What is StellarHE?

StellarHE is a transformative leadership journey for Black, Asian and Racially Diverse leaders in Higher Education who are ready to expand their influence, lead with confidence, and shape what comes next.

This six-month programme is designed for those navigating the realities of leading within predominantly majority-culture institutions. It equips you with the mindset, capability and leadership presence to increase your impact and thrive at the next level.

At its core, StellarHE is grounded in the belief that difference is a source of strength and leadership intelligence. You will deepen your authentic leadership, build the confidence to lead across boundaries, and strengthen your ability to influence complex organisational systems.

This is a space to reflect, stretch and step forward — supporting you to navigate your career with clarity and intention, and to prepare for expanded roles by leading more fully as yourself.

You are also joining a growing community of Stellar Fellows: Racially Diverse leaders who lead boldly across difference, challenge limiting norms, and use their lived experience to create meaningful impact in Higher Education and beyond.

What are the objectives of StellarHE?

StellarHE is designed to help you:

• Clarify your purpose, ambition and direction, strengthening your readiness for expanded leadership and career progression
• Shift the mindsets and behaviours that will increase your confidence, influence and leadership impact
• Deepen your authentic leadership, exploring leadership through the lived experience of race and difference in Higher Education
• Build the capability to challenge limiting norms, enabling you to lead change with credibility and integrity across difference

What StellarHE is NOT

This leadership experience is not about ‘helping you fix yourself or fit into existing norms. StellarHE focuses on ‘your difference is a positive, value-added strength’ and on helping you learn how to progress in a system as an empowered, authentic leader.

What will we cover?

Your programme is made up of 8 bespoke leadership modules that have been specifically designed with you in mind and build on cutting-edge leadership thinking and evidence-based action research of Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse leaders’ lived experience.

In addition, you’ll also be asked to do several Leadership Assessments, designed to help you reflect on your leadership. You will also receive two Borderless Executive Coaching Sessions, created to coach the ‘whole leader’ and all aspects of your difference.

To realise our ambition, there will be three programme outputs:

1. Line-of-Sight Review: an in-depth ‘live audit’ of your HEI in relation to race diversity
2. Leadership Signature: a personal summary of who you are as a StellarHE Leader
3. StellarHE Leadership Challenge: the ‘change’ you have been called to respond

What is the outcome?

By the end of your StellarHE journey you will:

• Have a clear vision of the values-driven leader you are becoming, with greater confidence in the skills, mindset and behaviours needed to extend your influence.
• Feel empowered and equipped to take ownership of your career, with clarity on next steps and a practical plan for progression.
• Be part of a strong community of Racially Diverse leaders in Higher Education, with deeper relationships and an expanded network of peers, allies and future senior leaders across the sector.

Data Handling

We take data handling seriously. Please read our declaration for GDPR here.

Quick links to Virtual Workshops

* In-person workshops (all others are virtual)