Ascending the Peak: Finding the Leader Within—Virtual
- Dates: TBD
- Format: Virtual Synchronous learning at designated live online session times.
- Fee: TBD
The program fee covers tuition, e-books, and online case materials.
This program includes live online classes, self-paced work, and discussion groups. Download brochure for detailed schedule.Summary
Today's organizations need men and women who can lead with courage and conviction through challenging times and toward worthy, positive change. Each session of this live online program will explore the tools, behaviors, insights, and self-awareness of iconic leaders, how they used these assets toward powerful ends, and how they brought those they led along in pursuit of their respective missions. You will leave the program with an array of actionable learning outcomes, including the development of your own personal leadership plan.
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Summary
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Today's organizations need men and women who can lead with courage and conviction through challenging times and toward worthy, positive change. Each session of this live online program will explore the tools, behaviors, insights, and self-awareness of iconic leaders, how they used these assets toward powerful ends, and how they brought those they led along in pursuit of their respective missions. You will leave the program with an array of actionable learning outcomes, including the development of your own personal leadership plan.
DetailsExpand AllCollapse All
Discover your leadership styleDiscover your leadership style
- Build upon your self-awareness and enhance your own resilience, courage, and self-discipline
- Learn to lead with conviction through challenging times
- Develop a personal leadership plan that will enrich and strengthen the way in which you lead long after the course ends
Lead organizational changeLead organizational change
- Increase your ability to work effectively with others in pursuit of your organization's mission
- Obtain the tools to continue growing your leadership capabilities
Expand your personal and professional networkExpand your personal and professional network
- Extend your network by connecting and working with accomplished directors from various backgrounds, industries, and countries across the globe
- Build relationships with a diverse group of peers, who can provide wide-ranging insights into your personal leadership possibilities as well as the business challenges and career decisions you face
Discover your leadership style
- Build upon your self-awareness and enhance your own resilience, courage, and self-discipline
- Learn to lead with conviction through challenging times
- Develop a personal leadership plan that will enrich and strengthen the way in which you lead long after the course ends
Lead organizational change
- Increase your ability to work effectively with others in pursuit of your organization's mission
- Obtain the tools to continue growing your leadership capabilities
Expand your personal and professional network
- Extend your network by connecting and working with accomplished directors from various backgrounds, industries, and countries across the globe
- Build relationships with a diverse group of peers, who can provide wide-ranging insights into your personal leadership possibilities as well as the business challenges and career decisions you face
Who Should Attend
- Mid-career professionals who are looking to identify and hone their leadership style while accessing the tools and techniques to turn organizational challenges into opportunities for positive change.
- Emerging senior leaders who are searching to enhance their capabilities and capacity to work effectively with others.
Attendance by multiple company representatives will foster teamwork and amplify the program's impact on your organization.

Program for Leadership Development participants earn 2 PLDA Points on completion of this program.
- Mid-career professionals who are looking to identify and hone their leadership style while accessing the tools and techniques to turn organizational challenges into opportunities for positive change.
- Emerging senior leaders who are searching to enhance their capabilities and capacity to work effectively with others.
Attendance by multiple company representatives will foster teamwork and amplify the program's impact on your organization.

Program for Leadership Development participants earn 2 PLDA Points on completion of this program.
Leaders in Virtual Learning
This program features sessions in the HBS Live Online Classroom.
Just as HBS pioneered the case study method, we also built the first live online classroom in 2014 and have been refining and optimizing our virtual program experience ever since. In a world that is now centered around virtual connection, our programs reflect the input and experience of tens of thousands of participants.
When you participate in a virtual HBS Executive Education program, you benefit from a powerful learning experience carefully designed with a virtual setting in mind. Through live, synchronous program sessions you'll engage directly with our renowned faculty to learn from their latest research, gain actionable takeaways, and facilitate your growth. In addition, virtual discussion groups will connect you to a global group of peers and build your network.
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Leaders in Virtual Learning
-
This program features sessions in the HBS Live Online Classroom.
Just as HBS pioneered the case study method, we also built the first live online classroom in 2014 and have been refining and optimizing our virtual program experience ever since. In a world that is now centered around virtual connection, our programs reflect the input and experience of tens of thousands of participants.
When you participate in a virtual HBS Executive Education program, you benefit from a powerful learning experience carefully designed with a virtual setting in mind. Through live, synchronous program sessions you'll engage directly with our renowned faculty to learn from their latest research, gain actionable takeaways, and facilitate your growth. In addition, virtual discussion groups will connect you to a global group of peers and build your network.
Admissions Criteria and Process
Answering Your Questions
Application Submission
Application Review
Fee, Payment, and Cancellations
Answering Your Questions
Application Submission
Application Review
Fee, Payment, and Cancellations
What You Will Learn
In each session, you'll explore the insights, behaviors, and formative experiences of an iconic leader, past or present, such as Howard Schultz, Ernest Shackleton, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Rachel Carson, Nelson Mandela, Katharine Graham, and Greta Thunberg. Course participants will then break into small Leadership Development Group (LDG) sessions to unpack the lessons learned in each session and to explore and share how they can be applied to their unique work context and to their larger leadership journey. Throughout the process, facilitated by a self-paced HBS online learning platform, you will reflect on your own path as a leader and identify the steps you can take to navigate the next phase of your career with greater purpose and determination.
At the end of the course, you'll walk away with a personal leadership development plan, which combines perspectives and insights from the iconic leaders you have studied along with reflections from the LDG sessions and the faculty chair, providing you with actionable takeaways you can use to advance your career.
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What You Will Learn
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In each session, you'll explore the insights, behaviors, and formative experiences of an iconic leader, past or present, such as Howard Schultz, Ernest Shackleton, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Rachel Carson, Nelson Mandela, Katharine Graham, and Greta Thunberg. Course participants will then break into small Leadership Development Group (LDG) sessions to unpack the lessons learned in each session and to explore and share how they can be applied to their unique work context and to their larger leadership journey. Throughout the process, facilitated by a self-paced HBS online learning platform, you will reflect on your own path as a leader and identify the steps you can take to navigate the next phase of your career with greater purpose and determination.
At the end of the course, you'll walk away with a personal leadership development plan, which combines perspectives and insights from the iconic leaders you have studied along with reflections from the LDG sessions and the faculty chair, providing you with actionable takeaways you can use to advance your career.
Program Format
Over the course of 8-weeks, you'll experience the power of the HBS Live Online Classroom—discussing, debating, and engaging live with faculty and peers—while charting your leadership trajectory with a small group of fellow class participants. The live classroom sessions with Professor Nancy Koehn will take place every Tuesday from 4:30 to 6:00 PM ET. Participants will need to log into the Live Online Classroom 30 minutes before the start of each session to conduct a technical check. Each live class will be followed by a 90-minute session with your LDG via the Zoom platform. You will have the option to sign up for your preferred time from 6:30 to 8:00 AM ET or 6:30 to 8:00 PM ET.
Participants should also expect to spend about 4-5 hours in preparation of each class and LDG session, as well as in post-session reflections. The estimated total time commitment for the program is approximately 40-50 hours. Attendance at all sessions and meetings with your LDG at designated times is expected and, just as in our classrooms on campus, everyone will be held to a high standard of engagement through lively discussions, debates, and cold calling.
The part-time schedule of this programs enables you to gain leadership insights you can immediately apply on the job without having to put your work on hold.
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Program Format
-
Over the course of 8-weeks, you'll experience the power of the HBS Live Online Classroom—discussing, debating, and engaging live with faculty and peers—while charting your leadership trajectory with a small group of fellow class participants. The live classroom sessions with Professor Nancy Koehn will take place every Tuesday from 4:30 to 6:00 PM ET. Participants will need to log into the Live Online Classroom 30 minutes before the start of each session to conduct a technical check. Each live class will be followed by a 90-minute session with your LDG via the Zoom platform. You will have the option to sign up for your preferred time from 6:30 to 8:00 AM ET or 6:30 to 8:00 PM ET.
Participants should also expect to spend about 4-5 hours in preparation of each class and LDG session, as well as in post-session reflections. The estimated total time commitment for the program is approximately 40-50 hours. Attendance at all sessions and meetings with your LDG at designated times is expected and, just as in our classrooms on campus, everyone will be held to a high standard of engagement through lively discussions, debates, and cold calling.
The part-time schedule of this programs enables you to gain leadership insights you can immediately apply on the job without having to put your work on hold.
Key TopicsExpand AllCollapse All
Leading change in great turbulence: Howard SchultzLeading change in great turbulence: Howard Schultz
- Explore Schultz's role in organizational transformation
- Consider the critical role that a leader's presence and style play in achieving stakeholder inspiration and engagement
- Learn vital tools for accomplishing your organizational goals
The power of individual agency and leading teams: Ernest ShackletonThe power of individual agency and leading teams: Ernest Shackleton
- Understand your own agency as a leader through Shackleton's own experiences
- Examine the role of self-awareness in that agency
- Identify specific tools for deepening your self-awareness and using it to lead teams
The value of crucibles, resilience, and learning from failure: Abraham LincolnThe value of crucibles, resilience, and learning from failure: Abraham Lincoln
- Explore the most relevant and actionable lessons from Lincoln's leadership
- Understand your crucible and the lessons they offer
- Access your resilience strengths
Developing courage in relation to our greatest fears: Frederick DouglassDeveloping courage in relation to our greatest fears: Frederick Douglass
- Access relevant tools and insights from Douglass' leadership journey
- Examine an important crossroads in your life and what was/is at stake
- Identify your greatest fear and how to move forward in its presence
Finding your sweet spot and embracing mighty purpose: Rachel CarsonFinding your sweet spot and embracing mighty purpose: Rachel Carson
- Assess Carson's most useful tools and lessons
- Examine the spectrum of relevant and effective leadership styles (including the introverted style)
- Begin to craft your purpose statement
Seeing the big picture and sustaining belief in our ability to change the world: Nelson
MandelaSeeing the big picture and sustaining belief in our ability to change the world: Nelson
Mandela
- Identify key leadership lessons of Mandela's experience
- Enhance your ability to see the larger picture of this moment and your role in it
- Understand your own ability to motivate and inspire others
- Continue honing your purpose statement
Finding our mission and developing our own distinctive leadership style: Katherine
GrahamFinding our mission and developing our own distinctive leadership style: Katherine
Graham
- Take stock of the key lessons from Graham's leadership journey
- Explore the evolution of a leader's commitment and self-determination
- Examine a leader's "leap of faith" in service to the mission
- Understand the making of our own leadership style
The next generation of leadership—leading from our humanity: Greta ThunbergThe next generation of leadership—leading from our humanity: Greta Thunberg
- Examine the key lessons of Thunberg's experience thus far
- Assess the making and impact of the next generation of leaders, as exemplified in Greta Thunberg's journey
- Identify the role humanity plays in leading major chance
- Understand the impact leaders such as Thunberg are exercising on younger and older individuals who want to make a difference
Leading change in great turbulence: Howard Schultz
- Explore Schultz's role in organizational transformation
- Consider the critical role that a leader's presence and style play in achieving stakeholder inspiration and engagement
- Learn vital tools for accomplishing your organizational goals
The power of individual agency and leading teams: Ernest Shackleton
- Understand your own agency as a leader through Shackleton's own experiences
- Examine the role of self-awareness in that agency
- Identify specific tools for deepening your self-awareness and using it to lead teams
The value of crucibles, resilience, and learning from failure: Abraham Lincoln
- Explore the most relevant and actionable lessons from Lincoln's leadership
- Understand your crucible and the lessons they offer
- Access your resilience strengths
Developing courage in relation to our greatest fears: Frederick Douglass
- Access relevant tools and insights from Douglass' leadership journey
- Examine an important crossroads in your life and what was/is at stake
- Identify your greatest fear and how to move forward in its presence
Finding your sweet spot and embracing mighty purpose: Rachel Carson
- Assess Carson's most useful tools and lessons
- Examine the spectrum of relevant and effective leadership styles (including the introverted style)
- Begin to craft your purpose statement
Seeing the big picture and sustaining belief in our ability to change the world: Nelson Mandela
- Identify key leadership lessons of Mandela's experience
- Enhance your ability to see the larger picture of this moment and your role in it
- Understand your own ability to motivate and inspire others
- Continue honing your purpose statement
Finding our mission and developing our own distinctive leadership style: Katherine Graham
- Take stock of the key lessons from Graham's leadership journey
- Explore the evolution of a leader's commitment and self-determination
- Examine a leader's "leap of faith" in service to the mission
- Understand the making of our own leadership style
The next generation of leadership—leading from our humanity: Greta Thunberg
- Examine the key lessons of Thunberg's experience thus far
- Assess the making and impact of the next generation of leaders, as exemplified in Greta Thunberg's journey
- Identify the role humanity plays in leading major chance
- Understand the impact leaders such as Thunberg are exercising on younger and older individuals who want to make a difference
The HBS Advantage
Our Executive Education programs are developed and taught by HBS faculty who are widely recognized as skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors. Through their board memberships, consulting, and field-based research, they address the complex challenges facing business leaders across the globe.
James E. Robison Professor of Business Administration
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The HBS Advantage
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Our Executive Education programs are developed and taught by HBS faculty who are widely recognized as skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors. Through their board memberships, consulting, and field-based research, they address the complex challenges facing business leaders across the globe.
Faculty ChairJames E. Robison Professor of Business Administration
HBS Unit:General Management
Your Peers Expand Your Learning
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Your Peers Expand Your Learning
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Global PerspectiveExperience the world in your classroom.Global PerspectiveExperience the world in your classroom.14%Africa8%Asia Pacific18%Europe6%Latin America6%Middle East51%North America14%Africa8%Asia Pacific18%Europe6%Latin America6%Middle East51%North AmericaTop Industries RepresentedInsights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.Insights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.14%High Technology14%Nonprofit Service13%Financial10%Health Care7%Real Estate / Construction6%Chem / Pharma / Bio6%Professional Services5%Raw Materials / EnergyTop Industries RepresentedInsights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.14%High Technology14%Nonprofit Service13%Financial10%Health Care7%Real Estate / Construction6%Chem / Pharma / Bio6%Professional Services5%Raw Materials / EnergyExperienceExperienceYears workedYears workedExperienceYears workedLess than 10 yearsLess than 10 years10-14 years10-14 years15-19 years15-19 years20-24 years20-24 years25-29 years25-29 years30-34 years30-34 years40 or more40 or moreLess than 10 yearsLess than 10 years10-14 years10-14 years15-19 years15-19 years20-24 years20-24 years25-29 years25-29 years30-34 years30-34 years40 or more40 or more