The information below is based on the prior program session and does not reflect potential changes to faculty and course content for future program offerings. Please consider applying to the related program.

Summary

Global organizations rely on skilled senior global leaders for continued success, especially when faced with a pandemic and volatile economic climate. Leading Global Businesses—Virtual covers the full range of challenges faced by global leaders—globalization, winning in emerging markets, digitization, organizing for global leadership, diversifying your global leadership team, global ethics, global marketing, leading global and local teams—all with the goal of enabling you to become the exceptional leader you would follow.

In this live online program created by HBS professors Bill George, Krishna Palepu, and Tsedal Neeley, you will prepare to step up to more challenging leadership roles in your organization, as you engage with outstanding leaders from leading global companies. In addition to intellectual learning, the program will guide you in a profoundly personal exploration that builds your self-awareness and emotional intelligence, delving into the core of your experience to strengthen your capacities as a global business leader.

You may also be interested in the related in-person program: Leading Global Businesses.

This program is eligible for the Certificate of Management Excellence. Learn More

Summary

You may also be interested in the related in-person program: Leading Global Businesses.

This program is eligible for the Certificate of Management Excellence. Learn More

Key Benefits

Drawing on the diverse capabilities of a powerful faculty team, this highly personalized global leadership program develops both your global intelligence and your personal effectiveness in leading global businesses. You'll learn how to create and sustain global competitive advantage for your company, continue developing your own global leadership, and build global leadership capacity throughout your organization.

DetailsExpand All Collapse All

Design sound global strategies and build strong global organizations Design sound global strategies and build strong global organizations

Adapt your strategies to the rapidly changing global business context
Integrate global and local strengths while improving collaboration across cultures
Create competitive advantage by integrating the best of your organization's global capabilities and applying them to local market challenges

Be an effective leader of global teams Be an effective leader of global teams

Lead with self-awareness, cultural sensitivity, and empathy
Develop a global leadership team that reflects the diversity of your global customers
Align people globally around your company's mission and values
Build internal and external networks around the world

Expand your personal and professional network Expand your personal and professional network

Extend your network by connecting and working with an extremely diverse group of accomplished executives from the world's leading companies
Build relationships with a diverse group of peers who can provide wide-ranging insights into your business and personal leadership challenges

Key Benefits

Details

Design sound global strategies and build strong global organizations

Adapt your strategies to the rapidly changing global business context
Integrate global and local strengths while improving collaboration across cultures
Create competitive advantage by integrating the best of your organization's global capabilities and applying them to local market challenges

Be an effective leader of global teams

Lead with self-awareness, cultural sensitivity, and empathy
Develop a global leadership team that reflects the diversity of your global customers
Align people globally around your company's mission and values
Build internal and external networks around the world

Expand your personal and professional network

Extend your network by connecting and working with an extremely diverse group of accomplished executives from the world's leading companies
Build relationships with a diverse group of peers who can provide wide-ranging insights into your business and personal leadership challenges

Who Should Attend

Global executives, such as CEO/COOs, presidents, and corporate officers leading global businesses
Global business unit leaders
Regional executives or country heads

Attendance by several executives from your organization will foster teamwork and enhance the program's impact. (Please note that executives from the same company will be placed into different groups for the personal development portion of the curriculum.)

Program for Leadership Development participants earn 5 PLDA Points on completion of this program.

Who Should Attend

Global executives, such as CEO/COOs, presidents, and corporate officers leading global businesses
Global business unit leaders
Regional executives or country heads

Program for Leadership Development participants earn 5 PLDA Points on completion of this program.

Leaders in Virtual Learning

When you participate in a virtual HBS Executive Education program, you benefit from a powerful learning experience carefully designed with a virtual setting in mind. Through live, synchronous program sessions you'll engage directly with our renowned faculty to learn from their latest research, gain actionable takeaways, and facilitate your growth. In addition, virtual discussion groups will connect you to a global group of peers and build your network.

Dive Deeper into the Experience

Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.

Youngme Moon teaching in the HBSonline studio

Understanding the Benefits of Our Virtual Programs

Four participants of our live online programs share their experiences.

Read Their Stories

Leaders in Virtual Learning: When you participate in a virtual HBS Executive Education program, you benefit from a powerful learning experience carefully designed with a virtual setting in mind. Through live, synchronous program sessions you'll engage directly with our renowned faculty to learn from their latest research, gain actionable takeaways, and facilitate your growth. In addition, virtual discussion groups will connect you to a global group of peers and build your network.

Dive Deeper into the Experience

Discover more about business. And yourself.Discover more about business. And yourself.

Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.

Watch the Video Watch the Video

Understanding the Benefits of Our Virtual Programs

Four participants of our live online programs share their experiences.

Read Their Stories

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.

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, e-books, and online case materials. You will be invoiced upon admission to the program. Invoices are due within 30 days of receipt, or upon receipt if the program start date is less than 30 days from the invoice date. If you need to cancel or defer your participation, you must submit your request in writing more than 30 days before the start of the program to receive a full refund. Cancellation or deferral requests 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.

Admissions Criteria and Process

Answering Your Questions

Application Submission

Application Review

Fee, Payment, and Cancellations

What You Will Learn

The program centers around Bill George's principles of authentic leaders following their "True North", Krishna Palepu's deep insights into winning in emerging markets, and Tsedal Neeley’s breakthrough work on globalization in the context of digitization and working remotely. The content includes case studies on diverse global leaders facing challenges similar to yours, faculty lectures, introspective individual exercises, and a dynamic exchange with peers and faculty. You will examine how top global companies and their decision-makers lead effectively across markets and borders. In addition, you will benefit from hearing directly from some case protagonists who will be present for their respective case discussions. As you explore the qualities of successful global leaders, you will develop the unique characteristics that will make you an exceptional global leader.

What You Will Learn: The program centers around Bill George's principles of authentic leaders following their "True North", Krishna Palepu's deep insights into winning in emerging markets, and Tsedal Neeley’s breakthrough work on globalization in the context of digitization and working remotely. The content includes case studies on diverse global leaders facing challenges similar to yours, faculty lectures, introspective individual exercises, and a dynamic exchange with peers and faculty. You will examine how top global companies and their decision-makers lead effectively across markets and borders. In addition, you will benefit from hearing directly from some case protagonists who will be present for their respective case discussions. As you explore the qualities of successful global leaders, you will develop the unique characteristics that will make you an exceptional global leader.

Program Format

The program takes place over six days with 2-3 hours of live online classes and breaks throughout the day. Class sessions will take place via the Zoom platform, and many case protagonists will be present for the live sessions. In addition, participants will have daily 90-minute virtual meetings with their Global Leadership Groups for more personalized discussions of their growth and challenges as global leaders. There is also ample opportunity for interaction with faculty and peers inside and outside the class sessions.

Collaborative learning is an integral part of the experience. To maximize the benefit for everyone, you are expected to attend every session, complete all assignments, and contribute effectively in the class and in small groups. 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.

Program Format

Key TopicsExpand All Collapse All

Examining your journey to global leadership Examining your journey to global leadership

Exploring the experiences that have shaped your character and contributed to your development as a global leader
Recognizing your personal biases and difficulties in interacting with people in different parts of the world
Learning how the most difficult times in your life have shaped your values and influenced your worldview

Aligning your leadership purpose and values with your company's mission Aligning your leadership purpose and values with your company's mission

Discovering your leadership purpose and solidifying your values
Aligning people in your global organization around a focused mission and common set values
Addressing difficult ethical challenges you face in global business

Evolving your organization to an integrated global organization with full digitization Evolving your organization to an integrated global organization with full digitization

Operating a global organization as an integrated enterprise
Digitizing your organization globally to optimize performance through remote connections
Optimizing cross-border and cross-business collaboration

Winning in emerging markets Winning in emerging markets

Developing emerging-market strategies that integrate with your global strategies
Promoting emerging-market strategies that create sustainable advantages

Leading and developing global leaders Leading and developing global leaders

Exploring the requirements for global leaders in a volatile world
Developing and managing cross-cultural relationships
Leading global teams

Key Topics

Examining your journey to global leadership

Exploring the experiences that have shaped your character and contributed to your development as a global leader
Recognizing your personal biases and difficulties in interacting with people in different parts of the world
Learning how the most difficult times in your life have shaped your values and influenced your worldview

Aligning your leadership purpose and values with your company's mission

Discovering your leadership purpose and solidifying your values
Aligning people in your global organization around a focused mission and common set values
Addressing difficult ethical challenges you face in global business

Evolving your organization to an integrated global organization with full digitization

Operating a global organization as an integrated enterprise
Digitizing your organization globally to optimize performance through remote connections
Optimizing cross-border and cross-business collaboration

Winning in emerging markets

Developing emerging-market strategies that integrate with your global strategies
Promoting emerging-market strategies that create sustainable advantages

Leading and developing global leaders

Exploring the requirements for global leaders in a volatile world
Developing and managing cross-cultural relationships
Leading global teams

Special Program Features

Personal Development: Your Global Leadership Group (GLG) and Personal Leadership Plan

The journey of becoming an authentic global leader requires understanding your life experiences, especially those outside your country of origin, as well as your personal aspirations, strengths, weaknesses, and biases—along with your greatest crucibles and leadership challenges. Throughout the program, you will explore these influences on your development as a global leader with a small yet diverse group of peers—your Global Leadership Group. You should be prepared for an open and honest discussion with these peers. All information shared during these intimate, supportive exchanges will remain strictly confidential.

The week culminates with the creation of your personal global leadership development plan.

Special Program Features

Personal Development: Your Global Leadership Group (GLG) and Personal Leadership Plan

The week culminates with the creation of your personal global leadership development plan.

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 Cochairs

William W. George

Executive Fellow, Harvard Business School

Read Full Bio

Hubert Joly

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Marketing

Read Full Bio

Tsedal Neeley

Naylor Fitzhugh Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Organizational Behavior

Read Full Bio

Krishna G. Palepu

Ross Graham Walker Professor of Business Administration

HBS Units:

Accounting and Management

General Management

Read Full Bio

Faculty

Nicholas Burns

Harvard Kennedy School:

Roy and Barbara Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations

Read Full Bio

Ranjay Gulati

Paul R. Lawrence MBA Class of 1942 Professor of Business Administration

HBS Units:

Organizational Behavior

Entrepreneurial Management

Read Full Bio

Das Narayandas

Edsel Bryant Ford Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Marketing

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 Cochairs

William W. George

Executive Fellow, Harvard Business School

Read Full Bio

Hubert Joly

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Marketing

Read Full Bio

Tsedal Neeley

Naylor Fitzhugh Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Organizational Behavior

Read Full Bio

Krishna G. Palepu

Ross Graham Walker Professor of Business Administration

HBS Units:

Accounting and Management

General Management

Read Full Bio

Faculty

Nicholas Burns

Harvard Kennedy School:

Roy and Barbara Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations

Read Full Bio

Ranjay Gulati

Paul R. Lawrence MBA Class of 1942 Professor of Business Administration

HBS Units:

Organizational Behavior

Entrepreneurial Management

Read Full Bio

Das Narayandas

Edsel Bryant Ford Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Marketing

Read Full Bio

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.

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Program Finder

Need Help? Contact Us:

Program Advising team

Email: executive_education@hbs.edu

View In-Person Program Offering

Program Finder

Need Help? Contact Us:

Program Advising team

Email: executive_education@hbs.edu

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Leading Global Businesses—Virtual

Summary

Summary

DetailsExpand AllCollapse All

Design sound global strategies and build strong global organizationsDesign sound global strategies and build strong global organizations Dropdown down

Be an effective leader of global teamsBe an effective leader of global teams Dropdown down

Expand your personal and professional networkExpand your personal and professional network Dropdown down

Design sound global strategies and build strong global organizations

Be an effective leader of global teams

Expand your personal and professional network

Who Should Attend

Leaders in Virtual Learning

Leaders in Virtual Learning

Admissions Criteria and Process

Answering Your Questions

Application Submission

Application Review

Fee, Payment, and Cancellations

Answering Your Questions

Application Submission

Application Review

Fee, Payment, and Cancellations

What You Will Learn

What You Will Learn

Program Format

Program Format

Key TopicsExpand AllCollapse All

Examining your journey to global leadershipExamining your journey to global leadership Dropdown down

Aligning your leadership purpose and values with your company's mission Aligning your leadership purpose and values with your company's mission Dropdown down

Evolving your organization to an integrated global organization with full digitizationEvolving your organization to an integrated global organization with full digitization Dropdown down

Winning in emerging marketsWinning in emerging markets Dropdown down

Leading and developing global leadersLeading and developing global leaders Dropdown down

Examining your journey to global leadership

Aligning your leadership purpose and values with your company's mission

Evolving your organization to an integrated global organization with full digitization

Winning in emerging markets

Leading and developing global leaders

Special Program Features

Special Program Features

The HBS Advantage

The HBS Advantage

Accepting Applications

Accepting Applications

Accepting Applications

Accepting Applications

Limited Availability

Accepting Applications

Accepting Applications

Accepting Applications

Accepting Applications

DetailsExpand All Collapse All

Design sound global strategies and build strong global organizations Design sound global strategies and build strong global organizations

Be an effective leader of global teams Be an effective leader of global teams

Expand your personal and professional network Expand your personal and professional network

Key TopicsExpand All Collapse All

Examining your journey to global leadership Examining your journey to global leadership

Aligning your leadership purpose and values with your company's mission Aligning your leadership purpose and values with your company's mission

Evolving your organization to an integrated global organization with full digitization Evolving your organization to an integrated global organization with full digitization

Winning in emerging markets Winning in emerging markets

Leading and developing global leaders Leading and developing global leaders