring the communities we serve have the opportunities to choose healthier lifestyles, through job creation, state-of-the-art facilities and educational courses on their doorstep.”  

The event also provided an opportunity to recognise the critical role of the West Midlands Combined Authority in supporting regional talent development. Representatives from WMCA joined the celebration to commend the graduates and underscore their ongoing commitment to fostering leadership that drives economic growth and social progress across the region. 

Sadaf Liaqat, Executive Education Lead at the University, added: “The University of Wolverhampton Business School is proud to be at the forefront of empowering professionals through programmes like the WMCA Strategic Leadership course.  

“As the first cohort embark on the next phase of their careers, the school is eager to build on this success welcoming new participants into future iterations of the programme.”  

For more information about Strategic Leadership and Management courses and other professional development opportunities at the University of Wolverhampton, visit our website.