Abstract
The mainstream management learning and education (MLE) programmes are widely viewed as conventional and lacking real-world relevance, particularly within brittle, anxious, non-linear and incomprehensible (BANI) business environments. To address these limitations, this paper proposes a conceptual MLE programme featuring a five-day, cross-organisational ‘reverse internship’ facilitated by universities. The initiative draws on Kolb’s experiential learning approach and social constructivism. It requires managers with a growth-mindset to immerse themselves in junior roles within different industries and cultural settings than the ones they are familiar with. This approach triggers ‘constructive disorientation’, prompting participants to learn and unlearn. The proposed programme applies principles of the sharing economy to management development offering low-risk, high-reward mechanisms for shared wisdom and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The paper outlines a pathway for future empirical exploration (pilot-studies) to evaluate the impact of this immersive, reflexive approach to managerial decision-making and sustainable organisational growth.