We work remotely. We expect flexibility. We collaborate virtually. Leadership takes place in a hybrid reality, where time, place, roles and presence are fluid. The role of a leader in a hybrid reality places great demands on employees and the organization – and not least on the leader. Master of Public Governance at Copenhagen Business School being the largest master program for public leaders in Denmark, wanted to bring those issues to mind with our help.
MPG OPEN focuses on public leadership in a hybrid reality. How does the hybrid leader balance trust and control? How do you ensure workplace cohesion? How do you spot stress, dissatisfaction and shame in virtual collaboration? And what is your role as a leader when you are a digital representation and leadership takes place between several alternative realities?
Naming the conference
Theme of the year was the future of public leadership in a hybrid world. The inspiration both being the new era of hybrid workplaces in the aftermath of the covid epidemic and the intensified use of new technologies, media and digital representations of people, managers and staff alike.
We introduced a new very simple name for the conference: OPEN.
It’s open for everyone, open to new ideas, open to talk, to debate, to meet new people and opportunities.
Leadership in a hybrid reality
For the new theme of “Public leadership in a hybrid reality” we wanted to shake up the image of a public management university conference. You might expect something very conservative. But as we were on a mission to open things up it seemed logical to represent all speakers as avatars. At the same time we are showing who the speakers are and telling the story of the theme of the year. And to be honest, I think the avatars we created are very recognizable.
Here is professor Susanne Boch Waldorff, journalist, tv presenter and host at the conference, Jakob Rosenkrands and professor Camilla Sløk. Based on recent photos of all speakers we developed their digital identity – their avatar.
Online, social and print campaign
The campaign includes animated ads and banners online and on social media, full spread print ads in the leading Danish management journals and different newsletters.
The conference was presented in ads in management journals such as Danish Djøf bladet, Altinget and Mandag Morgen.
For the full day conference we prepared wayfinding posters, posters with presentations of the speakers, powerpoint slides and handouts including a notebook that all participants received.
