THE VICE PRESIDENT’S PRACTICE

Earn the Board's Confidence

Make your judgement stand up to scrutiny.

Prepare for the questions behind the board pack. Show command of performance, acknowledge uncertainty and make a clear request for a decision.

100% onlineGuided specialist lab€590 per participantApplications open

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Illustrative scene: a vice president in her late forties standing beside a concise financial exhibit in a formal boardroom, responding thoughtfully to a question from two older board directors, with a marked-up decision brief on the table.

YOUR LEARNING OUTCOMES

What you will be able to do.

Vice presidents and directors with recurring board or executive-committee exposure.

Distinguish oversight questions from operational detail and state the decision, authority and timing required.
Reconcile the headline metrics, explain variances and identify the assumptions that could change your recommendation.
Rehearse questions on cost, risk and accountability; answer directly and make uncertainty explicit.
Build the decision brief, agree follow-up evidence and set commitments you can defend at the next review.

WHAT YOU WILL CREATE

A board decision brief, evidence appendix and rehearsal plan for difficult questions.

IN PRACTICE

A situation you could face.

Your transformation is behind plan. The board has heard optimistic updates before and wants to know whether to keep funding it. Present the facts, explain your choices and secure a decision without hiding the gap.

YOUR TASK

A board decision brief, evidence appendix and rehearsal plan for difficult questions.

Illustrative learning scenario.

CURRICULUM

Your learning path.

4 modules

Understand the board’s decision

Distinguish oversight questions from operational detail and state the decision, authority and timing required.

Know your numbers and their limits

Reconcile the headline metrics, explain variances and identify the assumptions that could change your recommendation.

Handle challenge with judgement

Rehearse questions on cost, risk and accountability; answer directly and make uncertainty explicit.

Close with a credible commitment

Build the decision brief, agree follow-up evidence and set commitments you can defend at the next review.

THE EXPERIENCE

Practice with a purpose.

100% onlineNo in-person attendance required.

Case-based learning with practical working materials and feedback on your decisions. Your invitation confirms the teaching format, contributors, timetable and review scope.

Understand the decision

Define the question and the evidence a useful answer needs.

Test your judgement

Apply the method to a realistic case and explain your choices.

Review the quality

Use explicit criteria to judge the result and improve the work.

ABOUT YOUR APPLICATION

Before you apply.

Are courses delivered online?

Course materials, exercises and any included coaching or live sessions are delivered online. No in-person attendance required.

Each programme specifies its pace and included support. Your invitation confirms any scheduled sessions and their timing.

Why do I need to apply?

We review your background and any goals or motivation you choose to share to assess programme fit. There is no payment when you apply.

How do intakes work?

We welcome new participants in intakes over time. Apply for access and we will email you when the next intake opens for this programme.

When can I start?

We will confirm the start date, what is included and the fee when we invite you to join. You can then decide whether to take part. Applying does not give you immediate course access.

What does the fee cover?

Case-based learning with practical working materials and feedback on your decisions. Your invitation confirms the teaching format, contributors, timetable and review scope. The €590 shown is an estimated fee per person. We will confirm what is included, the final price and any applicable taxes before you decide to join.

Will I receive a certificate?

Your invitation will explain what you need to complete, how your work will be assessed and whether the programme includes a certificate. Any Academy certificate is separate from an accredited academic qualification.

Who is behind the Academy?

Scipio Academy draws on practical expertise from senior alumni of McKinsey, BCG and Bain. We will share details of the programme contributors and reviewers with your invitation. The firms do not sponsor or endorse these programmes.