Fast Track is a carefully curated and impactful seven-part development program with ongoing support provision, designed for ambitious mid-career marketing, business development and communications talent in professional services firms who are preparing to emark on the path to senior leadership.
Each session builds practical capabilities, deepens strategic acumen and strengthens cross-team influence, with immediate application to live work and growth priorities.
Key points at a glance
- Format: Blended delivery across online workshops and in-person sessions in select cities.
- Session length: Each session runs for 90 minutes, allowing time for discussion and practical application.
- Timing: Program runs from March to June 2026.
- Who should join: Mid-career practitioners in law, accounting, engineering, consulting and other professional services.
- Outcomes: Practical tools, leadership capability, peer network and confidence to contribute at a higher level.
- Recording: Online sessions recorded for enrolled participants.
Participants can register for individual sessions, or secure a discounted rate by registering for the full seven-part program.
Who it is for?
Fast Track is suited to:
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Mid-career professionals preparing for more senior roles
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New managers developing people and stakeholder leadership capability
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Specialists moving into broader or more strategic BD, marketing or communications roles
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Experienced professionals returning from a career break who want a structured refresh
What you will learn?
The 2026 Fast Track program focuses on the practical skills required to operate effectively at a more senior level in professional services firms.
Across the seven sessions, participants develop capability in:
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Leadership presence and influence
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Strategic thinking and decision-making
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Leading and influencing people and teams
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Managing relationships across the firm
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Stakeholder engagement and collaboration
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Career development, mentoring and sponsorship
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Practical and responsible use of AI tools in BD and marketing
Each session is designed to support immediate application to live work and current priorities.
Program sessions:
Getting to Know You
Get to know your fellow Fast Trackers and engage with industry leaders while enjoying refreshments: our commencement event is a great way to grow your network, share ideas with other professionals working in your sector and learn more about what’s in store and the value you will gain from the program. Guest speakers will share key insights into their long and fulfilling careers in professional services. For those who can’t attend the in-person event, there will be an opportunity to participate online.
Shifting from a trusted functional role to strategic leadership requires a different type of presence and influence.
This 90 minute session focuses on how you shift your mindset to show up more strategically, communicate with clarity under pressure, and contribute effectively as expectations increase when stepping into more senior roles.
Drawing on real world examples, discussion and insights from a panel of experienced leaders, the session explores how to frame recommendations that resonate with partners and navigate internal dynamics with greater confidence. We will also touch on visibility, sponsorship and perception, grounded in practical, lived experience.
Through case studies, breakout discussions and panellists Q&A, attendees will learn how leaders have developed their own business cases, navigated transitions to senior leadership and influenced outcomes.
As part of the session, you will receive templates for:
- A personal leadership positioning statement
- An influence and sponsorship map
- A easy-to-follow plan for increasing profile
Effective executive leadership is demonstrated in everyday interactions. This highly practical session builds the capability to lead individuals and teams with clarity, accountability and confidence, whether or not you have direct reports. The pathways to leadership are varied and nuanced.
We begin with a short introduction and icebreaker before exploring what leadership means in practice, including Maxwell’s 5 Levels of Leadership. Participants will reflect on the type of leader they are today and the type of leader they want to become as expectations increase.
Drawing on Hawkins’ work on high performing teams, we examine what top teams consistently do well and how leaders create the conditions for trust, alignment and performance. Participants will then craft a clear leadership vision and begin developing a practical team charter to guide behaviours and expectations.
The session moves into essential influence skills, with applied practice throughout. This includes coaching skills grounded in psychological safety, deep listening and the GROW model, a coaching style of delegation, how to give feedback that lands, and how to set effective leadership boundaries. We also address sustainable leadership, including managing energy and avoiding burnout in high demand environments.
The session closes with clear action steps to embed learning into daily practice.
You will leave with:
- A defined leadership vision
- A draft team charter
- Practical coaching and delegation tools
- A simple framework for giving effective feedback
- Clear personal action steps to strengthen your leadership impact
This session equips participants to collaborate effectively across complex professional services environments. It focuses on understanding the priorities, pressures and success metrics of partners and key internal stakeholders - and aligning your approach accordingly.
You will learn how to map stakeholder influence, anticipate objections and connect marketing and BD initiatives directly to revenue, profitability and client outcomes. The session includes practical scenarios on navigating partner dynamics and balancing immediate demands with long-term strategic value.
Designed to strengthen commercial credibility and cross-firm alignment, this module sharpens your ability to drive outcomes without formal authority.
You will leave with:
- A stakeholder engagement planning framework
- A practical influence pathway map
- A business case template to secure faster decisions and approvals
Sustained progression requires intentional development. This session helps participants design a structured growth plan that aligns personal ambition with firm priorities.
You will clarify the difference between mentoring, coaching and sponsorship — and learn how to secure each with a clear value exchange. The session also explores targeted capability building, thought leadership positioning and purposeful networking across sectors and client ecosystems.
The focus is on building long-term visibility, credibility and momentum beyond the program itself.
You will leave with:
- A six-month professional development roadmap
- A strategic relationship-building plan
- A practical reflection and accountability cadence
AI Skills to Boost Creativity and Impact
This hands-on session shows how to use AI as a strategic accelerator for marketing and business development - moving beyond experimentation to measurable impact.
Participants will learn how to craft high-quality prompts, streamline workflows and embed AI into pursuits, campaigns and thought leadership processes. The session focuses on identifying what to automate, what to enhance and how to maintain professional judgement through human-in-the-loop safeguards.
You will also explore governance considerations, risk management and how to position yourself as a credible AI champion within your firm.
You will leave with:
- An AI-enhanced workflow for a live marketing or BD initiative
- A curated prompt library aligned to common tasks
- A simple impact-tracking framework to measure efficiency and strategic contribution
What I Wish I'd Known
Our perennial favourite: Get the benefit of years of experience without having to do the hard yards. This practical panel discussion brings together seasoned professionals to share what they wish they’d known at pivotal moments in their careers — the successes, the missteps, and the lessons learned along the way.
This in-depth conversation will explore modern avenues of leadership and how to define growth when traditional career ladders narrow or bottleneck. Is leadership still the goal, or are there other meaningful ways to progress and build influence? Our panellists will also share candid perspectives on the value of further study (including MBAs) and whether it’s genuinely helped them advance.
You’ll walk away with practical tips on negotiating progression within your current firm, positioning yourself externally for a step up, and sharpening your CV and approach to market — plus plenty of real-world advice to help you navigate the next stage of your career with confidence
Each session has its own event page with full details and learning outcome
Delivery and locations
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Online: Interactive 90-minute workshops delivered via Zoom.
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In person: Select sessions in major Australian cities, subject to demand.
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Cohort size: Places are limited to support discussion and interaction.
Registration and pricing
Members: $490 for the full series | $100 for individual events
Non Members: $690 for the full series | $160 for individual events
Frequently asked questions
Will sessions be recorded?
Online workshops are recorded for enrolled participants.
Can I transfer my place?
Once the program commences, transfers can be made in exceptional circumstances only.Do I need to be an ICON member?
Non-members are welcome. ICON members receive preferred pricing.