At Carlton Football Club, strategy isn’t confined to the boardroom, it’s embedded in the way people learn, lead, and connect. Walk into IKON Park, and you’ll feel it immediately: a culture of performance, purpose, and progress.

At the heart of this transformation is Caroline Rudd, the Club’s People, Culture and Inclusion Manager. Her approach to learning and development goes beyond upskilling.  It’s about aligning capability with culture to drive real-world impact.

“The benefit of skill development for our team and the power of understanding business in a greater capacity has resounding benefits across the Club,” says Rudd. “It’s laying the groundwork for long-term success - building a team that’s agile, aligned, and ready for what’s next.”

Learning as a lever for strategy

Under Rudd’s leadership, Carlton has invested in building the business and strategic acumen of its people. In a recent professional development day at Ikon Park, staff from across the Club participated in Strategic Management, a microcredential from La Trobe's MBA-aligned series.

Delivered by strategy and leadership expert Nigel Collin, the session offered a practical, evidence-based approach to strategy, one that resonated deeply with Carlton’s high-performance ethos.

“It’s a powerful partnership,” says Collin. “La Trobe brings academic rigour and real-world relevance. Carlton brings a culture of excellence and accountability. We didn’t just talk strategy - we explored what it takes to lead, communicate, and activate it in the real world.”

From insight to impact

The impact was immediate. Rudd saw how the session brought strategy to life for participants at every level.

“The examples, conversations and shared experiences were immediately relevant to people’s current roles,” she says. “Individuals walked away with insights they could apply straight away.”

For team leader Sophie Hall, the experience was transformative.

“While I’m not responsible for setting strategy, learning about it helps me understand how it filters through the business and how my team contributes to making it happen,” she says. “I’ve now completed three microcredentials with La Trobe, and each one has improved how I manage, communicate, and think.”

^{Caroline Rudd, CFC People, Culture and Inclusion Manager and Nigel Collin, Strategy and Leadership expert.} 

A model for modern organisations

Carlton’s approach reflects a growing trend among high-performing organisations: treating learning as a strategic lever, not a side initiative. By embedding development into their broader strategy, they’re building alignment, agility, and connection; qualities essential for navigating hybrid work, complexity, and constant change.

“We’re not just building better staff,” says Rudd. “We’re building a more connected, capable team.”

The power of partnership

Through its collaboration with La Trobe Professional, Carlton is setting a new standard for how organisations can use MBA-level microcredentials to drive both capability and culture. It’s a model that other organisations across any industry can learn from.

About La Trobe's MBA Micros - tailored delivery for organisations

• MBA-level short courses focusing on key business concepts, delivering practical skills that can be applied immediately

• Flexible delivery options, according to your organisation's needs

• Digital credential awarded to verify skills and learning.

Find out more about Strategic Management for your team.