Make the shift from busy leader to savvy strategist
Not An MBA is an eight-week live online leadership course for experienced leaders in New Zealand and Australia who work in complex, changing systems.
Students learn strategic frameworks, build decision-making skills, and take their careers to the next level.
Over 500 of New Zealand and Australia’s smartest senior professionals have transformed their life, work and leadership with Not An MBA since 2021.
Are you naMBA material?
Not An MBA students are senior leaders in transition or looking for a new challenge.
Many feel frustrated by slow progress in difficult systems, and are unsure how to navigate their way through. They sense a more strategic approach would help, but don't know where to get it.
We're popular with public sector leaders, because we're all about busting through bureaucracy to get things done. But our students come from all sectors, including construction, banking, FMCG, science, manufacturing, engineering and technology.
The interactive nature of our sprints and community mean students learn as much from each other as from the curriculum. Many go on to form lasting bonds.
Most of our students are Kiwis and Aussies, but our alumni also come from the UK, USA, and Canada.
naMBA is for leaders with
15+ years career experience.
Ambition for the future.
A desire for growth.
Deep curiosity.
Strong personal values.
“There's been nuggets of gold to gain from everybody. It's been a fantastic group of people. Some of those people who I made snap judgments about have contributed the most to my learning!”
KARLA DAVIDSON-BROWN, LANDCORP FARMING
How Not An MBA works
All things point to action. Students access a flexible curriculum, participate in live online learning sprints, and complete practical weekly assignments.
Action learning
Peer connection
Form lasting bonds across borders and industries. Enjoy a private online community, deep discussions in sprints, and peer feedback on assignments and challenges.
Instant impact
Transform your leadership in just eight weeks with the naMBA method: Engage. Empower. Embed. Repeat. Apply strategic skills to your work and life from day one.
“More learning in 8 weeks than other courses offer in 3 years.”
“It's really different from any other professional development I've done. I absolutely loved it - and I can say in eight weeks, I probably learnt more than I have in many courses that have gone on for three years.” - Melissa Bailey, OSPRI
The strategic skills an MBA won’t teach you
The Not An MBA curriculum teaches the five skills of strategic leadership outlined in You Don't Need An MBA: Leadership Lessons that Cut Through the Crap.
By the end of the programme, students:
Respond more confidently to change and uncertainty.
Set firmer boundaries around their time and energy.
Make better, smarter decisions.
Tackle systemic issues in their organisations.
Build deeper, more trusting relationships.
Lead more authentically and with greater passion.
“Not An MBA shifted my thinking to be wider than me and my team, to think at an organisational level. I needed this course. I wish I had enrolled earlier.”
VERONIQUE GIBBONS, PINNACLE MIDLAND HEALTH NETWORK
“In this moment, we need leaders more than ever. But as Alicia McKay helps us understand, waiting two years for a piece of paper isn’t required to make a difference. Start where you are and start now.”
Seth Godin
Founder, altMBA; New York Times bestselling author
Meet Alicia McKay
Her approach is simple: no buzzwords, no bullshit.
Alicia has worked with over 120 organisations on strategy and leadership, trained thousands of leaders in strategic skills, and written three books on strategy, change and leadership, including You Don't Need An MBA, the foundation of this course.
Alicia's style is fun, fresh and open. Students and clients appreciate Alicia’s straight-talking, cut-through approach and engaging sense of humour. She has a unique ability to translate complex ideas into practical takeaways.
“The best thing about Not An MBA is Alicia - her approach, her authentic manner and the way she pulls people in.”
NORMAN WOODS, CEO, HRV
“I can’t say enough about Alicia as a facilitator. It is great having these complex concepts delivered in such a clear way with a lot of humour and deep knowledge of the subject matter.”
MATT NEWDICK, CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, BEEF + LAMB NEW ZEALAND
How strategic are you?
Find out which strategic skill you need to work on most - and enjoy a free cheat sheet to help you on your journey.
Meet our graduates
Over 130 organisations across all industries choose Not An MBA for their leaders.
Download the 2027 syllabus for a full organisation index.
“My EA noticed the change in me immediately.”
SARAH MANLEY, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, MITEY NZ. Read more about Sarah
“If you feel there's something missing, take naMBA.”
GUY BEATSON, GM, INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS. Read more about Guy
“Not An MBA should be compulsory for senior leaders”
JO KEARINS, GM RETAIL CHANGE, CONTACT ENERGY. Read more about Jo
Not An MBA 2027
Not An MBA returns for two cohorts for 2027, in February and August.
Start your year with a bang, or escape the winter blues.
Enrolment is NZ$5,999 (+ GST for NZ). For multiple enrolments, email us for a bulk invoice.
February 2027
9 February - 6 April
Enrolments close 24 January.
August 2027
3 August - 21 September
Enrolments close 18 July.