Making Corporate Boards More Effective

A group of executives attentively listening in a lecture hall, with a woman in a red shawl smiling

Deepen your understanding of the board's responsibilities and uncover new ways to mitigate risk and drive long-term corporate success.

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

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There is no one best way for boards to operate—rather, each board must develop practices that suit the unique needs of its company and management.

Making Corporate Boards More Effective explores topics relevant at the highest level of corporate oversight such as financial resilience, strategic direction, executive compensation, and regulatory compliance. Analyze the most important strategic and organizational challenges facing corporate boards today, and find ways to strengthen governance, manage unexpected crises, and add value.

Key Program Features

Key Topics

  • Cultivate positive, trusting relationships within the board and with the management team

  • Develop a more effective board structure, composition, and set of internal processes

  • Make the most of each board member's time, knowledge, and experience

  • Contribute more meaningfully to corporate oversight and risk mitigation

Program Format

  • 4
    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 to meet the needs of independent board members, directors, and CEOs of publicly traded and other established companies

  • This program is not a fit for board members of state-owned enterprises or companies funded by governments, nor is it appropriate for board-facing executives

  • If you have completed Preparing to Be a Corporate Director, we advise waiting two years before applying to Making Corporate Boards More Effective. In addition, you must have joined a corporate board to qualify

Board-facing executives and those aspiring to join a corporate board may be interested in Preparing to Be a Corporate Director or Women on Boards: Succeeding as a Corporate Director.

Global Perspective

A diverse group of four executives laughing and engaging in a casual business meeting, seated around a wooden table with documents
8%
Africa
7%
Asia Pacific
18%
Europe
12%
Latin America
7%
Middle East
48%
North America

Education

Highest Level Attained

  • 7%

    JD/Law

  • 1%

    MD

  • 8%

    PhD

  • 28%

    MBA

  • 14%

    MS/MA

  • 21%

    BS/BA

  • 1%

    Two Years College

  • 1%

    Foreign Diploma

  • 1%

    High School Diploma

Companies That Have Participated

  • American Express
  • Kongsberg Automotive
  • Midwestern Oil & Gas
  • Prudential Capital Group
  • PT Telekomunikasi Selular
  • Qualfon Corporation
  • Radius Health
  • Shutterfly
  • USAA

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 Cochairs

  • Headshot of Lynn S. Paine

    Lynn S. Paine

    Baker Foundation Professor, John G. McLean Professor of Business Administration, Emerita

  • Headshot of Suraj Srinivasan

    Suraj Srinivasan

    Philip J. Stomberg Professor of Business Administration, Chair, MBA Elective Curriculum

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.