Program for Leadership Development : Accelerating the Careers of High-Potential Leaders

"This program translates knowledge and skills we've gained in the military to the world of business."

Aaron Kendle

CEO, SEAL Future Fund, U.S.

Identify the Right Program for You

Need Help? Contact Us:

Ms. Chelsea Schwerin

Senior Program Advisor
Email: cschwerin@hbs.edu
Telephone: 1.800.427.5577
(outside the U.S., +1.617.495.6555)

Request the Brochure

"This program translates knowledge and skills we've gained in the military to the world of business."

Aaron Kendle

CEO, SEAL Future Fund, U.S.

Identify the Right Program for You

Need Help? Contact Us:

Ms. Chelsea Schwerin

Senior Program Advisor
Email: cschwerin@hbs.edu
Telephone: 1.800.427.5577
(outside the U.S., +1.617.495.6555)

Request the Brochure

PLD Curriculum Guide PDF

This comprehensive guide includes module structure, alumni demographic, and program objectives.

Connect with a world of experience and insight in the Program for Leadership Development.

Cindy Park

Principal, Prado Group, U.S.

Identify the Right Program for You

Need Help? Contact Us:

Ms. Chelsea Schwerin

Senior Program Advisor
Email: cschwerin@hbs.edu
Telephone: 1.800.427.5577
(outside the U.S., +1.617.495.6555)

PLD Curriculum Guide PDF

This comprehensive guide includes module structure, alumni demographic, and program objectives.

Request the Brochure

Connect with a world of experience and insight in the Program for Leadership Development.

Cindy Park

Principal, Prado Group, U.S.

Identify the Right Program for You

Need Help? Contact Us:

Ms. Chelsea Schwerin

Senior Program Advisor
Email: cschwerin@hbs.edu
Telephone: 1.800.427.5577
(outside the U.S., +1.617.495.6555)

Request the Brochure

Lisa Hughes, portfolio director, Program for Leadership Development HBS Executive Education

PLD's portfolio director explains how the program develops the knowing, doing, and being of leadership.

Identify the Right Program for You

Need Help? Contact Us:

Ms. Chelsea Schwerin

Senior Program Advisor
Email: cschwerin@hbs.edu
Telephone: 1.800.427.5577
(outside the U.S., +1.617.495.6555)

Request the Brochure

PLD's portfolio director explains how the program develops the knowing, doing, and being of leadership.

Identify the Right Program for You

Download the Program for Leadership Development Curriculum Guide

Summary

Visionary companies know that long-term success requires a pipeline of emerging executives who can help build and secure a competitive edge. The Program for Leadership Development equips up-and-coming managers with a broader understanding of the global marketplace and a more integrated view of the organization.

A fast-track alternative to the executive MBA, this highly personalized program features two on-campus and two distance-learning modules that focus on accelerating your leadership development. You will return to your organization more confident, more capable, and better equipped to take on new challenges.

Summary

Key Benefits

This leadership development program improves your decision-making and leadership skills by deepening your understanding of core business operations. With broader business knowledge, global perspectives, and leadership insights, you will be ready to identify problems, craft effective solutions, and adapt to global market shifts.

Key Benefits

Lead cross-functional initiatives that generate growth
Develop and lead high-performing global teams
Become a more confident leader with a strong leadership philosophy and presence
Drive innovation and change through a better grasp of the challenges involved
Formulate a detailed action plan to address your strategic and leadership challenges
Build enduring bonds with accomplished peers who span functions, industries, and countries
Take the first step toward becoming a member of the global HBS alumni community

Who Should Attend

Specialists and star contributors with at least 10 to 15 years of work experience who have been identified as outstanding prospects for increased leadership responsibilities
Managers from any business function and at any level, from project leaders to vice presidents

Participating Companies Have Included:

Google

IBM

Intel

Investec

Merck

Microsoft

Naval Special Warefare

Nokia

Ralph Lauren

US Steel

Dive Deeper into the Experience

Discover more about business. And yourself.

Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.

Lessons Learned on Female Leadership

Elena Zafirova describes the challenges women must overcome to assume leadership roles.

Read Her Story

Learn from the Best in the World

The unique PLD experience will enrich your life personally and professionally.

Who Should Attend: Download the Program for Leadership Development Curriculum Guide

Specialists and star contributors with at least 10 to 15 years of work experience who have been identified as outstanding prospects for increased leadership responsibilities

Managers from any business function and at any level, from project leaders to vice presidents

Participating Companies Have Included:

Google

IBM

Intel

Investec

Merck

Microsoft

Naval Special Warefare

Nokia

Ralph Lauren

US Steel

Dive Deeper into the Experience

Discover more about business. And yourself.

Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.

Learn More

Learn More

Lessons Learned on Female Leadership

Elena Zafirova describes the challenges women must overcome to assume leadership roles.

Read Her Story

Learn from the Best in the World

The unique PLD experience will enrich your life personally and professionally.

See His Story

See His Story

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.

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.

Earning Alumni Status

Completing four core modules puts you on the path to achieving HBS alumni status. By also completing PLD Module 5 or an additional 10 nights of HBS Executive Education open-enrollment or custom programs, you will become a lifetime member of the HBS alumni community—gaining exclusive access to our vast global alumni network and an array of resources that facilitate lifelong learning, growth, and success. Learn more.

Earning Alumni Status: Completing four core modules puts you on the path to achieving HBS alumni status. By also completing PLD Module 5 or an additional 10 nights of HBS Executive Education open-enrollment or custom programs, you will become a lifetime member of the HBS alumni community—gaining exclusive access to our vast global alumni network and an array of resources that facilitate lifelong learning, growth, and success. Learn more.

Admissions Criteria and Process

We admit candidates to specific sessions on a rolling, space-available basis, and encourage you to apply as early as possible. Although the program has no formal educational requirements, admission is a selective process based on your professional achievement and organizational responsibilities.

What We Look for in Your Application

We select applicants who embrace challenges, seek genuine personal and professional growth, and are ready to think in new ways about their business and their contribution. The curious, open-minded executive who commits wholeheartedly will find the program to be a highly stimulating, rewarding—even life-changing—experience.

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

To review both the application and letter of reference, download the Application PDF. You can submit your application via our online application form or by returning a completed PDF. When submitting the online application form, you will be asked for the email address of the individual serving as your reference. That individual will receive an email with a link to an online letter of reference form.

Answering Your Questions

Our Program Advising team can help you at any stage of the admissions process—starting with identifying the program that best addresses your learning and development goals. Contact a program advisor via email or call 1.800.427.5577 (outside the U.S., call +1.617.495.6555).

Letter of Reference

To gain a deeper understanding of your background and your potential as a leader, we require a letter of reference from a senior executive within your organization, a board member, or an HBS graduate familiar with your role and responsibilities. To submit the letter, follow the instructions in your application.

Application Submission

We recommend that you apply as soon as you can, and at least four weeks before the program start date. You may use our online form or download an application. HBS maintains all application information in strict confidentiality. We acknowledge receipt of applications via email. In the unlikely event that you do not receive an acknowledgment, please email us at exed_admissions@hbs.edu or call us at +1.617.495.6226.

English Proficiency

Proficiency in spoken and written English is essential for active participation in fast-moving classes and small group discussions.

Learning Commitment

Residency on campus is required for the on-campus modules, and classes are held six days a week. Your active participation in all classroom sessions, case discussions, and other program activities is essential, so you must be free of other responsibilities while you are on campus.

Application Review

To optimize the learning experience and maximize the exchange of ideas, our Admissions Committee makes selections that balance each participant's experience, scope of current responsibilities, and type of organization. HBS seeks candidates who reflect a broad range of industries, functions, countries, and backgrounds. We review applications monthly and will contact you via email with the Admissions Committee's decision.

Fee, Payment, and Cancellations

The program fee covers tuition, books, case materials, accommodations, and most meals. No payment is necessary until you have been accepted. Payment is required prior to the program start date. If you need to cancel or defer participation, you must submit your request in writing more than 30 days before the start of the program to receive a full refund. Cancellations or deferrals received 14 to 30 days prior to the start of the program are subject to a fee of one-half of the program fee. Requests received within 14 days are subject to full payment.

A limited amount of partial scholarship funding may be available for qualified applicants from not-for-profit organizations. Please include a request for funding in your application

Admissions Criteria and Process

What We Look for in Your Application

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

English Proficiency

Proficiency in spoken and written English is essential for active participation in fast-moving classes and small group discussions.

Learning Commitment

Application Review

Fee, Payment, and Cancellations

A limited amount of partial scholarship funding may be available for qualified applicants from not-for-profit organizations. Please include a request for funding in your application

What You Will Learn

Focused on leadership, change, and innovation, the program curriculum is built around four modules—two on-campus and two distance-learning sessions. On campus, you will engage in faculty presentations, case studies, personal assessments, individual and group exercises, and special projects. Through a customized case and professional HBS executive coaching, you will develop a personal action plan for tapping new revenue sources and navigating global market shifts.

The distance-learning modules feature Harvard Business School Online—a powerful digital platform that captures the dynamism of the HBS classroom, connects you to a global network of peers, and provides exclusive access to a wealth of interactive learning tools.

After completing the four modules, you will be eligible to attend PLD Module 5—an optional two-week session on campus that further accelerates your development as a leader and enables you to earn HBS alumni status.

Download the Program for Leadership Development Curriculum Guide

What You Will Learn

Download the Program for Leadership Development Curriculum Guide

Module DetailsExpand All Collapse All

Module 1: Foundational skill building Module 1: Foundational skill building

Format: Individual distance learning before you arrive on campus (12 weeks)

Build shared knowledge and business terminology so you will arrive on campus ready to contribute
Complete introductory courses in accounting, finance, and quantitative methods
Prepare for the cases that you will discuss during Module 2
Begin working on the phone with your professional HBS Executive Coach, who will help you identify the challenge on which you will build your customized case and personal action plan
Set aside 10 to 12 hours per week to complete this work during the 12 weeks leading up to Module 2
Evaluate your current leadership skills through The Leadership Learning Path Assessment tool

Module 2: Cross-functional business approach Module 2: Cross-functional business approach

Format: On the HBS campus (2 weeks)

Develop an end-to-end view of business—and how all functions interrelate
Gain a deeper understanding of strategy, marketing, operations, finance and accounting, leadership and corporate accountability, and more
Recognize the relationships among functional strategy, business-unit strategy, and strategy implementation
Explore how control systems help to execute strategy
Understand the economic, political, and social forces that are shaping the global business environment

Module 3: Strategy formulation and implementation Module 3: Strategy formulation and implementation

Format: Distance learning while you apply new insights at work (14 weeks)

Complete self-directed work at your own pace while engaging in scheduled exercises and group sessions
Round out your understanding of strategy by completing Economics for Managers via Harvard Business School Online
Continue working on your customized case and personal action plan
Develop your living group's solution for the Alumni Challenge

Module 4: Leading change Module 4: Leading change

Format: On the HBS campus (2 weeks)

Identify what needs to change within your organization
Expand your repertoire of change management processes and approaches
Craft a leadership style that helps you unite a team around a clearly articulated vision—and drive essential change
Foster innovation, receptiveness to change, and an entrepreneurial mindset
Present an overview of your customized case and action plan to your coach and living group, gather their feedback, and refine and finalize your personal case
Work with your living group to present your Alumni Challenge solution

Module 5: Personal leadership (Optional)Module 5: Personal leadership (Optional)

Format: On the HBS campus (2 weeks)

Build a strong foundation in corporate finance
Cultivate your ability to lead authentically and with integrity
Make decisions that support your organization's financial needs, legal requirements, and ethical obligations
Address the competing demands of all stakeholders
Create advantage by generating more value for the business and society
Become a more effective negotiator and decision-maker
Develop your leadership vision and address a personal leadership challenge
Attain HBS alumni status upon completing PLD Module 5

Module Details

Module 1: Foundational skill building

Format: Individual distance learning before you arrive on campus (12 weeks)

Build shared knowledge and business terminology so you will arrive on campus ready to contribute
Complete introductory courses in accounting, finance, and quantitative methods
Prepare for the cases that you will discuss during Module 2
Begin working on the phone with your professional HBS Executive Coach, who will help you identify the challenge on which you will build your customized case and personal action plan
Set aside 10 to 12 hours per week to complete this work during the 12 weeks leading up to Module 2
Evaluate your current leadership skills through The Leadership Learning Path Assessment tool

Module 2: Cross-functional business approach

Format: On the HBS campus (2 weeks)

Develop an end-to-end view of business—and how all functions interrelate
Gain a deeper understanding of strategy, marketing, operations, finance and accounting, leadership and corporate accountability, and more
Recognize the relationships among functional strategy, business-unit strategy, and strategy implementation
Explore how control systems help to execute strategy
Understand the economic, political, and social forces that are shaping the global business environment

Module 3: Strategy formulation and implementation

Format: Distance learning while you apply new insights at work (14 weeks)

Complete self-directed work at your own pace while engaging in scheduled exercises and group sessions
Round out your understanding of strategy by completing Economics for Managers via Harvard Business School Online
Continue working on your customized case and personal action plan
Develop your living group's solution for the Alumni Challenge

Module 4: Leading change

Format: On the HBS campus (2 weeks)

Identify what needs to change within your organization
Expand your repertoire of change management processes and approaches
Craft a leadership style that helps you unite a team around a clearly articulated vision—and drive essential change
Foster innovation, receptiveness to change, and an entrepreneurial mindset
Present an overview of your customized case and action plan to your coach and living group, gather their feedback, and refine and finalize your personal case
Work with your living group to present your Alumni Challenge solution

Module 5: Personal leadership (Optional)

Format: On the HBS campus (2 weeks)

Build a strong foundation in corporate finance
Cultivate your ability to lead authentically and with integrity
Make decisions that support your organization's financial needs, legal requirements, and ethical obligations
Address the competing demands of all stakeholders
Create advantage by generating more value for the business and society
Become a more effective negotiator and decision-maker
Develop your leadership vision and address a personal leadership challenge
Attain HBS alumni status upon completing PLD Module 5

Special Program FeaturesExpand All Collapse All

Living/learning group work Living/learning group work

A four-module program creates the opportunity to build close, trusting relationships with a small, diverse group of peer executives who can understand your challenges—but are not part of your organization. Your living group will stimulate your learning each day as you:

Absorb global insights by working with executives from different countries, cultures, and professional backgrounds
Share diverse perspectives as you discuss cases and assignments
Complete small group exercises and projects as a team
Give and receive feedback and advice—both personal and professional—in a safe environment

HBS executive coaching HBS executive coaching

You will meet your professional HBS executive coach via a one-on-one phone session during Module 1. Individual coaching sessions and facilitated team meetings will help you develop your unique leadership style and create a personal action plan for ongoing development. All coaching sessions are strictly confidential, giving you the freedom to share your personal goals and professional challenges.

Leadership learning path assessment Leadership learning path assessment

A customized, 360-degree assessment of your current skills provides insight into your leadership and management strengths and areas for improvement.

Individual project: customized case and personal action plan Individual project: customized case and personal action plan

You will identify a performance gap or strategic opportunity facing your organization, and then build a comprehensive strategy and implementation plan to address it. During this process, the faculty, your living group, and your HBS Executive Coach will deliver feedback that provides new perspectives and helps you fine-tune your plan.

Team project: alumni challenge Team project: alumni challenge

During Module 3, your living group will compete to find a winning solution to a current business challenge brought to the program by one of our alumni. Building on your coursework in innovation and collaboration, you will leverage your group's unique talents and, in the process, learn how to lead diverse teams in a global context. Your living group coach and project faculty advisor will be available to provide feedback via a dedicated portal, online meeting rooms, and teleconferencing.

Special Program Features

Living/learning group work

Absorb global insights by working with executives from different countries, cultures, and professional backgrounds
Share diverse perspectives as you discuss cases and assignments
Complete small group exercises and projects as a team
Give and receive feedback and advice—both personal and professional—in a safe environment

HBS executive coaching

Leadership learning path assessment

A customized, 360-degree assessment of your current skills provides insight into your leadership and management strengths and areas for improvement.

Individual project: customized case and personal action plan

Team project: alumni challenge

Faculty

The Program for Leadership Development is developed and taught by a multidisciplinary team of 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 Chair

Joshua D. Margolis

James Dinan and Elizabeth Miller Professor of Business Administration. Head of the Organizational Behavior Unit and faculty chair of "Program for Leadership Development" and "PLD Module 5."

Faculty

Prithwiraj Choudhury

Assistant Professor in the Technology and Operations Management Unit.

Rohit Deshpandé

Sebastian S. Kresge Professor of Marketing. Member of the Marketing Unit; and faculty chair of the "Global Colloquium on Participant-Centered Learning."

Elie Ofek

T.J. Dermot Dunphy Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Marketing Unit.

Laura Morgan Roberts

Visiting Scholar. Member of the Negotiation, Organizations & Markets Unit.

Eugene F. Soltes

Jakurski Family Associate Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Accounting and Management Unit.

Gunnar Trumbull

Philip Caldwell Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Business, Government and the International Economy Unit.

Eric J. Van den Steen

Royal Little Professor of Business Administration.

Faculty: The Program for Leadership Development is developed and taught by a multidisciplinary team of 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 Chair

Joshua D. Margolis

James Dinan and Elizabeth Miller Professor of Business Administration. Head of the Organizational Behavior Unit and faculty chair of "Program for Leadership Development" and "PLD Module 5."

Read Full Bio

Faculty

Prithwiraj Choudhury

Assistant Professor in the Technology and Operations Management Unit.

Read Full Bio

Rohit Deshpandé

Sebastian S. Kresge Professor of Marketing. Member of the Marketing Unit; and faculty chair of the "Global Colloquium on Participant-Centered Learning."

Read Full Bio

Elie Ofek

T.J. Dermot Dunphy Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Marketing Unit.

Read Full Bio

Laura Morgan Roberts

Visiting Scholar. Member of the Negotiation, Organizations & Markets Unit.

Read Full Bio

Eugene F. Soltes

Jakurski Family Associate Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Accounting and Management Unit.

Read Full Bio

Gunnar Trumbull

Philip Caldwell Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Business, Government and the International Economy Unit.

Read Full Bio

Eric J. Van den Steen

Royal Little Professor of Business Administration.

Read Full Bio

AN ALTERNATIVE TO AN EXECUTIVE MBA

At HBS Executive Education, we offer an accelerated alternative to an executive MBA program—the Program for Leadership Development. Unlike traditional executive MBA programs, this unique learning experience is specifically designed to fast-track your career by addressing your leadership objectives, business challenges, and professional development goals.

Often compared to a rapid-fire executive MBA, the Program for Leadership Development features a compressed format, a personal case study that highlights a real-life organizational challenge, facilitated team meetings with accomplished peers from around the world, and one-on-one professional coaching sessions aimed at helping you develop your own leadership style.

If you have at least 10 to 15 years of work experience and have been identified as an outstanding prospect for increased leadership responsibilities, the Program for Leadership Development might be right for you. Through a rigorous curriculum focused on leadership, change, and innovation, you will emerge with a personal action plan for advancing your leadership goals—and strengthening your company's competitive advantage.

AN ALTERNATIVE TO AN EXECUTIVE MBA

Apply Application PDF

More Admissions Information

Need Help? Contact Us:

Ms. Chelsea Schwerin

Senior Program Advisor
Email: cschwerin@hbs.edu
Telephone: 1.800.427.5577
(outside the U.S., +1.617.495.6555)

Request the Brochure

"This program translates knowledge and skills we've gained in the military to the world of business."

Aaron Kendle

CEO, SEAL Future Fund, U.S.

Identify the Right Program for You

Need Help? Contact Us:

Ms. Chelsea Schwerin

Senior Program Advisor
Email: cschwerin@hbs.edu
Telephone: 1.800.427.5577
(outside the U.S., +1.617.495.6555)

Request the Brochure

"This program translates knowledge and skills we've gained in the military to the world of business."

Aaron Kendle

CEO, SEAL Future Fund, U.S.

Identify the Right Program for You

Need Help? Contact Us:

Ms. Chelsea Schwerin

Senior Program Advisor
Email: cschwerin@hbs.edu
Telephone: 1.800.427.5577
(outside the U.S., +1.617.495.6555)

Request the Brochure

PLD Curriculum Guide PDF

This comprehensive guide includes module structure, alumni demographic, and program objectives.

Connect with a world of experience and insight in the Program for Leadership Development.

Cindy Park

Principal, Prado Group, U.S.

Identify the Right Program for You

Need Help? Contact Us:

Ms. Chelsea Schwerin

Senior Program Advisor
Email: cschwerin@hbs.edu
Telephone: 1.800.427.5577
(outside the U.S., +1.617.495.6555)

PLD Curriculum Guide PDF

This comprehensive guide includes module structure, alumni demographic, and program objectives.

Request the Brochure

Connect with a world of experience and insight in the Program for Leadership Development.

Cindy Park

Principal, Prado Group, U.S.

Identify the Right Program for You

Need Help? Contact Us:

Ms. Chelsea Schwerin

Senior Program Advisor
Email: cschwerin@hbs.edu
Telephone: 1.800.427.5577
(outside the U.S., +1.617.495.6555)

Request the Brochure

PLD's portfolio director explains how the program develops the knowing, doing, and being of leadership.

Identify the Right Program for You

Need Help? Contact Us:

Ms. Chelsea Schwerin

Senior Program Advisor
Email: cschwerin@hbs.edu
Telephone: 1.800.427.5577
(outside the U.S., +1.617.495.6555)

Request the Brochure

PLD's portfolio director explains how the program develops the knowing, doing, and being of leadership.

Identify the Right Program for You