Leading Professional Service Firms

As entry barriers rapidly disappear, competition is accelerating and reshaping the business landscape for professional service firms. Navigating this continual change successfully requires extraordinary leadership abilities. This professional service firm management program provides the frameworks you need to develop and retain talent, deliver outstanding client service, and build a flexible corporate culture that can exploit disruptive innovation and market trends.

Summary: As entry barriers rapidly disappear, competition is accelerating and reshaping the business landscape for professional service firms. Navigating this continual change successfully requires extraordinary leadership abilities. This professional service firm management program provides the frameworks you need to develop and retain talent, deliver outstanding client service, and build a flexible corporate culture that can exploit disruptive innovation and market trends.

Key Benefits

In this intensive program led by multidisciplinary HBS faculty, you will expand your ability to satisfy clients and motivate staff, build a strong vision and implement an effective strategy, and employ the fiscal discipline to maintain a sound bottom line and maximize enterprise value.

DetailsExpand All Collapse All

Design and implement effective strategies that drive growth and profit Design and implement effective strategies that drive growth and profit

Differentiate your firm in the context of new competitors and market trends
Sharpen core competencies to deliver maximum value to your clients
Maintain strategic and operational alignment and focus through business ebbs and flows

Attract, develop, and retain talented professionals Attract, develop, and retain talented professionals

Foster both organizational success and individual achievement
Create an intimate, flexible culture that is inclusive, supportive, and collegial
Help professionals manage rising expectations, remain productive, and grow throughout their careers
Develop leaders at all levels of your organization

Become a more effective, impactful leader Become a more effective, impactful leader

Implement meaningful governance, decision-making, performance approaches, and metrics
Optimize the use of your time and energy, achieve work-life balance, and help your colleagues to do the same
Communicate your vision and strategy effectively and inspire others to realize their potential

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

Design and implement effective strategies that drive growth and profit

Differentiate your firm in the context of new competitors and market trends
Sharpen core competencies to deliver maximum value to your clients
Maintain strategic and operational alignment and focus through business ebbs and flows

Attract, develop, and retain talented professionals

Foster both organizational success and individual achievement
Create an intimate, flexible culture that is inclusive, supportive, and collegial
Help professionals manage rising expectations, remain productive, and grow throughout their careers
Develop leaders at all levels of your organization

Become a more effective, impactful leader

Implement meaningful governance, decision-making, performance approaches, and metrics
Optimize the use of your time and energy, achieve work-life balance, and help your colleagues to do the same
Communicate your vision and strategy effectively and inspire others to realize their potential

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

Leaders who define and execute strategy for firms and organizations that provide services and who serve in roles such as chief executive officer, general manager, principal, partner, or head of an office, business unit, or practice
Participants may be responsible for accounting, architecture and engineering, marketing and advertising, venture capital, investment banking, software development, technical systems integration or law firm management, or may represent a hospital or university
May also be suitable for: Past participants who attended the program before 2017, when the curriculum was substantially revised and expanded

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

Dive Deeper into the Experience

See how exchange with faculty and peers yields new insights into critical business trends.

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

Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.

Who Should Attend: Leaders who define and execute strategy for firms and organizations that provide services and who serve in roles such as chief executive officer, general manager, principal, partner, or head of an office, business unit, or practice

Participants may be responsible for accounting, architecture and engineering, marketing and advertising, venture capital, investment banking, software development, technical systems integration or law firm management, or may represent a hospital or university

May also be suitable for: Past participants who attended the program before 2017, when the curriculum was substantially revised and expanded

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

Dive Deeper into the Experience

Inside the Classroom Inside the Classroom

See how exchange with faculty and peers yields new insights into critical business trends.

Watch the Video Watch the Video

We Celebrate New Ways of Thinking. Are You Ready?We Celebrate New Ways of Thinking. Are You Ready?

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

Watch the Video Watch the Video

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

Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.

Watch the Video Watch the Video

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.

Review Our Campus Health & Safety Protocols

Learning and Living at HBS

Review Our Campus Health & Safety Protocols

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, 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.

Admissions Criteria and Process

Answering Your Questions

Application Submission

Application Review

Fee, Payment, and Cancellations

What You Will Learn

Your rich learning experience will include multidisciplinary faculty presentations, case studies, and individual and group exercises. Through an intensive and comprehensive curriculum, you will examine the strategic challenges that have transformed the essence of client service, while exploring best practices for developing, governing, and growing a profitable service firm.

During the program, you will develop a personal case based on a specific challenge facing your service organization. After presenting your case and discussing potential actions with peers and faculty, you will leave with a plan you can implement immediately.

What You Will Learn

Key TopicsExpand All Collapse All

Managing talent Managing talent

Why are so many firms about 30 years behind in their appreciation of human capital and talent management?
What are the warning signs of talent problems?
What is your talent strategy—where are you going and how will you get there?
How can you employ big data and artificial intelligence in recruiting and managing talent?
How are compensation models changing—and what does that mean for your organization?

Managing teams Managing teams

How do you get individual contributors to work effectively in teams?
What is the difference between visible and hidden teams—and why does it matter?
How do you leverage your time and energy more effectively when managing others?
How can you be more effective and also have a life outside of work?

Managing attrition Managing attrition

How should you respond to poor engagement scores?
Is it enough that your engagement scores remain the same?
Are you avoiding the tough conversations that you need to have?

Leading with impact Leading with impact

What does it mean to be an authentic leader?
Would your team choose you as their boss?
How can you make a difference in the lives of the people you lead? How will that affect their leadership style and the future of the firm?
How will you lead change? Can you really change yourself, an organization, and an industry? Why do smart professionals resist change?

Professional service firms and governance Professional service firms and governance

Why are partnerships being used more often as organizing and governing structures?
How has global firm management changed over the past few decades?

Special sessions Special sessions

An in-depth look at the major challenges and opportunities facing the global economy
A hands-on exercise in exploring the assumptions that executives make when communicating without enough information
A deep dive into the latest strategies in digital marketing, social media, and direct mail

Key Topics

Managing talent

Why are so many firms about 30 years behind in their appreciation of human capital and talent management?
What are the warning signs of talent problems?
What is your talent strategy—where are you going and how will you get there?
How can you employ big data and artificial intelligence in recruiting and managing talent?
How are compensation models changing—and what does that mean for your organization?

Managing teams

How do you get individual contributors to work effectively in teams?
What is the difference between visible and hidden teams—and why does it matter?
How do you leverage your time and energy more effectively when managing others?
How can you be more effective and also have a life outside of work?

Managing attrition

How should you respond to poor engagement scores?
Is it enough that your engagement scores remain the same?
Are you avoiding the tough conversations that you need to have?

Leading with impact

What does it mean to be an authentic leader?
Would your team choose you as their boss?
How can you make a difference in the lives of the people you lead? How will that affect their leadership style and the future of the firm?
How will you lead change? Can you really change yourself, an organization, and an industry? Why do smart professionals resist change?

Professional service firms and governance

Why are partnerships being used more often as organizing and governing structures?
How has global firm management changed over the past few decades?

Special sessions

An in-depth look at the major challenges and opportunities facing the global economy
A hands-on exercise in exploring the assumptions that executives make when communicating without enough information
A deep dive into the latest strategies in digital marketing, social media, and direct mail

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

David G. Fubini

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Organizational Behavior

Read Full Bio

Faculty

Dennis W. Campbell

Dwight P. Robinson, Jr. Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Accounting and Management

Read Full Bio

Thomas J. DeLong

Baker Foundation Professor of Management Practice

HBS Unit:

Organizational Behavior

Read Full Bio

Heidi Gardner

Harvard Law School:

Distinguished Fellow and Lecturer on Law

Paul D. McKinnon

Visiting Executive

Ashish Nanda

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Strategy

Read Full Bio

Das Narayandas

Edsel Bryant Ford Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Marketing

Read Full Bio

Debora L. Spar

MBA Class of 1952 Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Business, Government and the International Economy

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

David G. Fubini

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Organizational Behavior

Read Full Bio

Faculty

Dennis W. Campbell

Dwight P. Robinson, Jr. Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Accounting and Management

Read Full Bio

Thomas J. DeLong

Baker Foundation Professor of Management Practice

HBS Unit:

Organizational Behavior

Read Full Bio

Heidi Gardner

Harvard Law School:

Distinguished Fellow and Lecturer on Law

Paul D. McKinnon

Visiting Executive

Ashish Nanda

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Strategy

Read Full Bio

Das Narayandas

Edsel Bryant Ford Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Marketing

Read Full Bio

Debora L. Spar

MBA Class of 1952 Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Business, Government and the International Economy

Read Full Bio

Your Peers Expand Your Learning

Global Perspective

Experience the world in your classroom.

Global Perspective

Experience the world in your classroom.

Africa

23%

Asia Pacific

26%

Europe

Latin America

Middle East

37%

North America

6%Africa

23%Asia Pacific

26%Europe

6%Latin America

2%Middle East

37%North America

Experience

Years Worked

Experience

Years Worked

Less than 10 yearsLess than 10 years

10-14 years10-14 years

15-19 years15-19 years

20-24 years20-24 years

25-29 years25-29 years

30-34 years30-34 years

35-39 years35-39 years

40 years or more40 years or more

Less than 10 yearsLess than 10 years

10-14 years10-14 years

15-19 years15-19 years

20-24 years20-24 years

25-29 years25-29 years

30-34 years30-34 years

35-39 years35-39 years

40 years or more40 years or more

Participating Companies Have Included:

Deloitte

Moore Stephens Sydney

Porsche Consulting

Pricewaterhouse Coopers

Skanska

Vanguard

Watermark Search International

West Monroe Partners

Your Peers Expand Your Learning: Global Perspective

Experience the world in your classroom.

Global Perspective

Experience the world in your classroom.

6%

Africa

23%

Asia Pacific

26%

Europe

6%

Latin America

2%

Middle East

37%

North America

6%Africa

23%Asia Pacific

26%Europe

6%Latin America

2%Middle East

37%North America

Experience

Experience

Years Worked

Years Worked

Experience

Years Worked

Less than 10 yearsLess than 10 years

10-14 years10-14 years

15-19 years15-19 years

20-24 years20-24 years

25-29 years25-29 years

30-34 years30-34 years

35-39 years35-39 years

40 years or more40 years or more

Less than 10 yearsLess than 10 years

10-14 years10-14 years

15-19 years15-19 years

20-24 years20-24 years

25-29 years25-29 years

30-34 years30-34 years

35-39 years35-39 years

40 years or more40 years or more

Participating Companies Have Included:

Deloitte

Moore Stephens Sydney

Porsche Consulting

Pricewaterhouse Coopers

Skanska

Vanguard

Watermark Search International

West Monroe Partners

Apply Download Brochure

More Admissions Information

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.

Professors DeLong and Fubini examine the issues facing today's firms.

Thomas J. DeLong

Faculty Cochair

David G. Fubini

Faculty Cochair

Apply

Download Brochure

Program Finder

Need Help? Contact Us:

Program Advising team

Email: executive_education@hbs.edu

Professors DeLong and Fubini examine the issues facing today's firms.

Thomas J. DeLong

Faculty Cochair

David G. Fubini

Faculty Cochair

Apply

Download Brochure

Program Finder

Need Help? Contact Us:

Program Advising team

Email: executive_education@hbs.edu

"The biggest lesson I learned at Leading Professional Service Firms was: We are who we recruit!"

Florian Schatz

Managing Partner, SHS Unternehmensberatung GmbH, Austria

Need Help? Contact Us:

Program Advising team

Email: executive_education@hbs.edu

"The biggest lesson I learned at Leading Professional Service Firms was: We are who we recruit!"

Florian Schatz

Managing Partner, SHS Unternehmensberatung GmbH, Austria

Need Help? Contact Us:

Program Advising team

Email: executive_education@hbs.edu

Related Programs

Professors DeLong and Fubini examine the issues facing today's firms.

Professors DeLong and Fubini examine the issues facing today's firms.

"The biggest lesson I learned at Leading Professional Service Firms was: We are who we recruit!"

"The biggest lesson I learned at Leading Professional Service Firms was: We are who we recruit!"

Summary

Summary

DetailsExpand AllCollapse All

Design and implement effective strategies that drive growth and profitDesign and implement effective strategies that drive growth and profit Dropdown down

Attract, develop, and retain talented professionalsAttract, develop, and retain talented professionals Dropdown down

Become a more effective, impactful leaderBecome a more effective, impactful leader Dropdown down

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

Design and implement effective strategies that drive growth and profit

Attract, develop, and retain talented professionals

Become a more effective, impactful leader

Expand your personal and professional network

Who Should Attend

Who Should Attend

Learning and Living at HBS

Learning and Living at HBS

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

Key TopicsExpand AllCollapse All

Managing talentManaging talent Dropdown down

Managing teamsManaging teams Dropdown down

Managing attritionManaging attrition Dropdown down

Leading with impactLeading with impact Dropdown down

Professional service firms and governanceProfessional service firms and governance Dropdown down

Special sessionsSpecial sessions Dropdown down

Managing talent

Managing teams

Managing attrition

Leading with impact

Professional service firms and governance

Special sessions

The HBS Advantage

The HBS Advantage

Your Peers Expand Your Learning

Your Peers Expand Your Learning

Professors DeLong and Fubini examine the issues facing today's firms.

Professors DeLong and Fubini examine the issues facing today's firms.

"The biggest lesson I learned at Leading Professional Service Firms was: We are who we recruit!"

"The biggest lesson I learned at Leading Professional Service Firms was: We are who we recruit!"

DetailsExpand All Collapse All

Design and implement effective strategies that drive growth and profit Design and implement effective strategies that drive growth and profit

Attract, develop, and retain talented professionals Attract, develop, and retain talented professionals

Become a more effective, impactful leader Become a more effective, impactful leader

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

Key TopicsExpand All Collapse All

Managing talent Managing talent

Managing teams Managing teams

Managing attrition Managing attrition

Leading with impact Leading with impact

Professional service firms and governance Professional service firms and governance

Special sessions Special sessions