Uncertainty and change are relentless challenges for today's leaders. Between expanding globalization, rapid technological shifts, and evolving social norms, how can leaders make the right strategic decisions and leadership choices? In the Leadership for Senior Executives program, you will learn how to manage this uncertainty by exploring five different roles: leader as beacon, leader as coach, leader as innovator, leader as change agent, and leader as architect.

The Leadership for Senior Executives program is presented jointly with the HBS Leadership Initiative.

Summary

The Leadership for Senior Executives program is presented jointly with the HBS Leadership Initiative.

Key Benefits

To lead in an uncertain world, you need to hone your "contextual intelligence" and understand the macro- and micro-level forces influencing your organization's success. This program will help you develop those capabilities and improve your competitive position in the marketplace.

DetailsExpand All Collapse All

Build your contextual intelligence Build your contextual intelligence

Analyze how the environmental context influences how your organization operates and competes
Sharpen your contextual intelligence on a micro level (e.g., adapt your style to motivate and inspire your team) and macro level (e.g., leverage your awareness of the competitive landscape to make strategic decisions)
Build your personal versatility and enhance the adaptability of your organization

Improve how your organization responds to change Improve how your organization responds to change

Discover new ways to lead organizational change
Identify the factors that are standing in the way of innovation
Learn from stories about organizations that have successfully or unsuccessfully adapted to change

Strengthen your organizational leadership Strengthen your organizational leadership

Understand the five roles of leaders (beacon, coach, innovator, change agent, and architect)
Evaluate your leadership style and how you give and receive feedback
Understand and leverage your leadership strengths

Maximize talent in your organization Maximize talent in your organization

Apply strategies for leveraging and retaining talent
Create an environment that brings out the best in your team

Take innovation to the next level Take innovation to the next level

Create a context that encourages the development of both bottom-up and top-down ideas for improvement
Integrate design-thinking principles into your innovation practices
Evaluate whether your culture is conducive to innovation and the "collective genius"

Expand your personal and professional network 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

Key Benefits

Details

Build your contextual intelligence

Analyze how the environmental context influences how your organization operates and competes
Sharpen your contextual intelligence on a micro level (e.g., adapt your style to motivate and inspire your team) and macro level (e.g., leverage your awareness of the competitive landscape to make strategic decisions)
Build your personal versatility and enhance the adaptability of your organization

Improve how your organization responds to change

Discover new ways to lead organizational change
Identify the factors that are standing in the way of innovation
Learn from stories about organizations that have successfully or unsuccessfully adapted to change

Strengthen your organizational leadership

Understand the five roles of leaders (beacon, coach, innovator, change agent, and architect)
Evaluate your leadership style and how you give and receive feedback
Understand and leverage your leadership strengths

Maximize talent in your organization

Apply strategies for leveraging and retaining talent
Create an environment that brings out the best in your team

Take innovation to the next level

Create a context that encourages the development of both bottom-up and top-down ideas for improvement
Integrate design-thinking principles into your innovation practices
Evaluate whether your culture is conducive to innovation and the "collective genius"

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

Senior executives and executive team members with significant management responsibilities and at least 20 years of experience in large established organizations
Particularly appropriate for: Chief executive officers, chief operating officers, chief administrative officers, chief accounting officers, chief financial officers, senior vice presidents, general managers, senior human resource professionals, and divisional directors or leaders

Attendance by two or three members of the senior management team will foster teamwork and amplify the program's impact.

Participating Companies Have Included:

Danone

Comcast

Hewlett Packard

IBM

Michelin

Monash University

Nissan

Ruralco

Saudi Aramco

Saudi Telecom

World Bank

Dive Deeper into the Experience

We Celebrate New Ways of Thinking. Are You Ready?

Thrive in a learning environment that welcomes diverse ideas and perspectives.

Experience the Case Method in the Classroom

Watch participants debate the issues and present their viewpoints.

Discover more about business. And yourself.

Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.

Who Should Attend: Senior executives and executive team members with significant management responsibilities and at least 20 years of experience in large established organizations

Particularly appropriate for: Chief executive officers, chief operating officers, chief administrative officers, chief accounting officers, chief financial officers, senior vice presidents, general managers, senior human resource professionals, and divisional directors or leaders

Attendance by two or three members of the senior management team will foster teamwork and amplify the program's impact.

Participating Companies Have Included:

Danone

Comcast

Hewlett Packard

IBM

Michelin

Monash University

Nissan

Ruralco

Saudi Aramco

Saudi Telecom

World Bank

Dive Deeper into the Experience

We Celebrate New Ways of Thinking. Are You Ready?

Thrive in a learning environment that welcomes diverse ideas and perspectives.

Learn More Learn More

Experience the Case Method in the Classroom

Watch participants debate the issues and present their viewpoints.

Learn More Learn More

Discover more about business. And yourself.

Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.

Learn More Learn More

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.

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 most programs have no formal educational requirements, admission is a selective process based on your professional achievement and organizational responsibilities.

Admissions Criteria and Process

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).

Application Submission

We recommend that you apply 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.

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.

What You Will Learn

Your rich learning experience includes interactive lectures, hands-on workshops, case studies, self-assessments, and other experiential learning opportunities. Exploring the latest research and proven leadership practices, the program balances thought-provoking debate and analysis with structured opportunities for self-reflection and personal development. You will gain new insights for motivating a diverse workforce, leading breakthrough innovation, and fulfilling your organization's mission and vision.

What You Will Learn: Your rich learning experience includes interactive lectures, hands-on workshops, case studies, self-assessments, and other experiential learning opportunities. Exploring the latest research and proven leadership practices, the program balances thought-provoking debate and analysis with structured opportunities for self-reflection and personal development. You will gain new insights for motivating a diverse workforce, leading breakthrough innovation, and fulfilling your organization's mission and vision.

Key AreasExpand All Collapse All

Leader as beacon Leader as beacon

Making leadership decisions in a growth-oriented organization
Setting a vision and direction for the organization while considering the surrounding landscape

Leader as coach Leader as coach

Inspiring and motivating teams to deliver on the organization's mission
Improving how you give feedback, receive feedback, and coach others in your organization
Building self-awareness and identifying new opportunities to expand your leadership style and approach

Leader as innovator Leader as innovator

Using principles of design thinking (ideation, brainstorming, and prototyping) to tap into your organization's "collective genius"
Building a culture of innovation and exploration

Leader as change agent Leader as change agent

Exploring how to proactively design and deliver change initiatives
Discovering ways of addressing resistance to change
Reviewing effective change models and processes

Leader as architect Leader as architect

Leveraging organizational design components to ensure competitive differentiation
Managing integration challenges

Key Areas

Leader as beacon

Making leadership decisions in a growth-oriented organization
Setting a vision and direction for the organization while considering the surrounding landscape

Leader as coach

Inspiring and motivating teams to deliver on the organization's mission
Improving how you give feedback, receive feedback, and coach others in your organization
Building self-awareness and identifying new opportunities to expand your leadership style and approach

Leader as innovator

Using principles of design thinking (ideation, brainstorming, and prototyping) to tap into your organization's "collective genius"
Building a culture of innovation and exploration

Leader as change agent

Exploring how to proactively design and deliver change initiatives
Discovering ways of addressing resistance to change
Reviewing effective change models and processes

Leader as architect

Leveraging organizational design components to ensure competitive differentiation
Managing integration challenges

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.

Faculty Chair

Anthony Mayo

Thomas S. Murphy Senior Lecturer of Business Administration. Member of the Organizational Behavior Unit; and faculty chair of "Leadership for Senior Executives."

Read Full Bio

"One of the biggest challenges that leaders are facing right now is how to deal with contextual shifts."

Learn More

Faculty

Linda A. Hill

Wallace Brett Donham Professor of Business Administration. Faculty chair of the HBS Leadership Initiative. Member of the Organizational Behavior Unit; and faculty chair of "High Potentials Leadership Program" and "Leading and Building a Culture of Innovation."

Read Full Bio

Alan D. MacCormack

MBA Class of 1949 Adjunct Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Technology and Operations Management Unit.

Read Full Bio

Joshua D. Margolis

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

Read Full Bio

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.

Faculty Chair

Anthony Mayo

Thomas S. Murphy Senior Lecturer of Business Administration. Member of the Organizational Behavior Unit; and faculty chair of "Leadership for Senior Executives."

Read Full Bio
"One of the biggest challenges that leaders are facing right now is how to deal with contextual shifts."
Learn More

Faculty

Linda A. Hill

Wallace Brett Donham Professor of Business Administration. Faculty chair of the HBS Leadership Initiative. Member of the Organizational Behavior Unit; and faculty chair of "High Potentials Leadership Program" and "Leading and Building a Culture of Innovation."

Read Full Bio

Alan D. MacCormack

MBA Class of 1949 Adjunct Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Technology and Operations Management Unit.

Read Full Bio

Joshua D. Margolis

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

Read Full Bio

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More Admissions Information

Program content, dates, fees, 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.

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Leading in an Uncertain World

How "contextual intelligence" brings clarity to decision-making.

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