Vertical Development Open Course with Alis Anagnostakis
April 8 @ 9:00 am - April 10 @ 5:00 pm
Traditional learning focuses on what people know and what they can do. But in a world where business challenges are becoming more complex, simply knowing more is no longer enough.
Leaders need to develop how they think, how they make decisions, and how they adapt to uncertainty.
The Vertical Development Open Course with Alis Anagnostakis, PhD shifts the focus from knowledge transfer to how leaders process and apply knowledge in real-world complexity. Built on the latest research in adult development, this program provides practical tools to help HR and People & Culture professionals design learning strategies that foster real leadership growth.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
→ Understand the difference between horizontal and vertical development and why both are critical for leadership effectiveness.
→ Learn how to measure and accelerate vertical development in individuals, teams, and organisations.
→ Gain a research-backed framework for designing learning programs that integrate both knowledge and mindset evolution.
→ Apply vertical development principles to a real-life organisational learning project in your L&D strategy.
→ Leave with practical tools to build a learning culture that prepares leaders for complexity, adaptability, and long-term impact.
HORIZONTAL VS. VERTICAL DEVELOPMENT
Horizontal Development – What we know: knowledge, information, tools.
Vertical Development – How we make sense of reality: applying what we know at the right time, in the right way, for the right purpose, with the right people.
“Alis’ work has brought clarity to how we support leaders in developing their inner capacities to exercise more wisdom. Her research provides rare, evidence-based approaches for designing leadership education programs that accelerate psychological maturity. We need more contributions like hers—without them, practitioners would be left to guess.”
— Mike Vierow, Former Dean of McKinsey Academy Australia & New Zealand
AGENDA
8-10 April, BISM HQ
Day 1 – The Foundations of Vertical Development
- Vertical vs. Horizontal Development and why it matters
- Stages and lines of development
- Exploring our individual developmental journey (Shifting Horizons assessment)
Day 2 – Applying Vertical Development to Teams and Organisations
- Individual and collective immunity to change
- Principles for developmental program design
- Supporting the vertical development of teams
Day 3 – Creating a Sustainable Development Culture
- Measuring vertical development
- Applying the developmental framework to your own learning strategy – creating a pilot program
- The role of HR in fostering a developmental culture
ENROLLEMNT
The tuition fee is 1350 EUR + VAT. The BISM community members have 150 euro discount. Other discounts available. See in the registration form.
SPEAKER
Alis Anagnostakis, PhD – Founder of the Vertical Development Institute and Adjunct Fellow at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia. With over 17 years of experience in leadership development, executive coaching, and research, Alis specializes in translating adult development science into practical, high-impact learning programs.
Her PhD research explored how leaders evolve through transformational experiences, offering an evidence-based approach to leadership growth. She is also a lecturer in the Strategic Growth Management Program, where she teaches the Inner Growth for Adaptive Leadership module.
REGISTRATION
This isn’t just another training—it’s a new way of thinking about leadership development.
If you’re serious about shaping the future of learning in your organisation, this is where you start.
Places are limited—register below.