Piers Ibbotson

Biography

In 1990 I became an Assistant Director with the Royal Shakespeare Company working alongside some of the best directing talent in the British theatre. It was this experience, observing the techniques and approaches of directors, working to tight deadlines with dynamic creative groups that began my interest in the transfer of skills from the Arts to Business. I set up my own training and development consultancy in 1998 and became a regular contributor to senior management programmes in the UK and around the world, introducing leaders and senior managers to concepts and techniques from the creative arts. I worked with the leading management consultancies and with CEO''s and senior management teams from companies such as, adidas, WPP group, BP, Allen and Overy, Severstal, Mastercard, and many others. I have been a regular contributor to courses at the London Business School and the Said Business School University of Oxford. In 2008 I published "The Illusion of leadership - Directing Creativity in Business and the Arts" (Palgrave Macmillan). I trained originally as a geologist and worked in the oil industry for a number of years before entering the theatre in 1980 where I had a successful career as a performer, working at the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company as well as making appearances in TV and film.

Research Interests

I am interested in human behaviour and what the performing arts can teach us about the moment to moment management of ourselves and others in the workplace. I have a particular interest in, leadership, creativity and the creative process, leading for innovation, and small group interactions as well as the techniques and challenges of effective face-to face communication.
I am particularly interested in the ways in which the humanities and the performing arts can be integrated into the business school curriculum.

Teaching in 2018-2019

Distance Learning MBA

• IB9FJP: Leadership

Executive MBA

• IB9FJ0: Leadership

Human Resource Management & Employment Relations

• IB9EZ0: Leading and Managing People

MSc Business

• IB9FC0: Current Issues in Leadership

Undergraduate

• IB0060: Academic Practice
• IB1390: CORE Practice: Shaping your future self
• IB2380: Organisational Analysis

Distance Learning MBA

• IB9FJP: Leadership

Executive MBA

• IB9FJ0: Leadership

Human Resource Management & Employment Relations

• IB9EZ0: Leading and Managing People

MSc Business

• IB9FC0: Current Issues in Leadership

Undergraduate

• IB0060: Academic Practice
• IB1390: CORE Practice: Shaping your future self
• IB2380: Organisational Analysis