What is the Certified Lean Manager?

The Certified Lean Manager is a globally recognised professional certification by the Global Leadership Institute (GLI), designed to equip professionals with advanced competencies in Leadership & Management.

How long does this certification take?

The programme is 9 Week and can be completed at your own pace through our self-paced online option, or alongside live virtual sessions.

Is this certification globally recognised?

Yes. GLI certifications are internationally recognised and carry CPD credits, making them valuable for career advancement worldwide.

What level is this certification?

This is a Intermediate Level certification, suitable for professionals with relevant experience or background in the field.

You can enrol by emailing info@leadership.co.ke, contacting us via WhatsApp at +254 722 223 084, or filling the enrolment form below.

Certified Lean Manager (CLEM) | Online Certification

Executive Summary

Certified Lean Manager

Designed for today’s high-impact professionals, the Certified Lean Manager (CLEM) delivers a rigorous Intermediate-level curriculum that equips participants with the knowledge, tools and frameworks needed to excel in strategic leadership, organisational management and business transformation.

This 9 Week programme is structured around recognised global leadership and management competency frameworks, ensuring every graduate applies internationally validated methods to real-world challenges.

GLI’s CLEM holders are recognised by leading organisations across Africa, the Gulf, Europe and the Americas as qualified, results-driven professionals. Whether you are advancing your current career or transitioning into new responsibilities, this certification provides the competitive edge you need in 2026 and beyond.

Programme Overview

Certification at a Glance

Certification

Certified Lean Manager

Acronym

CLEM

Who Should Enrol?

Total cost of ownership versus purchase — applied to your own work
Negotiating with suppliers — applied to your own work
Demand management and controlling maverick spend — applied to your own work
Managing resistance and capability building — applied to your own work
Security principles — applied to your own work
Buyer behaviour and the customer journey — applied to your own work

Programme Inclusions

Everything Included in Your Enrolment

All study materials and study guide
Access to GLI online learning portal
Online examination and assessment
Digital certificate and digital badge
Physical certificate (shipped to you)
CPD credits for professional bodies
GLI alumni network membership
Facilitator and tutor support
Resource downloads and reference library
Automatic enrolment confirmation

Certification Benefits

Why This Certification Matters for Your Career

Leadership Capability

Develop the strategic and operational skills to lead complex strategic leadership functions

Career Advancement

Accelerate your career towards executive, director and C-suite leadership roles

Strategic Thinking

Build the strategic thinking, analysis and execution skills of world-class leaders

Organisational Impact

Design and implement strategic leadership systems that drive performance and measurable results

Personal Excellence

Develop emotional intelligence, resilience and authentic executive presence

Global Employability

Qualify for strategic leadership roles across corporates, public institutions, NGOs and enterprises worldwide

Competency Framework

Core Competencies You Will Develop

✦Strategic Thinking, Vision and Direction Setting

✦Leading Teams, People and High Performance

✦Decision-Making, Problem-Solving and Execution

✦Emotional Intelligence and Authentic Leadership

✦Organisational Strategy, Transformation and Growth

✦Professional Ethics and Governance

Course Curriculum

Programme Modules

Click any module to explore the detailed curriculum topics included in this certification.

Foundations and Strategic Context of Certified Lean Manager

Certified Lean Manager: industry context, trends and professional standards
Theories and models of leadership and management
The manager's roles, responsibilities and mindset
Leadership versus management and when each is needed
Situational and adaptive leadership
Values, purpose and authentic leadership
The organisational context and operating environment
Self-awareness and the leader's identity
Building credibility and executive presence
Ethics and responsible leadership
Personal leadership development planning

Total cost of ownership versus purchase

Total cost of ownership versus purchase price
Specification writing and the specification trap
Supplier market analysis and competition
Assurance and audit outcomes
Stakeholder trust and reputation metrics
Driving measurable governance improvement
GRC platforms and technology
Data analytics for assurance
Regulatory technology (RegTech)
Reporting and disclosure tools
Audit and control automation
Compliance monitoring systems
Data governance and quality
Cybersecurity and information governance
Emerging governance technologies

Negotiating with suppliers

Negotiating with suppliers
Contract performance, remedies and variations
Supplier dependency, development and continuity
Demand and supply planning (S&OP)
Bill of materials and master scheduling
Capacity and production planning
Warehouse and stock control systems
ABC analysis and stock optimisation
Obsolescence and working-capital impact
Operations performance and throughput
E-procurement and procure-to-pay systems
Spend analytics and dashboards
Supplier and contract management systems
E-sourcing and e-auctions
Supply chain visibility and control towers

Demand management and controlling maverick spend

Demand management and controlling maverick spend
Inventory service levels and the cost of stockouts
Freight, transport mode and route reliability
Agile and collaborative delivery
Professional ethics and codes (CIPS)
Integrity, transparency and fair dealing
Conflicts of interest and gifts
Governance of procurement decisions
Responsible and sustainable procurement
Compliance, audit and accountability
Procurement KPIs and savings measurement
Total cost and value delivered
Process efficiency and cycle time
Continuous improvement and lean procurement
Supplier and category performance

Managing resistance and capability building

Managing resistance and capability building
Strategic sourcing process and RFx
Security risk management methodology
Warehouse operations and stock accuracy
Procurement fraud, collusion and bid rigging
Emergency, humanitarian and constrained procurement
Governance and compliance KPIs
Risk and control effectiveness metrics
Benchmarking against standards
Maturity and capability assessment
Continuous improvement of controls
AI, ethics and algorithmic accountability
Security principles: CIA triad and controls
The helping relationship and its purpose
Risk, cost and feasibility analysis

Security principles

Security principles: CIA triad and controls
The helping relationship and its purpose
Risk, cost and feasibility analysis
Sourcing plans and go-to-market
Contract law fundamentals and formation
Terms, conditions and clauses
Service-level agreements and KPIs
Dispute resolution and claims
Supplier onboarding and due diligence
Supplier segmentation and relationship strategy
Supplier relationship management (SRM)
Performance measurement and scorecards
Innovation and value from suppliers
Managing underperformance and risk
Supplier diversity and local content

Buyer behaviour and the customer journey

Buyer behaviour and the customer journey
Voice of the customer and feedback
Principles of teaching, training and learning
Logistics and distribution network design
Transport modes, planning and optimisation
Freight forwarding, incoterms and customs
Warehousing, storage and materials handling
Inventory management and optimisation
Demand planning and forecasting
Order fulfilment and last-mile delivery
Reverse logistics and returns
Cold chain and specialised logistics
Logistics performance and cost control
Inventory models: EOQ, safety stock, reorder points
Materials requirements planning (MRP)

Evidence and Reporting

Professional reporting and documentation
Cybersecurity and data protection
Professional writing and reports
Discovery interviews and evidence gathering
Writing advisory reports that drive decisions
Analytical techniques and bias
Preparing financial statements
Financial reporting frameworks (IFRS/GAAP)
Assets, liabilities and equity reporting
Reporting to boards and executives
Anti-corruption and honest reporting
Master data and configuration
Reporting and enterprise analytics
Data governance in enterprise systems
Data protection and learner privacy

Stakeholders and Engagement

Internal customers and business partnering
Influencing and negotiation with stakeholders
Engagement, motivation and energisers
Stakeholders and users of financial information
Business partnering with the enterprise
Stakeholders, agency and accountability
Trends: ESG, transparency and stakeholder capitalism
Shareholder and stakeholder rights
Employee engagement models and drivers
Managing resistance and engagement
Worker engagement and empowerment
Employee experience and engagement
Stakeholder mapping and collaboration
Managing difficult stakeholders
Stakeholder mapping in banking

Planning and Delivery

Business case and savings plan
Implementation and contract plan
Business continuity and contingency planning
Leading procurement projects and change
Value and savings programmes
Team leadership in field and project settings
Interpreting financial statements
Integrated and sustainability reporting
Ratio and trend analysis
Implementation planning and risk management
Monitoring, evaluation and sustainability plan
Event planning timelines, run sheets and production schedules
Event risk, safety and contingency planning
The vehicle sales process from enquiry to delivery
Demand, master scheduling and material requirements planning

Communication and Influence

Presenting sourcing recommendations
Managing supplier communications
Professional presentation and pitching
Negotiation with clients and partners
Media and public communication
Facilitation, training and public presentation skills
Negotiation with buyers, suppliers and financiers
Communicating technical information to diverse audiences
Professional report writing and presentation
Group dynamics, facilitation and community mobilisation
Communication and interpersonal skills
Negotiation and conflict management
Facilitation and workshops
Conflict resolution and negotiation
Commercial negotiation and value capture

Quality and Improvement

Data quality and governance
Professional standards and ethics
Continuous improvement and optimisation
Benchmarking against standards and best practice
Continuous improvement and lessons learned
Data quality, analysis and reporting
Sustainability certification and standards
Traceability, recall and quality assurance systems
Quality management systems and audits
Roles, standards and professional conduct
Journey and process redesign
Healthcare quality, safety and accreditation
Reporting quality and governance
Evidence-based improvement
Management accounts and dashboards

People and Capability

Team leadership in procurement
Leading service teams
Training and capability building
Team leadership in customer service
Team leadership in banking operations
Training needs analysis
Cognitive load and learning science
The learning and development profession
Learning strategy and business alignment
Learning cultures and the learning organisation
Professional ethics in education and training
Knowledge management and capability building
Budget vs actual and variance
Aligning teams around strategy
Team formation and effectiveness models (Tuckman, Lencioni)

Technology and Systems

Digital procurement roadmaps
AI, blockchain and digital supply chains
Digital credit and alternative data
System performance and tuning
Performance management systems and cycles
Emerging learning technologies
Learning technology ecosystem
Innovation in learning technology
Safety management systems (ISO 45001)
The finance function and digital transformation
Board reporting and information flows
CRM and marketing automation platforms
Cost and profitability analysis
Scaling technologies and business models
Forecasting and planning

Environment and Sustainability

Carbon, scope 3 and sustainable logistics
Governance of ESG and reporting
Sustainability standards (GRI, ISSB)
KPIs and performance reporting
Sustainability and environmental duty
Environmental management systems (ISO 14001)
Environmental legal compliance
Sustainability and climate responsibility
Environmental monitoring and reporting
Continuous environmental improvement
Integration with quality and environment
Sustainability and responsible marketing
Carbon markets and climate finance
Monitoring sustainability outcomes
Corporate social responsibility and community impact

Ethics and Accountability

Ethical sourcing and modern slavery
Transparency, fairness and value for money
Ethical and reputational risk
Ethical, risk and feasibility considerations
Accountability and follow-through
Ethics of technology in practice
Ethics and independence in advisory relationships
Professional ethics and responsibility (PMI)
Conflicts of interest and procurement ethics
Marketing and sales ethics
Conflicts of interest and transparency
Ethics and professional standards in finance
Ethics, confidentiality and professional conduct in HR
Data ethics, privacy and responsible analytics
Ethics and duty of care

Policy and Institutions

Public procurement frameworks and principles
Contract oversight in the public sector
Advocacy and policy engagement
Data visualisation for finance
Presentation and public speaking
Public, private and non-profit governance
Policy, planning and objectives
Public versus private procurement
Policy administration and customer service in insurance
Public health programmes: prevention and outreach
Psychoeducation and public communication
Reporting automation
ABC analysis and stock policy
Presentation and public-speaking skills
Policy and public engagement

Service and Beneficiaries

Telecom products, tariffs and customer lifecycles
Client feedback and satisfaction
Diagnosing client problems before prescribing solutions
Backlogs, user stories and prioritisation
Customer personas and insight
The marketing concept and customer orientation
Customer and brand health metrics
Market and customer analysis
Building strategic customer relationships
Customer success and retention
Customer lifetime value and profitability
Sustaining strategic customer focus
Customer and journey analysis
Designing a service or experience improvement
Queue management and service flow

Safety and Wellbeing

Telehealth and digital care delivery
Psychodynamic and psychoanalytic approaches
Health financing: budgets, insurance and out-of-pocket realities
Procurement and stock management for health commodities
Record-keeping and data protection
Working with organisations on wellbeing
Risk assessment and safety planning
Wellbeing and resilience coaching
Health, safety and compliance in delivery
Brand safety and responsible marketing
Brand health and measurement
Attachment and developmental theory
Contractor and visitor safety
Predictive safety analytics
Automation and safety technology

Procurement and Supply

Procurement maturity assessment
Driving measurable procurement value
Capstone scoping: a real sourcing or supply challenge
Designing a sourcing or supply strategy
Supply market analysis and Porter’s forces
Supply chain risk identification and mapping
Procurement transformation and operating models
Procurement and contract management
Vendor selection and management
Supply market analysis
Contract law and formation
Sustainable procurement principles and standards
Fair trade and responsible supply
Procurement and asset management under donor rules
Vendor, venue and supplier contracting for events

Change and Innovation

Category and supplier innovation
Measuring growth and transformation impact
Professional roles, boundaries and settings
Behaviour change and adoption of innovations
Customer experience transformation
Innovation in service delivery
Measuring CX transformation impact
Digital transformation in banking
Innovation and fintech collaboration
Foreign exchange and treasury operations
Technology governance and change control
Sales and marketing transformation
Innovation and new product launch
Foreign exchange and hedging
Supplier development and innovation

Strategic Context

Competitive bidding and tender management
Agile marketing and experimentation
Marketing and sales KPIs and dashboards
Capstone scoping: a real growth or brand challenge
Designing a marketing or sales strategy
Campaign or go-to-market plan
Marketing strategy and the mix
Brand strategy, identity and equity
Pricing strategy
Digital marketing strategy
Content marketing and editorial
Digital transformation and IT strategy
Procurement’s contribution to organisational strategy
Supply markets and the enabling environment
Category management and strategy development

Inclusion and Equity

Financial inclusion strategy
Nomination, succession and diversity
The business case for diversity and inclusion
Handling vulnerable customers
Financial inclusion and agency banking
Financial inclusion and the evolving customer
Digital accessibility and inclusion
Risk assessment and prioritisation
Spend and situation analysis
Spend analysis and demand aggregation
Campaign planning and execution

Crisis and Resilience

Crisis management and recovery
Operational risk and resilience
Business continuity and crisis management
Crisis, resilience and contingency planning
Crisis and reputation communication
Emergency preparedness and response planning
Business continuity and recovery
Managing growth, risk and resilience
Team leadership in sales and marketing
Capacity and performance management
Partnership building and multi-stakeholder platforms

Research and Method

Stakeholder and impact analysis
Training needs analysis and learning strategy
Supply analysis, gaps and scenario planning
Onboarding and induction programme design
Designing a safety programme or control
Legal, cost and feasibility analysis
Risk assessment methodology and matrices
Job safety analysis (JSA) and task risk
Root-cause analysis techniques
Trend analysis and leading indicators
Interaction and experience design
Standard costing and variance analysis
Financial modelling and scenario analysis
Sensitivity, scenario and what-if analysis
Analysis and diagnostic assessment

Knowledge and Records

Lessons learned and knowledge management
Professional documentation and presentation
Process and control documentation
Tender planning and documentation
Incident reporting and record-keeping
Health records, data and confidentiality
Data, records and confidentiality tech
Environmental, social and governance (ESG)
Security governance and management systems
Likelihood, impact and risk rating
Risk treatment and countermeasures

International and Donor Context

Global sourcing and international trade
Proposal development and donor reporting
Decision support and insight
Communicating financial results
Duty of care and risk management
Managing risk and difficult cases
Treatment planning and review
Change talk and readiness
Goal setting and action planning
Habit change and behaviour design
Emerging tools and innovation

Leadership and Governance

Managing complexity and comorbidity
Practice management systems
Managing difficult conversations
Presenting recommendations to senior decision-makers
Managing engagement risk and professional liability
Ethical principles and codes of practice
Project roles and the project manager
Project governance and assurance
Project governance frameworks
Stakeholder and sponsor management
Managing organisational politics
Environmental governance and climate risk
Leadership and management development
Safety management systems overview (ISO 45001)
Safety culture and leadership

Risk, Compliance and Assurance

Managing boundaries and dual relationships
Peer support and consultation
Governance, risk and compliance (GRC)
The regulatory and legal environment
Regulator and investor relations
Committees: audit, risk, remuneration
Compliance frameworks and programmes
Compliance monitoring and testing
Regulatory impact assessment
Legal and regulatory responsibility
Sustaining ethical, effective practice
In-process quality control and inspection
Regulation of transport: authorities, conventions and licensing
Tariffs, regulation and the economics of essential services
Ground control and strata management

Resources and Value

Supplier financial and operational risk
Earned value and forecasting
Cost-benefit and investment appraisal
Project budgeting and financial control
Funding, cash flow and financing
Value and benefits management
Financial risk in projects
Value engineering and optimisation
Realising and measuring project value
Cost estimation and budgeting
Resource planning and levelling
Procurement and supply chain: scope and value
Make-versus-buy and total cost of ownership
Income capitalisation and investment value
Grant compliance and restricted funding management

Learning Outcomes

What You Will Achieve

Total cost of ownership versus purchase — applied to your own work
Negotiating with suppliers — applied to your own work
Demand management and controlling maverick spend — applied to your own work
Managing resistance and capability building — applied to your own work
Security principles — applied to your own work
Buyer behaviour and the customer journey — applied to your own work

Enrolment Process

How to Get Certified

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Step 1: Choose Your Certification

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Step 3: Study in the GLI Learning Portal

Work through 30 structured modules and 150 lessons at your own pace, with downloadable resources and expert-designed content — all inside the LMS.

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Step 4: Pass, Get Certified & Verified

Sit your final examination online, earn your certificate instantly, and receive a globally verifiable Certificate ID — plus GLI Alumni Network access.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions

What is the CLEM certification?

Yes. GLI certifications are recognised across 100+ countries and are aligned with recognised global leadership and management competency frameworks. Graduates receive a digital certificate, a physical certificate and CPD credits recognised by employers worldwide.

Who should enrol in the CLEM?

This certification is ideal for Managers and Team Leaders, Heads of Department and Directors, Senior Executives and Aspiring Leaders and Business Owners and Entrepreneurs, and other professionals seeking to formalise their expertise in strategic leadership, organisational management and business transformation with a globally recognised credential.

How long does the CLEM certification take to complete?

The programme is structured over 9 Week and offers flexible learning modes. Self-paced learners can progress at their own schedule, while live virtual participants follow a structured cohort schedule with facilitator-led sessions.

Is the CLEM internationally recognised?

What is the cost of the CLEM certification?

The Certified Lean Manager is offered in two formats: Self-Paced at USD 349 and Live Virtual at USD 549. Corporate group rates are available for organisations enrolling 5 or more participants. Contact GLI for a bespoke corporate training quotation.

What does the CLEM certification include?

Enrolment includes all study materials and study guides, access to GLI's online learning portal, online examination, digital certificate and badge, physical certificate (posted), CPD credits, GLI alumni network membership, and ongoing facilitator support.

What is the assessment format for the CLEM?

The Certified Lean Manager is assessed through an online examination consisting of multiple-choice questions, case study analysis, and practical application assignments. The assessment is designed to evaluate real-world competency, not just theoretical recall.

What CPD credits do I earn from the CLEM?

The Certified Lean Manager carries Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits, which can be applied towards professional body requirements including recognised international professional associations.

Can I study the CLEM while working full-time?

Absolutely. The self-paced option is designed for busy working professionals and allows you to study when and where it suits you. Live virtual sessions are typically scheduled in the evenings or on weekends to accommodate professional commitments.

What career outcomes can I expect from the CLEM?

Graduates progress towards executive, director and C-suite leadership roles. The CLEM strengthens your expertise in strategic leadership, organisational management and business transformation and positions you for advancement across corporates, public institutions, NGOs and enterprises.

Certified Lean Manager

Certified Lean Manager

Certification at a Glance

Who Should Enrol?

Everything Included in Your Enrolment

Why This Certification Matters for Your Career

Core Competencies You Will Develop

Programme Modules

What You Will Achieve

How to Get Certified

Common Questions

What Our Alumni Say

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