Red & Yellow
Online Short Course
Account Leadership
The best account leaders don't just manage projects - they build trust, drive growth and become indispensable partners to both clients and teams. They know how to balance commercial goals with creative ambition, turning great ideas into measurable business results.
In this practical 13-week course, you'll develop the leadership, relationship-building and commercial skills needed to thrive in today's agency environment. Learn how to manage stakeholders, lead teams, grow client accounts and confidently navigate budgets, targets and performance metrics. Whether you're stepping into leadership for the first time or looking to sharpen your strategic edge, you'll leave with the tools to lead with confidence and create lasting impact.
Check out your
Course Curriculum
- What is the role of Account Management? Why is it a Leadership role?
- Client challenges and how agency can help
- Knowledge – what you need to know
- Passport factors (contact reports, status reports etc.)
- Relationship building (internal and external)
- Prioritization & time management
The important bits
Key Info
- Course Duration: 13 Weeks
- Accreditation: R&Y Certificate of Completion
- Access: Online
- Start Date: 7 September 2026
- Cost: R13,500
What you’ll learn
- Apply the principles of account leadership (not simply management) within an agency environment
- Navigate internal workflow, process, and stakeholder relationship issues
- Master budgeting, targets, profitability, and other key agency financial goals and metrics
- Take greater strategic ownership of client accounts (as opposed to simply taking orders and managing projects)
- Deliver and sell great work, win business, grow revenue, and build strong, long-standing relationships with clients
Learn from top talent
This course is built and taught by Account Leadership experts who have decades of agency experience.
Build your skills
Understand and apply stronger decision making skills that are crucial for the next generation of work.
Think outside the box
This course is ideal for people who want to take ownership of, and drive success across, their client portfolios.
Elevate your career
Be recognised with an industry centric Red & Yellow certificate, giving you a blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills.
Red & Yellow courses are made to future-proof your career
Our courses are designed to accelerate opportunities and give a boost to your CV. Top businesses across industries recognise Red & Yellow graduates as having the practical skills and the theoretical background to hit the ground running with confidence and creative flair.
Benefits:
Our courses are both current and relevant to the South African context.
Applicable, practical assignments:
- So that you can apply what you’re learning to your everyday work life, and your specific business challenges.
Discussion Forums and Chat sessions:
- Helping you develop your professional network.
- Hosted by your coach, lecturer, or subject specialist.
- Ideal opportunities to discuss the content and get answers to all your questions.
Personalized feedback:
- Tailored to your individual strengths, and opportunities for personal improvement.
A dedicated team:
- Acting as your “virtual” support crew whose only focus is to help get you over the finish line.
Included in your course:
- An industry-sought-after Certificate of Completion from Red & Yellow
- Original, relevant, and constantly updated content
- An interactive online learning experience that includes videos, live chat sessions, forum discussions, and more
This course is perfect for:
- Account executives, account managers, and other client service professionals who want to take ownership of, and drive real success across, their client portfolios
- Client-facing specialists and advertising practitioners who want to secure better and bigger briefs, have greater strategic and creative input, and do better work for their clients; and
- Freelancers, independent contractors, and owners of small creative businesses looking to grow their existing accounts and win more business
Meet your team:
This course was created by, and benefits from, our full-time lecturers’ years of experience in the field – both in lecturing and in industry. They know how to nurture talent and bring out the best in students, resulting in many award-wins over the years.
Gillian Rightford
Managing Director at Adtheraphy Communication and Management Consulting
Gillian is a seasoned expert in marketing, strategy, and leadership, with a Business Science (Honours) degree from UCT.
Founder of Adtherapy, she specializes in enhancing ROI through improved strategy, creativity, and team alignment.
A passionate educator, Gillian runs workshops, lectures, and launched The School of Thought to build talent in marketing and advertising.
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