Leadership for Senior Executives

Executives asking question during lecture

Lead with confidence in times of uncertainty and disruption. Gain a deeper understanding of both the macro- and micro-level forces that shape your organization's success and enhance your competitive edge.

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

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With increasing globalization, rapid technological shifts, and evolving social norms, adaptability is critical to organizational success.

Leadership for Senior Executives, presented jointly with the HBS Leadership Initiative, provides an immersive exploration of the five key roles today’s leaders need to embody to manage uncertainty: a beacon, a coach, an innovator, a change agent, and an architect. Through this experience, participants hone their “contextual intelligence” regarding the forces impacting their businesses and apply their learnings to real-world challenges they face in their organizations.

Key Program Features

Key Topics

  • Build contextual intelligence to enhance personal versatility and organizational adaptability

  • Define an organizational purpose and embed it across teams

  • Identify barriers to innovation and discover new ways to lead change

  • Evaluate your leadership style and how you give and receive feedback

  • Maximize employee effectiveness at your organization and cultivate a culture of innovation

  • Integrate design-thinking principles into your innovation practices

Program Format

  • 6
    days on the HBS campus
  • 12–15
    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 senior executives and executive team members with significant management responsibilities and at least 20 years of experience in large established organizations.

Individuals and teams are welcome to attend. Sending two or more representatives from your organization fosters teamwork and amplifies program impact.

Global Perspective

Two female and two male executives sit and smile around a table filled with notes.
6%
Africa
17%
Asia Pacific
23%
Europe
5%
Latin America
7%
Middle East
42%
North America

Top Industries Represented

  • 18%

    Financial

  • 9%

    High Technology

  • 8%

    Nonprofit Services

  • 8%

    Professional Services

  • 7%

    Manufacturing

  • 6%

    Health Care

  • 6%

    Raw Materials / Energy

  • 5%

    Education

  • 5%

    Transportation

  • 4%

    Consumer Products

Experience

Years Worked

  • 1%

    Less than 10 years

  • 5%

    15-19 years

  • 41%

    20-24 years

  • 35%

    25-29 years

  • 15%

    30-34 years

  • 3%

    35-39 years

Companies That Have Participated

  • Danone
  • Comcast
  • Hewlett Packard
  • IBM
  • Michelin
  • Monash University
  • Nissan
  • Ruralco
  • Saudi Aramco
  • Saudi Telecom
  • World Bank

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 Chair

  • Headshot of Anthony Mayo

    Anthony Mayo

    Thomas S. Murphy Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

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.