Growing as a Purposeful Leader

Executives engage in classroom discussion

Unleash your organization's potential by adopting tools and approaches that nurture the people and purpose behind your work.

  • Dates

    May 18 – 23, 2025

  • Status

    Accepting Applications

  • Format

    In-Person

  • Location

    HBS Campus

  • Fee

    $17,500

  • Application Due

    Apr 18, 2025

The program fee covers tuition, program materials, accommodations, and most meals.

Download Brochure

Business leaders are expected to deliver more than ever before. Profit is no longer enough to satisfy stakeholders—a company’s purpose and impact on the world are equally important.  

Growing as a Purposeful Leader re-examines traditional leadership models with a renewed focus on self-awareness, authenticity, and personal values. You'll learn how to imbue your company with a meaningful and credible purpose—serving stakeholders and driving performance.

Key Program Features

Key Topics

  • Lead in an era of delivering on considerably broader missions under complex challenges  

  • Define your corporate purpose and bring it to life 

  • Discover untapped creativity and innovation by inspiring and empowering employees to connect more deeply with their work   

  • Identify your personal values, and use them to evolve your leadership style 

  • Harness your purpose to navigate a constantly changing business landscape  

Program Format

  • 6
    days on the HBS campus
  • ~20
    hours of pre-program work

Case materials and a detailed schedule will be made available approximately two weeks prior to program start.

Who Should Attend

This program is designed for CEOs and senior executives at one or two levels from the CEO looking to embrace broader responsibilities at large companies with a sizable workforce.

Attendance by two or more representatives of your organization will allow for a broader impact by fostering a common vocabulary and mutual support in their purpose-driven journeys. Please note that executives from the same company will be placed into different discussion groups.

Related Program: Executives looking to strengthen their global business acumen in addition to the themes of this program can consider the Leading Global Businesses program.

Global Perspective

Two female and two male executives sit and smile around a table filled with notes.
10%
Asia Pacific
11%
Europe
2%
Latin America
77%
North America

Top Industries Represented

  • 35%

    Financial

  • 28%

    Retail Services

  • 14%

    Health Care

  • 6%

    High Technology

  • 3%

    Chem/Pharma/Bio

  • 3%

    Professional Services

  • 3%

    Raw Materials / Energy

  • 3%

    Transportation

  • 3%

    Utilities/Telecommunications

  • 2%

    Consumer Products

Experience

Years Worked

  • 4%

    Less than 10 years

  • 2%

    10-14 years

  • 22%

    15-19 years

  • 22%

    20-24 years

  • 34%

    25-29 years

  • 14%

    30-34 years

  • 2%

    35-39 years

Companies That Have Participated

  • Albertsons
  • Best Buy
  • Edward Jones
  • Instacart
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Kraft Heinz Co
  • Nordstrom
  • Sabre
  • Wegmans
  • Waste Management

Teaching Team

All our executive education programs are developed and taught by a team of widely recognized HBS faculty. Many are 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 Cochairs

Faculty

The HBS Experience

This in-person program takes place on our storied campus where you'll live and learn at the heart of Boston's vibrant business, academic, and technology hubs.

At HBS, every detail is carefully calibrated to drive your success. Living arrangements and classrooms that spark connection. Unrivaled academic resources. And rejuvenating fitness, dining, and cultural amenities.

View of Executive Education area of HBS campus

The dedicated Executive Education area of campus features multiple classroom buildings and three residence halls around a quad

Residence hall bedroom and bathroom, with woman looking out a window

Our well-appointed residence halls feature private bedrooms, living group lounges, and courtyards to fuel vibrant discussions

Admissions

We admit applicants on a rolling, space-available basis, so you are encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible.

The selective admissions process is based on professional achievement, organizational responsibility, and the admissions criteria for each program as described in Who Should Attend. There are no formal educational requirements for HBS Executive Education programs.

Learn more about the admissions process and requirements.

Program content, dates, schedule, fees, technology platforms, and faculty are subject to change. In accordance with Harvard University policy, Harvard Business School does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, sex or sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran status, or disability in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs and activities.