Reach the highest level of leadership skills
The only program in Poland for top-level leaders—tackling the toughest challenges: 2026+. The higher up you are in the organization, the fewer problems can be solved using "standard" methods.
Discover the ICAN Executive Power Academy™
The problems you're facing don't have easy answers
Conflicting interests, incomplete information, geopolitics, and dynamic market changes. These are what are known as " wicked problems" — problems that are difficult or impossible to solve using standard methods.
Most often, they concern strategy, conflict resolution, cooperation among board members, stakeholder relations, and ethical decisions.
You can’t solve them by trial and error, or by copying other companies. Why? Because the situational context is always different. Every decision is rooted in a specific time, place, and unique set of risks and opportunities.
Get an inside look at the ICAN Executive Power Academy™
The approaches we've used so far are no longer working—and this is no coincidence
The wisdom of experienced leaders lies in their ability to make intuitive choices. But they have no "theory" to explain why one choice is right and another is not. Their wisdom is not scalable.
That is why a leader’s success depends on the ability to create solutions right here and now, tailored to the unique situation of their company. This is particularly important in a world that presents you with three entirely new challenges:
There is a method that works where others fail
Complex problems require a new approach. Integrative thinking allows you to combine conflicting strategies instead of choosing just one, make decisions despite uncertainty, and create an advantage others see chaos. Instead of choosing between two options, you look for a solution that integrates the best elements of both.
In the ICAN Executive Power Academy™ program, you will learn the specific process and tools of integrative thinking as applied to real-world challenges: strategy, AI, geopolitical tensions, and business scaling.
Program for leaders who are facing decisions regarding great importance and are ready confront their thinking, in order to enter a higher.
Number of spots: limited
A program tailored to the most critical challenges facing leaders in the world of 2026+
Each of the 7 sessions tackles a different aspect of wicked problems — from AI to geopolitics, succession, and ethics.
AI as a wicked strategic problem
Dr. Iwo Zmyślony
Content
- An Introduction to Integrative Thinking — An Approach for Leaders Without Ready-Made Answers.
- AI as a Test of Leadership — How to Effectively Implement AI in Management.
- Why most companies struggle with AI: a lack of understanding of what AI really is—and what it isn't.
- Case studies of companies facing difficult strategic dilemmas.
- Managing Conflicts and Disagreements in Management Teams in the Context of AI.
Session expert
Dr. Iwo Zmyślony — Change and organizational culture designer, design process methodologist, anthropologist specializing in design and new technologies. He advises on change implementation, motivation management during crises, and omnichannel design. Head of HR at the Digital Poland Project Center.
The New Role and Tools of Strategic Forecasting
Andrzej Jacaszek,
DBA & Prof. Bogdan Jacek Góralczyk, Ph.D.
Content
- The biggest mistake leaders make: making decisions as if the future were an extension of the past.
- The difference between risk (which can be estimated) and uncertainty (the lack of reference points).
- Strategic foresight — from forecasting to preparedness.
- Tools: scenario planning, identifying weak signals, "no-regret" actions, developing strategic options.
- How do you manage a company when the existing order is coming to an end but a new one has not yet emerged? The answer lies in war-game simulation methods.
- Geopolitical analysis as an application of strategic foresight principles.
Session experts
Andrzej Jacaszek, DBA — Vice President and Managing Director of the ICAN Institute. Former Deputy Minister of Finance of the Republic of Poland. Strategic management specialist.
Prof. Bogdan Jacek Góralczyk, Ph.D. — Political scientist and sinologist, former Polish ambassador to Thailand, the Philippines, and Myanmar. Professor at the University of Warsaw. Author of seminal works on China and the new global order.
Resolving difficult conflicts and disagreements
Izabela
Stachurska
Content
- Conflicts arising from disagreements over the company's future direction, budget allocation, and investment priorities.
- Five styles of dispute resolution — analysis and selection based on the situation.
- How to identify the sources of misunderstandings and consciously choose strategies.
- Achieving a "win-win" outcome even where differences seem irreconcilable.
- Integrative thinking in conflict resolution: developing solutions that integrate diverse perspectives.
- Introspective workshop session — practicing specific scenarios.
Session expert
Izabela Stachurska — Leadership consultant and trainer, certified coach. Creator of original leadership programs. She co-facilitates The Leadership Circle® certification processes and the Leadership Culture Survey™. ICF Professional Certified Coach.
Teams at the Top (Teams at the Top)
Jacek Gwóźdź &
Paula Sobieszek
Content
- The unique nature of a top-level team—it is not a typical team with a simple chain of command.
- Aligning diverse perspectives toward a single strategic goal.
- Balancing individual aspirations with collective goals among strong personalities.
- Ego, Power, and Diverse Goals: Managing Complex Interpersonal Relationships.
- Creating a collaborative work environment among strong personalities.
Session experts
Jacek Gwóźdź — Former CEO and CFO of DENSO Polska. Over 20 years of experience in organizational management. He has launched production facilities for Stellantis, VW, Audi, and Porsche.
Paula Sobieszek — Expert in strategy and digital transformation. Director of Business Development at Publicis Groupe CEE (20 markets). Certifications: Design Thinking, Generative AI.
Scaling a business as a wicked problem — a billion-dollar breakthrough
Dr. Witold Jankowski
& Krzysztof Folta
Content
- “The Growth No-Man’s-Land” (Doug Tatum) — the stage when a company is no longer a startup, but is not yet a scalable organization.
- Why does what made a company successful stop working as it scales?
- The moment when a leader’s role shifts: from salesperson to organizational architect.
- Case Study: The Transformation of TIM S.A. — Closure of brick-and-mortar warehouses and development of a B2B e-commerce platform. Acquisition by Würth for PLN 1.08 billion.
- The practical decisions that need to be made to transition from the growth stage to scaling.
Session experts
Dr. Witold Jankowski — Founder of the ICAN Institute. One of the most experienced strategic consultants in Europe. Over 30 years of experience (including at AstraZeneca, BNP Paribas, BSH, Shell, and Tauron).
Krzysztof Folta — Founded TIM in 1987 in a 16-square-meter office. Served as CEO for 37 years. In 2013, he closed all brick-and-mortar warehouses and shifted the company’s focus to B2B e-commerce. In 2024, TIM was acquired by Würth for PLN 1.08 billion. EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2020.
Leadership Development and Succession Planning
Anna Connor-Łakomy
& Andrzej Borczyk
Content
- Succession planning as a strategic priority for organizations – why it cannot be put off.
- The role of a leader in shaping a new generation of leaders.
- The Psychology of Resistance: The Fear of Losing Power and Its Impact on Succession Planning.
- Leadership Skills for the Future – How to Anticipate the Needs of a Changing Business Environment
- Integrative thinking in succession planning – reconciling conflicting goals and perspectives.
Session experts
Anna Connor-Łakomy — Trainer, coach, and neuroleadership diagnostician. One of the few certified Neurocolor consultants in Europe. Certified Scrum Master and Assessor.
Andrzej Borczyk — An HR leader with experience at Mars, Diageo, Microsoft, Heineken, and CCC. Former HR Director and Member of the Management Board. Co-founder of HRInfluencers.
Difficult ethical choices: How is the AI revolution shaping business ethics?
Artur Negri &
Sławomir Lachowski
Content
- Ethics as a Strategic Element of Leadership – From Philosophy to Business Practice.
- Ethical challenges of AI – responsible use of data, privacy protection, and algorithmic bias.
- The consequences of ethical lapses – legal risks, loss of trust, and damage to reputation.
- Ethics as a tool for risk management and building relationships with stakeholders.
- Organizational values as a magnet for talent and a source of meaning in the workplace.
Session experts
Artur Negri — Lecturer in critical thinking for the Executive MBA program. Business trainer and coach. Expert in communication and ethics. Former press spokesperson for the Krynica Economic Forum and journalist for Polish Radio.
Sławomir Lachowski — Founder of mBank — Poland’s first online bank. He has established four next-generation retail banks in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Gold Cross of Merit for his contributions to the transformation of the banking sector.
Experts who will share in a closed group what they cannot discuss publicly
Not academics with theories. Practitioners with years of experience.
A prestigious program available only to a carefully selected group of leaders
ICAN Executive Power Academy™ is designed for C-suite executives—CEOs, CFOs, COOs, or other executive-level positions—
Participation is limited to personal, by-name invitations only. We carefully select who joins the program. It is the people and the quality of the conversations that are our greatest asset.
Check if you qualifyDo you feel that the approaches you've used so far are no longer working?
You're looking for methods, not yet another framework—and you're ready to question your assumptions.
You are facing some important decisions
Strategic, organizational, ethical—where each option carries significant risks.
Are you ready to challenge your thinking?
You’re not looking for ready-made answers—you’re looking for better questions and a better way of thinking.
You'll take your leadership skills to an even higher level
The three key benefits you’ll take away from the program.
Practical knowledge and tools for solving difficult problems
The program demonstrates the process and strategies for addressing the difficult dilemmas leaders face—dilemmas that seem impossible to solve. In an uncertain world, such challenges will only increase—but you’ll be well prepared to face them. Our experts will show you how to implement new approaches in the following areas: conflict resolution, business scaling, succession planning, and decision-making in the age of AI.
Exchanging ideas, experiences, and contacts within an elite group
You will join a carefully selected group of leaders consisting exclusively of members of company boards. The program is not available to the general public. Experts will share their experiences in a closed group— including those they are unwilling or unable to discuss publicly.
Your personal perspective and self-confidence
You’ll boost your confidence as a leader—which will enable you to tackle difficult dilemmas and make the right decisions. You’ll gain peace of mind in situations where leaders typically face internal conflicts: business pragmatism, ethics and values, and social consequences. You’ll receive concrete tips and methods for practical application in your professional and everyday life.
The program through the eyes of participants and experts
Listen to what makes the program so powerful and what leaders value about it.
How is this program different from all the others you've participated in?
Need some time to decide? Download the full brochure
View the program agenda, learn more about the experts, and discuss participation in the program with your colleagues or partners.
- Detailed agenda for all 7 two-day workshop sessions
- Full biographies of the experts and presenters
- Organizational information, price, and terms of participation
Register for the program
Contact us → we’ll conduct an interview → if we think you’re a good fit, we’ll send you a formal invitation to the 2026 cohort.
Magdalena Witek · Sales Director, ICAN Institute
Magdalena Witek
Frequently Asked Questions
Most programs teach management when the rules of the game are known. EPA™ focuses exclusively on situations with no single correct answer, where every option carries significant risks. Instead of ready-made formulas, participants master integrative thinking: a skill that allows them to combine conflicting strategies and create an advantage where others see chaos. Participation is by personal invitation only, with a maximum of 25 people—this level of discussion is unattainable in any open training program.
Exclusively for C-suite executives—business owners, CEOs, vice presidents, and board members—who feel that their current approaches are no longer working and are facing critical decisions. If you’re just looking for a certificate to add to your resume, this isn’t the right program for you.
Participation is by personal, named invitation only. The program is not available to the general public. To request an invitation, please contact Magdalena Witek, Sales Director at ICAN Institute: tel. 22 11 33 444 or m.witek@ican.pl.
The program consists of seven two-day in-person sessions in Warsaw. Each session features two perspectives: that of an expert (conceptual and methodological) and that of a practitioner (real-world decisions, failures, and insights from the front lines). The program is supplemented by work between sessions and a knowledge portal with additional materials.
The 2026 edition addresses the following topics:
- AI as a wicked strategic problem
- Management in the Geopolitical Context
- Resolving difficult conflicts and disagreements
- Teams at the Top (Teams at the Top)
- Scaling a business as a wicked problem: a billion-dollar breakthrough
- Leadership Development and Succession Planning
- Difficult ethical choices (including in the context of AI)
This is a concept developed by Roger Martin, who was named the world’s most influential business leader in 2017 (Thinkers 50). In short: instead of choosing between Option A and Option B, a leader creates Option C—one that combines the best elements of both. In this program, we teach a specific process and tools that participants apply to their real-world dilemmas.
The cost of participation is PLN 39,999 plus 23% VAT. The price includes seven two-day sessions, access to the knowledge portal, materials, consulting services, and membership in a private network of leaders.
Classes are held in person at the ICAN Institute’s headquarters at al. Niepodległości 18, Warsaw.
A maximum of 25 participants. A small, carefully selected group of participants creates an intimate setting for meaningful discussions about the greatest challenges leaders face and for sharing experiences.
Yes. The ICAN Institute has delivered the EPA™ program in a closed-door format to, among others, the BSH Polska top management team and FB Service leaders. If you would like to discuss a customized edition for your executive board, please contact Magdalena Witek: m.witek@ican.pl.