High Potentials Leadership Program
- Upcoming Sessions
- (1 of 2)
- Dates: 15–20 OCT 2023
- Format: In-Person Learning takes place on the HBS campus or a designated location.
- Location: HBS Campus
- Fee: $16,250
The program fee covers tuition, books, case materials, accommodations, and most meals.
Application Due: 22 SEP 2023
- Dates: 19–24 MAY 2024
- Format: In-Person Learning takes place on the HBS campus or a designated location.
- Location: HBS Campus
- Fee: $17,000
The program fee covers tuition, books, case materials, accommodations, and most meals.
Application Due: 01 MAY 2024

"Being thrust into an environment with so many disparate points of view was refreshing."
Summary
To strengthen the foundation for future success, companies must commit to developing strong leaders at all levels. This program empowers high potential leaders to overcome the increasingly complex challenges that emerge as they take on greater leadership roles. By exploring the pros and cons of diverse leadership styles and strategies, you will expand your ability to build productive teams, champion change, lead in a crisis, and create a culture of high performance.
This high potentials leadership program is presented jointly with the HBS Leadership Initiative.

This program is eligible for the Certificate of Management Excellence. Learn More
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Summary
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To strengthen the foundation for future success, companies must commit to developing strong leaders at all levels. This program empowers high potential leaders to overcome the increasingly complex challenges that emerge as they take on greater leadership roles. By exploring the pros and cons of diverse leadership styles and strategies, you will expand your ability to build productive teams, champion change, lead in a crisis, and create a culture of high performance.
This high potentials leadership program is presented jointly with the HBS Leadership Initiative.
This program is eligible for the Certificate of Management Excellence. Learn More
DetailsExpand AllCollapse All
Foster the right leadership qualities in yourself and othersFoster the right leadership qualities in yourself and others
- Balance your personal leadership style with the demands of the organization without compromising your principles
- Adjust your leadership approach as your responsibilities grow and change
- Develop the next class of high potential leaders—and inspire leadership throughout the organization
Expand your contribution through stronger leadershipExpand your contribution through stronger leadership
- Build high-performance teams that are more than the sum of their parts
- Lead effectively through situations involving conflict
- Receive feedback with an open mind and deliver it with tact
- Build internal and external relationships to achieve both professional and personal goals
Expand your personal and professional networkExpand your personal and professional network
- Extend your network by living and working with accomplished executives 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 business challenges and career decisions
Foster the right leadership qualities in yourself and others
- Balance your personal leadership style with the demands of the organization without compromising your principles
- Adjust your leadership approach as your responsibilities grow and change
- Develop the next class of high potential leaders—and inspire leadership throughout the organization
Expand your contribution through stronger leadership
- Build high-performance teams that are more than the sum of their parts
- Lead effectively through situations involving conflict
- Receive feedback with an open mind and deliver it with tact
- Build internal and external relationships to achieve both professional and personal goals
Expand your personal and professional network
- Extend your network by living and working with accomplished executives 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 business challenges and career decisions
Who Should Attend
This program is designed for high-impact, top-performing individuals—from vice presidents to program managers and team leaders—with 10–20 years of experience in roles of increasing responsibility.
Companies sending groups of three to five participants from different functions will facilitate collaboration, teamwork, and learning across the organization by creating:
- A core group of talented, driven individuals who think about leadership and the challenges confronting emerging leaders
- Champions who can reinforce the principles learned in the program across the company
- Mentors who can help build the next line of leaders

Program for Leadership Development participants earn 5 PLDA Points on completion of this program.
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Who Should Attend
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This program is designed for high-impact, top-performing individuals—from vice presidents to program managers and team leaders—with 10–20 years of experience in roles of increasing responsibility.
Companies sending groups of three to five participants from different functions will facilitate collaboration, teamwork, and learning across the organization by creating:
- A core group of talented, driven individuals who think about leadership and the challenges confronting emerging leaders
- Champions who can reinforce the principles learned in the program across the company
- Mentors who can help build the next line of leaders
Program for Leadership Development participants earn 5 PLDA Points on completion of this program.
Dive Deeper into the ExperienceThrive in a learning environment that welcomes diverse ideas and perspectives.Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.See how exchange with faculty and peers yields new insights into critical business trends.
Learning and Living at HBS
When you participate in an Executive Education program on the HBS campus, you enter an immersive experience where every aspect of the learning model has been carefully designed to facilitate your growth. Your learning will take place on your own, in your living group, and in the larger classroom, driven by the renowned HBS case method.
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Learning and Living at HBS
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When you participate in an Executive Education program on the HBS campus, you enter an immersive experience where every aspect of the learning model has been carefully designed to facilitate your growth. Your learning will take place on your own, in your living group, and in the larger classroom, driven by the renowned HBS case method.
Admissions Criteria and Process
To apply, you will submit:
- The application, telling us about your experience, your organization, and your current responsibilities, goals, and challenges
- A letter of reference from someone familiar with your work
Answering Your Questions
Letter of Reference
Application Submission
Application Review
Fee, Payment, and Cancellations
To apply, you will submit:
- The application, telling us about your experience, your organization, and your current responsibilities, goals, and challenges
- A letter of reference from someone familiar with your work
Answering Your Questions
Letter of Reference
Application Submission
Application Review
Fee, Payment, and Cancellations
What You Will Learn
Featuring faculty presentations, case studies, group discussions, workshops, and individual exercises, this high potentials leadership program examines the distinctive characteristics that define successful leaders. The challenging curriculum is designed to spark thought-provoking debate and analysis, as well as self-reflection and personal development. You will return to your company fully prepared to lead with greater vision, drive meaningful change—and empower others to unleash their leadership potential.
The program will continue delivering value after you return to work. To help you achieve the personal and professional goals you set for yourself, the faculty will send you brief follow-up reminders. You also will be able to draw on a network of peers for advice and support as you confront ongoing leadership challenges.
Participants should expect to spend at least 9-12 hours on self-paced case preparation prior to attending the program. Case materials will be made available approximately two weeks prior to program start.
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What You Will Learn
-
Featuring faculty presentations, case studies, group discussions, workshops, and individual exercises, this high potentials leadership program examines the distinctive characteristics that define successful leaders. The challenging curriculum is designed to spark thought-provoking debate and analysis, as well as self-reflection and personal development. You will return to your company fully prepared to lead with greater vision, drive meaningful change—and empower others to unleash their leadership potential.
The program will continue delivering value after you return to work. To help you achieve the personal and professional goals you set for yourself, the faculty will send you brief follow-up reminders. You also will be able to draw on a network of peers for advice and support as you confront ongoing leadership challenges.
Participants should expect to spend at least 9-12 hours on self-paced case preparation prior to attending the program. Case materials will be made available approximately two weeks prior to program start.
Key TopicsExpand AllCollapse All
Choosing your leadership styleChoosing your leadership style
- Exploring different leadership styles in action
- Assessing the best leadership approach for different situations
- Recognizing the distinction between leadership and management
- Evaluating the pros and cons of different leadership styles
- Overcoming the challenges of co-leadership
Leading teamsLeading teams
- Building more productive teams
- Evaluating and increasing the effectiveness of your team
- Understanding the reality of team life—the good, the bad, and the paradoxical
- Leading diverse teams and getting the most value from differences
- Maximizing creativity in groups
Expressing yourself effectivelyExpressing yourself effectively
- Improving your ability to communicate, whether you're explaining complex information, leading in a crisis, or defending your decisions
- Becoming more persuasive by drawing on techniques from the world of theater, storytelling, and public communications
Managing networksManaging networks
- Establishing effective networks—and overcoming common obstacles
- Viewing your internal and external networks as important leadership assets
- Evaluating and maximizing the value of your networks
- Managing up—why it's important and how to do it
- Addressing the politics of change in constructive ways
Developing talent and leadershipDeveloping talent and leadership
- Creating a culture of leadership
- Motivating a diverse workforce
- Managing performance and nurturing talent
- Improving organizational capability, execution, and innovation
Choosing your leadership style
- Exploring different leadership styles in action
- Assessing the best leadership approach for different situations
- Recognizing the distinction between leadership and management
- Evaluating the pros and cons of different leadership styles
- Overcoming the challenges of co-leadership
Leading teams
- Building more productive teams
- Evaluating and increasing the effectiveness of your team
- Understanding the reality of team life—the good, the bad, and the paradoxical
- Leading diverse teams and getting the most value from differences
- Maximizing creativity in groups
Expressing yourself effectively
- Improving your ability to communicate, whether you're explaining complex information, leading in a crisis, or defending your decisions
- Becoming more persuasive by drawing on techniques from the world of theater, storytelling, and public communications
Managing networks
- Establishing effective networks—and overcoming common obstacles
- Viewing your internal and external networks as important leadership assets
- Evaluating and maximizing the value of your networks
- Managing up—why it's important and how to do it
- Addressing the politics of change in constructive ways
Developing talent and leadership
- Creating a culture of leadership
- Motivating a diverse workforce
- Managing performance and nurturing talent
- Improving organizational capability, execution, and innovation
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.
Wallace Brett Donham Professor of Business Administration
Thomas S. Murphy Senior Lecturer of Business Administration
James Dinan and Elizabeth Miller Professor of Business Administration
Assistant 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 CochairsWallace Brett Donham Professor of Business Administration
HBS Unit:Organizational BehaviorThomas S. Murphy Senior Lecturer of Business Administration
HBS Unit:Organizational BehaviorFacultyJames Dinan and Elizabeth Miller Professor of Business Administration
HBS Unit:Organizational BehaviorAssistant Professor of Business Administration
HBS Unit:Organizational Behavior
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.3%Africa10%Asia Pacific22%Europe7%Latin America10%Middle East48%North America3%Africa10%Asia Pacific22%Europe7%Latin America10%Middle East48%North AmericaTop Industries RepresentedInsights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.Insights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.15%Financial13%Retail Services10%Chem / Pharma / Bio9%Raw Materials / Energy8%High Technology8%Nonprofit Services6%Health Care6%Professional Services5%Utilities / Telecom4%ManufacturingTop Industries RepresentedInsights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.15%Financial13%Retail Services10%Chem / Pharma / Bio9%Raw Materials / Energy8%High Technology8%Nonprofit Services6%Health Care6%Professional Services5%Utilities / Telecom4%ManufacturingExperienceExperienceYears 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 years35-39 years35-39 yearsLess 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 years35-39 years35-39 years
