Managing Turbulence
- Dates: TBD
- Format: Blended Combines both in-person and virtual learning.
- Locations: HBS Campus, Virtual
- Fee: TBD
The program fee covers tuition, books, case materials, accommodations, and most meals.

"Companies need to keep making smart decisions to move forward—no business can afford analysis-paralysis."

"The diversity of ideas and the opportunities to share with top senior executives across the globe was life-changing."

Summary
Even before the global pandemic, businesses and their leaders struggled with the extraordinary challenges of technological change, rapidly evolving consumer tastes, and a reconfiguration of the global economic order. COVID-19 added further turbulence, disrupting supply chains and causing an all-out war for scarce talent. How do the best business leaders manage through these disruptions? What strategies have proven successful in unstable environments with few certainties? How do leaders continue to grow when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges?
This program welcomes executives who are tasked with setting the direction of their organization in a volatile business environment. With an equal focus on strategy and leadership, the curriculum reflects our conviction that smart strategic decision-making will bear little fruit in the absence of effective leadership, and that superb leadership skills are of little value when businesses lack strategic moves that cut through the fog of competition. Through this blended, three-module program, you will prepare to identify strategic opportunities and challenges—and then create the conditions for your organization to thrive.

This program is eligible for the Certificate of Management Excellence. Learn More
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Summary
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Even before the global pandemic, businesses and their leaders struggled with the extraordinary challenges of technological change, rapidly evolving consumer tastes, and a reconfiguration of the global economic order. COVID-19 added further turbulence, disrupting supply chains and causing an all-out war for scarce talent. How do the best business leaders manage through these disruptions? What strategies have proven successful in unstable environments with few certainties? How do leaders continue to grow when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges?
This program welcomes executives who are tasked with setting the direction of their organization in a volatile business environment. With an equal focus on strategy and leadership, the curriculum reflects our conviction that smart strategic decision-making will bear little fruit in the absence of effective leadership, and that superb leadership skills are of little value when businesses lack strategic moves that cut through the fog of competition. Through this blended, three-module program, you will prepare to identify strategic opportunities and challenges—and then create the conditions for your organization to thrive.
This program is eligible for the Certificate of Management Excellence. Learn More
Through a three-pronged approach that includes strategy development, strategy execution, and leadership, you will have a rare opportunity to deepen your knowledge, broaden your expertise, and maximize your impact in all three areas of strategic leadership.
Immersed in a vibrant exchange with renowned HBS faculty and a global group of accomplished peers, you will share diverse perspectives and new industry insights. The opening and capstone three-day modules on the HBS campus flank a part-time virtual module that features live online sessions in the HBS Live Online Classroom, and experiments that can be immediately applied in your organization. In the process, you will learn how to champion diversity and inclusion, foster communication and trust—and lead strategic initiatives that accelerate innovation and productivity.
DetailsExpand AllCollapse All
Optimize your organization's capacity to survive and thriveOptimize your organization's capacity to survive and thrive
- Understand the building blocks of organizational transformation
- Measure organizational readiness, resilience, and agility
- Apply value-based thinking to deepen competitive advantage
Become a change-maker who raises the bar for everyoneBecome a change-maker who raises the bar for everyone
- Attract and retain the best talent with a diversity and inclusion approach
- Build a powerful coalition of high-performing individuals and teams
- Cultivate self-awareness and authentic leadership at every level
- Find opportunity, strength, and purpose during challenging times
Expand your personal and professional networkExpand your personal and professional network
- Extend your network by working with accomplished executives from various backgrounds, industries, and countries around the globe
- Build relationships with a diverse group of peers who can provide wide-ranging insights into your business challenges and career decisions
Optimize your organization's capacity to survive and thrive
- Understand the building blocks of organizational transformation
- Measure organizational readiness, resilience, and agility
- Apply value-based thinking to deepen competitive advantage
Become a change-maker who raises the bar for everyone
- Attract and retain the best talent with a diversity and inclusion approach
- Build a powerful coalition of high-performing individuals and teams
- Cultivate self-awareness and authentic leadership at every level
- Find opportunity, strength, and purpose during challenging times
Expand your personal and professional network
- Extend your network by working with accomplished executives from various backgrounds, industries, and countries around 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 vice presidents and senior executives one to two levels from the C-suite at well-established organizations and startups of any size in any industry.
- Future-focused executives who are responsible for implementing strategic change in their organization.

Program for Leadership Development participants earn 8 PLDA Points on completion of this program.
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Who Should Attend
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- Senior vice presidents and senior executives one to two levels from the C-suite at well-established organizations and startups of any size in any industry.
- Future-focused executives who are responsible for implementing strategic change in their organization.
Program for Leadership Development participants earn 8 PLDA Points on completion of this program.
Dive Deeper into the ExperienceSee how exchange with faculty and peers yields new insights into critical business trends.Thrive in a learning environment that welcomes diverse ideas and perspectives.
Blended Learning and Living at HBS
When you participate in a blended Executive Education program at Harvard Business School, you get the best of both worlds—a powerful learning experience that combines highly immersive in-person modules on the HBS campus with highly interactive virtual modules. The blended format provides opportunities to apply new skills and frameworks in your organization during the program.
Both case-based formats are led by HBS faculty, who share their latest research and engage you in a dynamic exchange of ideas with a global community of peers. Each module is carefully designed to maximize the impact, enable immediate application, and accelerate leadership growth.
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Blended Learning and Living at HBS
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When you participate in a blended Executive Education program at Harvard Business School, you get the best of both worlds—a powerful learning experience that combines highly immersive in-person modules on the HBS campus with highly interactive virtual modules. The blended format provides opportunities to apply new skills and frameworks in your organization during the program.
Both case-based formats are led by HBS faculty, who share their latest research and engage you in a dynamic exchange of ideas with a global community of peers. Each module is carefully designed to maximize the impact, enable immediate application, and accelerate leadership growth.
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
Through faculty presentations, workshops, small-group work and more, you will develop your ability to adapt quickly to new realities and secure a competitive advantage as markets shift. This blended learning program includes three intensive modules—two in-person and one virtual—that take place over the course of three months. All three modules feature strategy and leadership projects, global case studies, and individual and team exercises.
In the first on-campus module, you will identify patterns of success and failure in turbulent environments. The second module features live online sessions, experiments that can be immediately applied in your organization, and self-paced work. For the third module, you will return to campus and build on lessons learned, broadening your perspective to explore the challenges facing businesses and society. You will emerge with the expanded leadership skills and strategic vision you need to chart a course for your business.
Module 2 takes place over two months with class sessions occurring in the HBS Live Online Classroom. In addition to the live online sessions, participants will meet with their discussion groups as they work through experiments that bring classroom learning directly to their organizations. Finally, the program designates time prior to Module 3 for personal reflection and preparation.
We recommend setting aside 5-7 hours per week, in addition to the live online classes, for self-paced work throughout Module 2.
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.
-
What You Will Learn
-
Through faculty presentations, workshops, small-group work and more, you will develop your ability to adapt quickly to new realities and secure a competitive advantage as markets shift. This blended learning program includes three intensive modules—two in-person and one virtual—that take place over the course of three months. All three modules feature strategy and leadership projects, global case studies, and individual and team exercises.
In the first on-campus module, you will identify patterns of success and failure in turbulent environments. The second module features live online sessions, experiments that can be immediately applied in your organization, and self-paced work. For the third module, you will return to campus and build on lessons learned, broadening your perspective to explore the challenges facing businesses and society. You will emerge with the expanded leadership skills and strategic vision you need to chart a course for your business.
Module 2 takes place over two months with class sessions occurring in the HBS Live Online Classroom. In addition to the live online sessions, participants will meet with their discussion groups as they work through experiments that bring classroom learning directly to their organizations. Finally, the program designates time prior to Module 3 for personal reflection and preparation.
We recommend setting aside 5-7 hours per week, in addition to the live online classes, for self-paced work throughout Module 2.
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.
Key TopicsExpand AllCollapse All
Module 1: Strategy and leadership—leading organizational and personal change (HBS
campus)Module 1: Strategy and leadership—leading organizational and personal change (HBS
campus)
During Module 1, you will learn how to emerge from difficult circumstances a stronger leader—better prepared to spearhead the right strategic initiatives and more committed to achieving your personal mission and goals. Topics include:
Value creation and value capture
- Understanding and harnessing the power of value-based thinking
- Examining the differences in profitability across firms and industries
Strategic vision
- Finding opportunity, strength, and clarity in moments of great difficulty
- Examining the broad imperatives of succeeding individually and organizationally
Organizational change
- Understanding the building blocks of organizational transformation
- Knowing when to lead change and how to create a powerful coalition
Strategic trade-offs
- Exploring the reasons why companies need to make strategic trade-offs
- Understanding why trade-offs can be difficult and how to execute them
Measuring organizational resiliency
- Strengthening organizational agility and resilience while managing priorities for yourself and your team
- Expediting business processes and supporting team cohesion
Module 2: Influence, time, and the people advantage (virtual, live online and self-paced)Module 2: Influence, time, and the people advantage (virtual, live online and self-paced)
During Module 2, you will map out your individual management style while exploring four critical topics in depth. Each topic area kicks off with an individual exercise, which will then be discussed in the HBS Live Online Classroom. Topics include:
Crisis leadership and managing in uncertainty
- Enhancing your ability to lead when faced with adversity
- Inspiring teams and larger groups to realize their potential
Variable-cost firms and executive time allocation
- Examining the differences between fixed and variable production costs
- Maximizing the allocation of your time, resources, and energy
Strategic implementation
- Discovering how your organization can best allocate resources to promote sustainable growth and profitability
- Creating a blueprint for strategic implementation to apply lessons learned to your own company
Managing energy, focus, and presence
- Examining key behaviors, tactics, and perspectives to enhance your performance and find greater satisfaction as a leader
- Leading yourself for high performance and deep satisfaction
The final weeks of Module 2 is designated for personal reflection and preparation for Module 3.
Module 3: Global challenges and personal leadership (HBS campus)Module 3: Global challenges and personal leadership (HBS campus)
The Module 3 capstone explores big challenges that may impact the success of your organization, from inequality to climate change. Personal leadership development sessions focus on issues specific to the C-suite, such as health, creativity, and loneliness. Topics include:
Global challenges
- Examining the future of globalization and work
- Preparing to navigate the post-pandemic global economy
Personal leadership
- Exploring the dimensions of personal accountability
- Developing an effective personal mission statement
Cultivating self-awareness
- Deepening your sense of self-awareness and self-analysis
- Fostering self-reflection in teams to improve performance
Bringing out the best in others
- Exploring the role of personal crucibles in shaping your leadership journey
- Examining how your leadership style and sense of purpose impact others
Module 1: Strategy and leadership—leading organizational and personal change (HBS campus)
During Module 1, you will learn how to emerge from difficult circumstances a stronger leader—better prepared to spearhead the right strategic initiatives and more committed to achieving your personal mission and goals. Topics include:
Value creation and value capture
- Understanding and harnessing the power of value-based thinking
- Examining the differences in profitability across firms and industries
Strategic vision
- Finding opportunity, strength, and clarity in moments of great difficulty
- Examining the broad imperatives of succeeding individually and organizationally
Organizational change
- Understanding the building blocks of organizational transformation
- Knowing when to lead change and how to create a powerful coalition
Strategic trade-offs
- Exploring the reasons why companies need to make strategic trade-offs
- Understanding why trade-offs can be difficult and how to execute them
Measuring organizational resiliency
- Strengthening organizational agility and resilience while managing priorities for yourself and your team
- Expediting business processes and supporting team cohesion
Module 2: Influence, time, and the people advantage (virtual, live online and self-paced)
During Module 2, you will map out your individual management style while exploring four critical topics in depth. Each topic area kicks off with an individual exercise, which will then be discussed in the HBS Live Online Classroom. Topics include:
Crisis leadership and managing in uncertainty
- Enhancing your ability to lead when faced with adversity
- Inspiring teams and larger groups to realize their potential
Variable-cost firms and executive time allocation
- Examining the differences between fixed and variable production costs
- Maximizing the allocation of your time, resources, and energy
Strategic implementation
- Discovering how your organization can best allocate resources to promote sustainable growth and profitability
- Creating a blueprint for strategic implementation to apply lessons learned to your own company
Managing energy, focus, and presence
- Examining key behaviors, tactics, and perspectives to enhance your performance and find greater satisfaction as a leader
- Leading yourself for high performance and deep satisfaction
The final weeks of Module 2 is designated for personal reflection and preparation for Module 3.
Module 3: Global challenges and personal leadership (HBS campus)
The Module 3 capstone explores big challenges that may impact the success of your organization, from inequality to climate change. Personal leadership development sessions focus on issues specific to the C-suite, such as health, creativity, and loneliness. Topics include:
Global challenges
- Examining the future of globalization and work
- Preparing to navigate the post-pandemic global economy
Personal leadership
- Exploring the dimensions of personal accountability
- Developing an effective personal mission statement
Cultivating self-awareness
- Deepening your sense of self-awareness and self-analysis
- Fostering self-reflection in teams to improve performance
Bringing out the best in others
- Exploring the role of personal crucibles in shaping your leadership journey
- Examining how your leadership style and sense of purpose impact others
Special Program Features
Living Group Acceleration Sessions
These on-campus sessions support and accelerate your progress in achieving personal leadership development goals. You will improve your ability to lead and collaborate with others as a member of a high-performance team.
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Special Program Features
Living Group Acceleration SessionsThese on-campus sessions support and accelerate your progress in achieving personal leadership development goals. You will improve your ability to lead and collaborate with others as a member of a high-performance team.
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.
James E. Robison Professor of Business Administration
Andreas Andresen Professor of Business Administration
Eliot I. Snider and Family Professor of Business Administration
George F. Baker, Jr. Professor of Public Sector Management Teaching Programs
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The HBS Advantage
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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 CochairsJames E. Robison Professor of Business Administration
HBS Unit:General ManagementAndreas Andresen Professor of Business Administration
HBS Unit:StrategyFacultyHarvard Business School:Eliot I. Snider and Family Professor of Business Administration
Harvard Kennedy School:George F. Baker, Jr. Professor of Public Sector Management Teaching Programs
HBS Unit:General Management
Your Peers Expand Your Learning
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Your Peers Expand Your Learning
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Global PerspectiveExperience the world in your classroomGlobal PerspectiveExperience the world in your classroom3%Africa7%Asia Pacific27%Europe17%Latin America10%Middle East36%North America3%Africa7%Asia Pacific27%Europe17%Latin America10%Middle East36%North AmericaTop Industries RepresentedInsights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.Insights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.13%Real Estate / Construction10%Financial10%High Technology10%Manufacturing10%Nonprofit Services10%Professional Services7%Consumer Products7%Education4%Chem / Pharma / Bio4%Health CareTop Industries RepresentedInsights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.13%Real Estate / Construction10%Financial10%High Technology10%Manufacturing10%Nonprofit Services10%Professional Services7%Consumer Products7%Education4%Chem / Pharma / Bio4%Health CareExperienceExperienceYears WorkedYears WorkedExperienceYears WorkedLess than 10 yearsLess than 10 years10-14 years10-14 years15-19 years15-19 years20-24 years20-24 years25-29 years25-29 years30-34 years30-34 years35-39 years35-39 years40 or more40 or moreLess than 10 yearsLess than 10 years10-14 years10-14 years15-19 years15-19 years20-24 years20-24 years25-29 years25-29 years30-34 years30-34 years35-39 years35-39 years40 or more40 or more

"Companies need to keep making smart decisions to move forward—no business can afford analysis-paralysis."

"The diversity of ideas and the opportunities to share with top senior executives across the globe was life-changing."
