A Suncorp executive will be heading to Harvard Business School in October, having received one of two scholarships from Chief Executive Women (CEW) to study Disruptive Innovation: Strategies for a Successful Enterprise.
Sharmila Tsourdalakis, Suncorp’s EGM for banking and wealth technology, has been offered the exciting opportunity to take her career to the next level, by learning about some of the world’s most successful disruptors and their strategies. This will allow her to predict how industries, technologies, and competitive forces may affect businesses.
“In an evolving market, technology is fundamentally changing the way businesses operate and enabling new product offerings,” Tsourdalakis said. “Attending Harvard is an amazing opportunity and will cement my professional learning [and] strategic thinking, as well as broaden my capability across disruptive innovation. The program will also underpin future opportunities as we explore closer collaboration with fintech startups in Queensland and aim to foster innovation in the financial services industry.”
Colleen Harris, CEW scholarships committee chair, said “mastering innovation is a critical skill for leaders in the 21st century” and that the “scholarship will help Sharmila take her knowledge of disruptive innovation to a whole new level.”
“Acquiring the right skills at the right time can make all the difference in the careers of talented executive women,” Harris said. “CEW’s scholarship program supports women leaders by providing opportunities to hone their skills at some of the world’s top international business schools.”
Hilary Goodier, director of Herbert Smith Freehills’ Alternative Legal Services business (ALT) in Australia and director of its global technology practice, was the other recipient of the scholarship.
