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Mini MBA in The Science of Relationship Management

Master your client relationships with 25+ years of proven, commercially applied behavioural science. Delivered by Johann Ponnampalam PhD across 12x, high-impact, practical sessions. 

Dr Johann Ponnampalam PhD
An in-depth behaviour change course

Master the science of relationship management and drive sustainable commercial growth.

Nurturing strong client relationships that result in satisfaction, retention and growth is directly related to your ability to understand why clients behave and make decisions the way they do. 

When applied, the principles you’ll learn here are a proven pathway to transformative results in revenue, influence, and career growth. Because every framework, tool, and technique you’ll learn has been tested in high-stakes, global environments.

Join other account and portfolio leaders revolutionising their client interactions with Decision Design's Mini MBA in The Science of Relationship Management.

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Why this course

Continuing to overlook human behaviour is the #1 blocker between you and driving lasting growth.

Unlock the tools proven to enhance your portfolio, account and relationship management effectiveness. With 25+ years of commercial experience and 50+ years of empirical research packed into a high-impact course, maximise your commercial impact. 

 

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Real science
Real science

​Designed and delivered by PhD behavioural scientists with expertise in human behaviour

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Commercially proven
Commercially provenScience-led model used by leading global companies with proven average uplift in effectiveness of 111%

 

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Drive growth immediately
Drive growth immediately

Drives success in client interactions at every pivotal micro-moment and drive growth from day 1

Unlock a unique competitive edge with the only science-backed relationship management training!

Upskill your team

Empower your team with science-led, commercially proven relationship management

Many of our clients leverage our expert training at scale – booking their entire account management teams into this course:

  • Solidify team cohesion and alignment
  • Personalised portals & learning experiences
  • Capability uplift at scale with a proven account management model
  • Elevate commercial effectiveness and drive lasting impact

Unlock your team’s potential with the Mini MBA in The Science of Relationship Management to drive tangible commercial uplift.

 

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Join other leading organisations leveraging Decision Design's expert training, because proven science = proven results.

+12%

YOY market growth and an 8% share growth for a leading global healthcare company

+111%

increase in a key engagement metric – due to Decision Design’s behavioural training

+28%

increase in customer acquisition​ and an increase of 14% in lead generation for a leading insurer

$34m

pa revenue increase and a 39% increase in retention for a top listed financial services team 

Learn from global experts in the behavioural science of Trust
Get to know your Chief Behavioural Scientist
Johann Head shot-1

Johann Ponnampalam PHD

  • Co-Founding Director of Decision Design
  • PhD in behavioural science
  • 20+ years experience in driving measurable outcomes for Australia's leading brands
  • Associate Professor at Deakin University
  • Frequent speaker at Australia's leading behavioural science events
Who you learn from

Learn from global experts in the behavioural science of Trust

Get to know your Chief Behavioural Scientist - Johann Ponnampalam PhD

  • Co-Founding Director of Decision Design
  • PhD in behavioural science
  • 20+ years experience in driving measurable outcomes for Australia's leading brands
  • Associate Professor at Deakin University
  • Frequent speaker at Australia's leading behavioural science events



Expert trainers

Human behavioural science taught by real scientists guarantees high-impact, professional development

The science of human behaviour and decision-making in the context of relationship management, delivered by a global leading expert in human behaviour.

Your Chief Behavioural Scientist - Johann Ponnampalam PhD

  • Co-founder of Decision Design
  • PhD in behavioural science
  • 20+ years experience in driving measurable outcomes for Australia's leading brands
  • frequent speaker at Australia's leading behavioural science events
Johann Ponnampalam PhD

Align yourself with leading brands learning from global experts

Who this course is for

From managing global accounts to fostering impactful client relationships, this course delivers proven methods applicable across all industries.

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Directors, Heads of
Directors, Heads of

Leaders shaping their organisation’s pipeline and commercial success, overseeing growth and managing functional budgets.

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Senior account leaders and managers
Senior account leaders and managers

For professionals steering relationship management through team leadership, F2F sales, or CRM optimisation to maximise client engagement. 

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Business leaders
Business leaders

SMB leaders driving growth, leading teams, securing new business, and managing client relationships for long-term success. 

“Decision Design’s training was literally the best investment I’ve ever made in my life — and the best investment we’ve ever made for the business” ​
​

- Leader, from an ASX20 company

Your learning

x8 high-impact learning areas to drive sustainable commercial growth

In the absence of a structured, evidence-based framework, account management tends to rely on volume over the quality of interactions, resulting in missed opportunities, lower client retention, and limited growth.

That is why Decision Design's Mini MBA in the Science of Relationship Management provides a systematic, scientifically built and commercially proven account management framework, applicable to all brands, products & industries.​ We uncover exactly how to master this revolutionary formula so you can drive new growth, sooner.

1. Key opportunities to re-design your relationship management technique, with science

Learn to identify the common ways of engaging with clients that work in opposition to years of empirical research – proven to be ineffective in practice – and, what you should be doing instead.
2. Every client objective is a behaviour change objective

Whether you realise it or not – you are a behaviour-change agent. Success of all client interactions hinges on your ability to drive behaviour change. Learn how to frame your approach behaviourally.

3. Understanding how the human brain makes decisions

Learn about the fundamentals driving human behaviour, driving the choices of your clients – and why they significantly impact your ability to achieve greater commercial impact.​
4. Building your influence and authority ​

Delve into the science behind trust and how it directly impacts your authority and ability to build strong client relationships.

5. How to position your offering and define success

Shift your mindset from single interactions to instead leveraging a science-based, long-term view for your portfolio and account management to boost your impact in all client interactions.
6. Aligning your approach to how the human brain actually makes decisions and drives behaviour

Nail the use of behaviour change techniques and understand if you want your clients to make a different decision, you must show them how. 

This includes techniques for mastering difficult conversations and high-stakes scenarios, empowering you to navigate relationships and negotiations with confidence. 
7. How to have a behaviour change driven interaction from open to close

A step-by-step uncovering of what a genuine, behaviour change driven client interaction must look like to maximise your impact and commercial effectiveness. 

8. Master how to foster strong, respectful client relationships 

How to nurture relationships for maximum long-term impact by adding value and making it easier for them to choose. 

Course details

Mini MBA in The Science of Relationship Management

Maximum flexibility

Designed for busy and ambitious working professionals — 100% online to suit your needs.

1-3 hours of content each week released over 12 weeks.

Start date

2025 intake commences 31st March.
Secure your spot now!

 

Investment

AUD $10,850 + GST 


Contact us about group pricing and tailoring to your specific context. 

Course features

This course has been designed to master your sales skills for immediate impact

DD-Icon-_BehaviourScience-Pink Delivered by experts

Informed by the science of human behaviour; delivered by genuine behaviour change thought leaders.

 
DD-Icon-MasterPlan_Commercial effect-Pink Get proven results

8 lessons of purpose-built, engaging sales content designed for driving acquisition and retention.

  
DD-Icon_Delivery model (online)-Pink-1 Catered to your needs

Designed for busy and ambitious working professionals. Move through this online course at your own pace.

 
DD-Icon-_Outcome w tick-Pink Content you can actually use

Carefully designed for immediate application — build skills that you can use today to drive results.

  
Meet your world-leading behaviour change team

Decision Design

Decision Design leads the way in translating advanced scientific research into actionable strategies for some of the world’s most prominent brands.

Our Mini MBA in the Science of Relationship Management is developed and delivered by an elite team of behavioural science experts, drawing from cognitive, neurological, social, psychological, and marketing disciplines. This multidisciplinary foundation ensures your training is both holistic and grounded in cutting-edge research.

By choosing Decision Design, you’re selecting an unparalleled source of specialised knowledge, tailored exclusively to empower senior leaders to elevate their account management expertise.

Learn more
FAQ

Explore our frequently asked questions

How much time do I need to commit?

Each week you will have access to 1-3 hours of concentrated, actionable content over the course of 12 weeks, designed to deliver results at the highest level. 

We've also used behavioural principles in design, working with the limits of working memory to improve retention, recall, and ability to action!
How will I access the course?

Our next intake for the Mini MBA in the Science of Relationship Management starts on the 31st March 2025. 

Once you are enrolled,  you will be emailed a log-in to Decision Design's online platform

Content is released weekly.

All elements of your course will be undertaken within our platform.  
Is there a corporate group price?

If you have a corporate group, contact jessica@decisiondesign.com.au for group pricing and discuss how we can adapt content specific to your organisation's needs.
Will I get a certificate?

Absolutely, you'll be issued the certificate after you complete the course. 
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Why choose this course

Top ASX 100 companies have relied on this course to drive proven results – now you can master the strategies behind their success.

DD-Illustration-MasterPlan_Insights_LR-1 Genuine behavioural science experts Unlike other courses that merely provide opinions, our training is derived from scientifically-led principles, taught by real scientists.  
DD-Illustration-MasterPlan_BehaviourChange_LR-1 Science you can actually use

Scientifically built and commercially proven framework that can be implemented by individuals or large sales teams, regardless of the brand or product.

  
DD-Illustration-MasterPlan_On_sml Commercially proven

We’ve delivered this training to thousands of sales professionals across 30+ markets with an average of 111% increase in performance

  
Who this course is for

Whether you're in B2B, B2C, or specialised sectors, this course equips you with the critical insights necessary to excel in your role.

DD-Illustration-MasterPlan_Puzzle 3_LR Executives, Directors, Heads of

Those responsible for leading teams towards consistent success in every sales interaction.

  
DD-Illustration-MasterPlan_Slider_LR Senior Sales Leaders

Those responsible for elevating your strategic thinking and refining your approach to drive sales growth.

  
DD-Illustration-MasterPlan_Puzzle_LR Business Leaders

Individuals and teams who are responsible managing client relationships and navigating complex sales environments.