Programme overview

Learning Outcomes

The 2 month learning experience will comprise:

• Thee Core Modules – each grounded in addressing the leadership gaps, the realities of hospitality operating environments and overarching strategic context.
• Psychometric Assessment – participants will complete an assessment to gain insights into their leadership style
• Reflection Journals – supporting the transfer of learning into daily leadership practice.
• Peer Engagement – to build networks, shared understanding, and mutual accountability.

On completion of the programme, leaders will have:

• A greater self awareness and emotional intelligence, enhanced strategic leadership capabilities
• Enhanced conflict management skills and skills to lead courageous conversations
• Thorough understanding and appreciation of the importance of financial management for hospitality leaders
• Established a greater sense of accountability, responsibility and ownership for their own personal development, role modelling behaviours and leadership
• Established a strong collaborative network of leaders as well as empathy for each other’s individual context
• A deeper understanding of leading change and managing complexity in a VUCA world

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for leaders and managers working within the restaurant and hospitality industry. It caters to individuals who are currently in management roles or are aspiring to advance into such positions within this specific sector.

Entry Requirements

• Entry to the programme is based on the applicant holding a Level 8 degree with a classification of Second Class Honours, and having at least five years’ work experience, a minimum of three of which is at managerial level.  Standard University RPL regulations apply. 
• Each applicant whose first language is not English is required to show evidence of the successful completion of an IELTS or TOEFL test. The English language requirement for this programme is an IELTS or equivalent score of 6.5 and minimum individual sections 6.0. 

  Prior workplace learning is recognised where applicants do not meet the academic requirement (a form has to be filled out for this). This experience may come from a general business or organisational background, or experience working at a management level or in the area specifically related to the programme.

Application Process

1. Participants will complete an application form and apply directly to RHS Skillnet & Irish Hospitality Institute.
2. Successful applicants will be notified by RHS Skillnet.
3. Successful applicants will be required to complete an application via the UCC to be awarded the micro-credential.

Module 1 Strategic Leadership Essentials

Credit weighting: 5
Teaching & Learning Model: 3 x 1 day Workshops
Independent learning including engagement in assessment tasks

Module Objective:
This three day module will explore principles of effective leadership and management. It aims to close the gap between management skills and leadership acumen and explores diverse leadership styles and strategies.

Module Content:
• Leadership Fundamentals: Explores the essence of leadership, including its meaning and the traits that characterise effective leaders.
• Leadership Styles & Models: Participants will explore different theories and models, gaining insights into diverse approaches, from trait and behavioural theories to transformational and servant leadership
• Leadership & Organisational Impact: Understanding the impact of leadership on organisational performance and the critical role leaders play in shaping an organisation’s success.
• Employee Engagement & Motivation: Learn about the psychological states and behaviours associated with employee engagement, focusing on how leaders can motivate and engage their teams to drive performance and success.

Module 2 Finance for Non-Financial Managers

Credit weighting: /
Teaching & Learning Model: 1 x 1 day Workshop

Module Objective:
This one day workshop will look at building financial acumen and equip leaders with the essential skills to understand and interpret financial data. It will explore financial concepts, enabling participants to understand how finance impacts every aspect of an organisation.

Module Content:
The module will explore the following themes:
• Understanding annual and management accounts
• Interpreting the balance sheet, understanding ratios
• Evaluating companies’ performance
• Managing cash-flow
• Look at the importance of understanding financial data in the context of strategic decision making in an organisation

Module 3 Strategic People Management

Credit weighting: 5
Teaching & Learning Model: 3 x 1 day Workshops

Module Objective:
This three day module will enable leaders to adopt a more strategic approach as you learn how to build a culture in your organisation focused on learning, adapting and executing with excellence. The module will enable you to enhance the performance and capabilities of your organisation through your people.

Module Content:
The module will provide you with key insights into:
• the procedures and principles of strategically managing people.
• how to harness the power of your people as you learn how to build a culture based on learning
• adapting to change and executing with excellence.
• how to develop and implement HR strategy, and evaluate your organisation’s HR processes.
• how to integrate leadership and HR, manage your team’s performance and strategies to engage employees.
• Facilitated peer coaching team

Assessment & Certification

Module 1  Strategic Leadership Essentials

Summative Assessment:
Written Case Study Analysis 100%

Module 2 Finance for Non-Financial Managers

No Summative Assessment

Module 3 Strategic People Management

Summative Assessment:
Written Case Study Analysis 100%

The programme will be marked out of 100% and all assignments must be submitted for assessment. To pass the programme an aggregate pass mark (40%) must be achieved for each module and an overall pass mark of 40% for the programme .All assignments will be graded according to a scheme aligned to the percentage bands in the following table.

Percentage Grade & Award Classification

• 70-100 First Class Honours
• 60-69 Second Class Honours, Grade 1 (2:1)
• 50-59 Second Class Honours, Grade 2 (2:2)
• 40-49 Pass
• 39 or below Fail

IMI micro credentials are validated and awarded by UCC, National University of Ireland, at level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications.

**By completing micro credentials, participants can work towards achievieng the full Level 9 award – IMI Diploma/UCC Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership. It is validated by UCC at level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications, worth 60 credits. Each modules will carry a weighting of 5 credits on the NFQ framework. Assessment is through a range of case study analyses, reflective learning logs, projects and or and presentation**

Training Provider

Irish Management Institute

Since its inception over 70 years ago, IMI has remained focused on building a strategically driven, high-quality executive education organisation. Our reputation is founded on delivering exceptional service, with consistent attention to detail and a deeply embedded client-centric ethos. Over the past 15 years, IMI has successfully delivered complex, large-scale customised leadership programmes of similar scope, quality, and strategic importance. This best-in-class team will embody IMI’s client-first approach and bring deep expertise in leadership development, enriched by extensive global experience with high-performing organisations. The IMI faculty will also ensure that all learning is highly practical and focused on real-world application and impact.

Programme Director & Lead Facilitator: Helen O’Leary

Helen O’Leary is a recognised leadership and business consultant, mentor, coach and executive trainer and works extensively across public and private businesses in developing leadership skills and commercial talent to enable organisations to realise their strategic ambitions.

Helen spent two decades working with global luxury hotel brands Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and The Doyle Collection across Ireland, the UK and the USA in various leadership roles. In 2016, Helen began working as a consultant, sharing her experiences in leadership and commercial business strategy and helping to develop high performing teams within businesses through a combination of advisory, mentoring, coaching and group facilitation.

Helen’s approach is founded on understanding the goals of the individual and the organisation and bringing a deeply insightful but practical approach to problem solving. Helen believes that organisational greatness can be enabled by unlocking the potential of the individual and the team, she promotes excellent communication as a core enabler to help people align their best efforts to deliver sustainable results.

Helen’s experience reaches across private and public sector and focusses on both organisational and unit transformation, supporting businesses through the change process.

Helen is a member of the associate faculty with the IMI in Dublin and ACE in UCC, amongst other academic institutions, and has lectured on commercial and leadership topics at diploma and master’s level.

Programme Faculty: Nina Noonan

Nina is one of IMI’s most assured and accomplished Programme Directors and Facilitators. Nina has extensive Programme Direction and Facilitation experience of public sector and state agency leadership development programmes, with a signature understanding of the importance of culture and context. Nina has also acted as Programme Director for significant IMI programmes at National Mentor Programme, Alexion, Ornua, FSAI, Smurfit Kappa and our award winning Graduate Consortia programmes. Nina has been working with national and multinational organisations across many sectors for the last 27 years. She has worked both internally and in a consulting role; assisting in the development of management and leadership capabilities that deliver business results.

Working with leaders at all levels, Nina’s focus is on making leadership theory practical and applicable. Her training programmes and coaching sessions help current leaders to introduce real positive change in the way they interact with their teams. She is a Master Trainer, qualified executive coach & DiSC trainer, and also holds qualification.

Programme Schedule

• Introduction and Orientation (virtual)
  • 16th December 2025 10am via Zoom

• Strategic Leadership Micro-credential

  • Day 1 and day 2: 2 x face to face days – Thursday January 15 & Friday January 16, 2026

  • Day 3: 1 x online day – Tuesday 27 January 2026
    Facilitated by Helen O’Leary.

• Finance for Non Financial Managers 

  • Day 4 – 1 x face to face day – Tuesday 17th February 2026Facilitated by Kery Lee Hamman.

• Strategic People Management

  • Day 5: Day 1 – Strategic Teams HRM Face to face. Wednesday 18th February 2026.Facilitated by Shelley Crawford.

  • Day 6: Day 2- Teams micro Cred – Face to face. Tuesday 31st March 2026.

  • Day 7: Day 3 Teams micro Cred- Face to face. Wednesday 1st April 2026. Facilitated by Nina Noonan.

• Capstone

  • 2 hours – Face to Face. Wednesday 1st April 2026 Closing Session.

    Faciliated by Helen O’Leary.

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