LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Understanding human behaviour The decision to include corporate and systemic psychopathy within our MBA curriculum was strongly influenced by an academic collaboration with the aforementioned Clive Boddy. Our discussions reinforced an important conclusion: organisations cannot afford to ignore the psychological dimensions of leadership. Understanding human behaviour is no longer the exclusive domain of psychologists; it is becoming an essential competency for executives responsible for people, culture and organisational performance. The desire to raise awareness and broaden discussion in this area inspired the creation of an international conference on corporate psychopathy that is set to take place in Prague in October. Entitled Snakes and Predators , the conference does not intend to sensationalise the topic of psychopathy but rather to bring together researchers and practitioners to examine the subject’s implications for organisations, leadership, relationships and society. Alongside Boddy and Trent University’s Nadja Heym, international keynote speakers include Yasen Dimitrov, president of the European Association for Applied Psychology and a lecturer on organisational behaviour and business psychology at the University of Insurance and Finance in Bulgaria. Dimitrov’s research centres on trauma, leadership and the impact of toxic individuals on teams. To support the sharing of evidence-based perspectives and practical experience, they will be joined by Czech psychologists, organisational consultants, aviation psychologists, experienced executives and legal professionals. Our decision to host this conference reflects another important principle of our programme: specifically, that meaningful management education should connect research with practice. Alongside academics, CEOs, entrepreneurs, HR leaders and graduates will give their perspective on how psychological knowledge improves recruitment, leadership development, coaching, communication and organisational culture. Through these exchanges of insight and experience, we hope to illustrate that psychology is not an abstract discipline but a practical management tool. The future of leadership rests on understanding people. Financial expertise, strategic thinking and technological innovation remain essential, but they are insufficient without psychological competence. Leaders must recognise psychosocial risks, build resilient teams, create psychologically safe environments and foster ethical cultures capable of long-term success. This is why we believe psychology is no longer a complementary subject within MBA education. It should be one of its strategic foundations and a defining competency of responsible leadership in the 21st century.
Daniel Tůma is the founder of the Open Century Group based in Prague, Czechia. Its flagship brands include the BGA member institution Open Academy, which specialises in the Psychology & Leadership MBA programme. Tůma is a psychologist and entrepreneur with expertise in the psychology of leadership, power, corporate psychopathy and psychological safety in organisations
for innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement. In addition, our teaching approach integrates aviation psychology and the training system known as crew resource management. For decades, the aviation industry has demonstrated that communication, teamwork, human factors and psychological safety are fundamental to safe and effective performance. Yet, these lessons are equally relevant in healthcare, manufacturing and other complex industries. Organisations that encourage open communication and mutual trust consistently make better decisions and respond more effectively to uncertainty. Ultimately, we aim to educate agents of change. Rather than adapting to dysfunctional organisational systems, our graduates should possess the confidence and competence to improve them. They learn how to challenge toxic practices, promote ethical leadership and build cultures based on trust, transparency and respect. Many of our graduates, together with experienced executives participating in the programme, report that psychological knowledge has become one of their most valuable managerial competencies. Their experience confirms that sustainable organisational success depends not only on strategic thinking but also on understanding human behaviour.
Business Impact • ISSUE 4 • 2026
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