Owner/President Management

Women owners. Empowered by HBS.

Alumni of OPM share stories of how their companies were impacted and their lives were changed.

Need Help? Contact Us:

Ms. Kristin Vaccaro

Manager, Program Advising
Email: kvaccaro@hbs.edu

Identify the Right Program for You

Request the Brochure

Women owners. Empowered by HBS.

Alumni of OPM share stories of how their companies were impacted and their lives were changed.

Need Help? Contact Us:

Ms. Kristin Vaccaro

Manager, Program Advising
Email: kvaccaro@hbs.edu

Identify the Right Program for You

Download the Owner/President Management Program Curriculum Guide

Program Announcement

Thank you for your interest in this program. The MAY 2020 session currently is near capacity. You may wish to consider applying soon.

*If you are a Unit I participant, you will be notified when registration opens for Units II and III. At that time, we will ask you to confirm your seat for the upcoming unit.

Summary

Building, leading, and growing a successful business can be an all-consuming challenge that leaves little time to focus on leadership and personal growth. But as your business challenges expand, so should your strategic vision and go-to-market options. Delivered in three units that span 24 months over three calendar years, the Owner/President Management (OPM) program is a transformative learning experience that will boost your leadership skills—and the value of your enterprise.

Summary: Building, leading, and growing a successful business can be an all-consuming challenge that leaves little time to focus on leadership and personal growth. But as your business challenges expand, so should your strategic vision and go-to-market options. Delivered in three units that span 24 months over three calendar years, the Owner/President Management (OPM) program is a transformative learning experience that will boost your leadership skills—and the value of your enterprise.

Key Benefits

Whether you seek a broader global perspective, a deeper understanding of operations, or greater insight into driving operational excellence, OPM is a game changer that can help you advance your company's agenda and your leadership growth. You will emerge a visionary entrepreneurial leader, ready to inspire an agile culture, lead organizational change, capitalize on disruptive innovation, and sustain enterprise success.

Key Benefits

Understand the major drivers of your business
Position your business for long-term competitive advantage
Strengthen your decision-making and negotiation skills
Capitalize on disruptive innovation and rapid change
Analyze existing resources and build new capabilities
Formulate optimal financing strategies
Embrace digital transformation to drive breakthrough innovation
Lead organizational change and drive profitable growth
Identify and exploit opportunities locally and internationally
Navigate future business and personal transitions
Build a rewarding and enduring network with OPM peers worldwide

Who Should Attend

The program is designed for business owners/founders who:

Have at least 10 years of operating experience
Serve as chief executive officers, chief operating officers, presidents, managing directors, or executive directors of companies
Are actively involved in the business and hold a significant equity stake in the firm

While the curriculum emphasizes entrepreneurial leadership, participants from multigenerational family businesses and long-established companies are also welcome to attend.

Dive Deeper into the Experience

Discover more about business. And yourself.

Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.

Taking Your Business to the Next Level

Learn more about the OPM experience from the Director of OPM/OMP Organizational Development.

Download the Owner/President Management Program Curriculum Guide

Leading With Intentionality

Grow your confidence, vision, and management skills.

Read His Story

Who Should Attend

The program is designed for business owners/founders who:

Have at least 10 years of operating experience
Serve as chief executive officers, chief operating officers, presidents, managing directors, or executive directors of companies
Are actively involved in the business and hold a significant equity stake in the firm

While the curriculum emphasizes entrepreneurial leadership, participants from multigenerational family businesses and long-established companies are also welcome to attend.

Dive Deeper into the Experience

Discover more about business. And yourself.

Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.

Taking Your Business to the Next Level

Learn more about the OPM experience from the Director of OPM/OMP Organizational Development.

Download the Owner/President Management Program Curriculum Guide

Leading With Intentionality

Grow your confidence, vision, and management skills.

Read His Story

Learning and Living at HBS

OPM is a highly structured yet deeply personalized experience. From the careful selection of living group members and new HBS case studies to professional executive coaching for individuals and teams, every aspect is designed to foster collaborative learning and accelerate personal growth.

Learning and Living at HBS: OPM is a highly structured yet deeply personalized experience. From the careful selection of living group members and new HBS case studies to professional executive coaching for individuals and teams, every aspect is designed to foster collaborative learning and accelerate personal growth.

Alumni Status

Upon completing the Owner/President Management program, you will become a lifetime member of the HBS alumni community—gaining exclusive access to our vast global alumni network and an array of resources that facilitate lifelong learning, growth, and success. Learn more.

Alumni Status: Upon completing the Owner/President Management program, you will become a lifetime member of the HBS alumni community—gaining exclusive access to our vast global alumni network and an array of resources that facilitate lifelong learning, growth, and success. Learn more.

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 the Owner/President Management program has no formal educational requirements, admission is a selective process based on your professional achievement and organizational responsibilities.

The Application Process

HBS seeks entrepreneurial executives who have the potential to boost their leadership skills—and the value of their enterprise. We select applicants who embrace challenges, seek genuine personal and professional growth, and are ready to innovate—in themselves and in their organizations. The curious, open-minded executive who commits wholeheartedly will find the program to be a highly stimulating, rewarding—even life-changing—experience.

To apply, you will submit the application, telling us about your professional background, your organization, and your current responsibilities, goals, and challenges.

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).

English Proficiency

Proficiency in spoken and written English is essential for active participation in fast-moving classes and small group discussions.

Learning Commitment

Residency on campus is required for the on-campus units, and classes are held six days a week. Your active participation in all classroom sessions, case discussions, and other program activities is essential, so you must be free of other responsibilities while you are on campus. Between sessions, you will be expected to reflect on and apply what you have learned.

Application Submission

We recommend that you apply as soon as you can, and 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, 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

The Application Process

To apply, you will submit the application, telling us about your professional background, your organization, and your current responsibilities, goals, and challenges.

Answering Your Questions

English Proficiency

Proficiency in spoken and written English is essential for active participation in fast-moving classes and small group discussions.

Learning Commitment

Application Submission

Application Review

Fee, Payment, and Cancellations

What You Will Learn

Featuring three highly integrated on-campus units, the Owner/President Management program is designed to expand your leadership skills, confidence, and vision—and prepare you for the challenges and opportunities ahead. Each three-week unit delves into essential business fundamentals, emerging best practices, and areas of special interest to entrepreneurial business leaders.

Immersed in dynamic case studies, interactive faculty presentations, and individual and group exercises, you will focus on corporate growth, leadership expertise, and financial success. In addition to renowned industry guest speakers, the program features self-assessment and one-on-one coaching sessions to help you balance your business objectives with your personal and professional goals.

Between sessions, you will apply what you’ve learned back at your company, address specific needs, test new skills and insights, and reassess and improve your performance as a leader.

What You Will Learn

Between sessions, you will apply what you’ve learned back at your company, address specific needs, test new skills and insights, and reassess and improve your performance as a leader.

Download the Owner/President Management Program Curriculum Guide

Unit DetailsExpand All Collapse All

UNIT I: Analyzing and Pursuing Opportunities (3 weeks)UNIT I: Analyzing and Pursuing Opportunities (3 weeks)

Expand the frameworks and approaches for analyzing your current business
Identify opportunities and threats and then develop a plan to address them
Assess your leadership style and your organization's ability to implement your plan

UNIT II: Leading Growth and Transformation (3 weeks)UNIT II: Leading Growth and Transformation (3 weeks)

Understand the analytical and leadership capabilities needed to drive growth
Develop a plan for leading transformational change and sustaining profitability
Assess the leadership, organizational, and governance capabilities needed during expansion

UNIT III: Planning Future Transitions (3 weeks)UNIT III: Planning Future Transitions (3 weeks)

Develop your business strategy going forward and a game plan for executing it
Identify future business and personal transitions and navigate them strategically
Balance your business objectives with your personal and professional goals

Unit Details

UNIT I: Analyzing and Pursuing Opportunities (3 weeks)

Expand the frameworks and approaches for analyzing your current business
Identify opportunities and threats and then develop a plan to address them
Assess your leadership style and your organization's ability to implement your plan

UNIT II: Leading Growth and Transformation (3 weeks)

Understand the analytical and leadership capabilities needed to drive growth
Develop a plan for leading transformational change and sustaining profitability
Assess the leadership, organizational, and governance capabilities needed during expansion

UNIT III: Planning Future Transitions (3 weeks)

Develop your business strategy going forward and a game plan for executing it
Identify future business and personal transitions and navigate them strategically
Balance your business objectives with your personal and professional goals

Key TopicsExpand All Collapse All

Performance Management: Balance growth, profitability, innovation, and risk Performance Management: Balance growth, profitability, innovation, and risk

Measure economic performance, improve resource allocation, implement strategy, and build performance accountability
Translate your business strategy into performance targets and metrics
Align front-line employees with strategic objectives
Identify and manage organizational risks
Create accountability systems to motivate entrepreneurship and innovation
Build and lead a high-performance culture

Entrepreneurship: Drive high growth while managing uncertainty Entrepreneurship: Drive high growth while managing uncertainty

Identify and prioritize opportunities and risks
Use business analytics to turn a viable opportunity into a focused strategy
Experiment to refine the business model and improve operations
Attract top talent and key resources to turn your vision into reality
Build the capabilities and organization to launch and scale a business

Finance: Manage financial risks strategically,and make better financing decisions.Finance: Manage financial risks strategically,and make better financing decisions.

Analyze the financial strength of your business and your competitors
Support strategy and decision-making through financial systems
Access new funding to grow new business lines or launch new businesses
Value the business to support decisions on investing, purchasing, or selling assets
Leverage a variety of financing options to restructure your business
Harvest business value by divesting a business unit or selling the firm

Global Markets: Gain strategic insight into the international business environment Global Markets: Gain strategic insight into the international business environment

Recognize the opportunities and challenges of doing business across borders
Analyze country context and risk and decide where to locate your business
Explore the economic, political, cultural, and social challenges of conducting business globally
Examine approaches for growing your company in an uncertain world economy

Leadership: Lead and manage people in ways that effectively implement your strategy Leadership: Lead and manage people in ways that effectively implement your strategy

Compare and contrast the leadership and talent management practices of different firms
Evaluate your firm's strategic positioning and ability to create and extract value
Assess and manage performance while giving and receiving feedback
Create a leadership system that supports ongoing operational excellence
Develop a common language across the firm and build stronger networks to share best practices

Marketing: Formulate the key components of a successful marketing strategy Marketing: Formulate the key components of a successful marketing strategy

Identify market opportunities that create value for customers
Build effective go-to-market programs that attract and retain customers and capture value
Include digital marketing tools and strategies to enhance profitability
Evaluate and adjust your firm's marketing plan and allocation of resources
Manage your company's two key marketing assets—customers and brands
Develop growth and change approaches to address unique market dynamics

Negotiations: Achieve better outcomes in a wide array of negotiation environments Negotiations: Achieve better outcomes in a wide array of negotiation environments

Audit your strengths and weaknesses as a negotiator
Test your new negotiation skills in real-world simulations
Develop and fine-tune practical negotiation frameworks
Master situations where much of the action takes place before or after the negotiating session
Deal with uncertainty, deadlock, emotions, and seeming irrationality
Handle complex issues due to pressure from competitors and too little power or leverage
Navigate multiparty environments, including those who obstruct the deal or behave unethically

Operations and Technology: Drive performance through outstanding execution Operations and Technology: Drive performance through outstanding execution

Leverage operational capabilities to address current challenges and spot new opportunities
Focus on the role of the leader in driving operational excellence
Motivate people to consistently perform extraordinary work
Tackle everyday challenges related to quality, availability, and service
Compete on customer service excellence and product innovation
Communicate planned operations investments more effectively to external shareholders

Sales: Create an efficient, effective sales strategy that maximizes return on investment Sales: Create an efficient, effective sales strategy that maximizes return on investment

Leverage your operational capabilities to sustain competitive advantage
Diagnose sales issues beyond anecdotal reports from sales people
Link sales and other go-to-market efforts with strategic objectives
Understand the options and pitfalls in sales hiring, selection, and compensation
Master sales performance management
Develop and execute pricing strategies through inside and field sales efforts
Evaluate and respond to the factors reshaping buying processes and selling requirements

Strategy: Set and achieve long-term strategic goals Strategy: Set and achieve long-term strategic goals

Recognize and fulfill your role and responsibilities as your company's chief strategist
Know the purpose, components, and role of strategy in building competitive advantage
Evaluate the factors that influence your company's ability to sustain a strategic edge
Assess the structure of your industry and the threats or enablers that impact profitability
Understand the competitive environment as well as your firm's strengths and weaknesses
Develop a viable business strategy that addresses both short-term and long-range goals

Key Topics

Performance Management: Balance growth, profitability, innovation, and risk

Measure economic performance, improve resource allocation, implement strategy, and build performance accountability
Translate your business strategy into performance targets and metrics
Align front-line employees with strategic objectives
Identify and manage organizational risks
Create accountability systems to motivate entrepreneurship and innovation
Build and lead a high-performance culture

Entrepreneurship: Drive high growth while managing uncertainty

Identify and prioritize opportunities and risks
Use business analytics to turn a viable opportunity into a focused strategy
Experiment to refine the business model and improve operations
Attract top talent and key resources to turn your vision into reality
Build the capabilities and organization to launch and scale a business

Finance: Manage financial risks strategically,and make better financing decisions.

Analyze the financial strength of your business and your competitors
Support strategy and decision-making through financial systems
Access new funding to grow new business lines or launch new businesses
Value the business to support decisions on investing, purchasing, or selling assets
Leverage a variety of financing options to restructure your business
Harvest business value by divesting a business unit or selling the firm

Global Markets: Gain strategic insight into the international business environment

Recognize the opportunities and challenges of doing business across borders
Analyze country context and risk and decide where to locate your business
Explore the economic, political, cultural, and social challenges of conducting business globally
Examine approaches for growing your company in an uncertain world economy

Leadership: Lead and manage people in ways that effectively implement your strategy

Compare and contrast the leadership and talent management practices of different firms
Evaluate your firm's strategic positioning and ability to create and extract value
Assess and manage performance while giving and receiving feedback
Create a leadership system that supports ongoing operational excellence
Develop a common language across the firm and build stronger networks to share best practices

Marketing: Formulate the key components of a successful marketing strategy

Identify market opportunities that create value for customers
Build effective go-to-market programs that attract and retain customers and capture value
Include digital marketing tools and strategies to enhance profitability
Evaluate and adjust your firm's marketing plan and allocation of resources
Manage your company's two key marketing assets—customers and brands
Develop growth and change approaches to address unique market dynamics

Negotiations: Achieve better outcomes in a wide array of negotiation environments

Audit your strengths and weaknesses as a negotiator
Test your new negotiation skills in real-world simulations
Develop and fine-tune practical negotiation frameworks
Master situations where much of the action takes place before or after the negotiating session
Deal with uncertainty, deadlock, emotions, and seeming irrationality
Handle complex issues due to pressure from competitors and too little power or leverage
Navigate multiparty environments, including those who obstruct the deal or behave unethically

Operations and Technology: Drive performance through outstanding execution

Leverage operational capabilities to address current challenges and spot new opportunities
Focus on the role of the leader in driving operational excellence
Motivate people to consistently perform extraordinary work
Tackle everyday challenges related to quality, availability, and service
Compete on customer service excellence and product innovation
Communicate planned operations investments more effectively to external shareholders

Sales: Create an efficient, effective sales strategy that maximizes return on investment

Leverage your operational capabilities to sustain competitive advantage
Diagnose sales issues beyond anecdotal reports from sales people
Link sales and other go-to-market efforts with strategic objectives
Understand the options and pitfalls in sales hiring, selection, and compensation
Master sales performance management
Develop and execute pricing strategies through inside and field sales efforts
Evaluate and respond to the factors reshaping buying processes and selling requirements

Strategy: Set and achieve long-term strategic goals

Recognize and fulfill your role and responsibilities as your company's chief strategist
Know the purpose, components, and role of strategy in building competitive advantage
Evaluate the factors that influence your company's ability to sustain a strategic edge
Assess the structure of your industry and the threats or enablers that impact profitability
Understand the competitive environment as well as your firm's strengths and weaknesses
Develop a viable business strategy that addresses both short-term and long-range goals

OPM@Work: Putting the Pieces Together

This integrated toolkit helps you apply the business and leadership approaches learned in each OPM unit to the challenges facing your company.

OPM@Work DetailsExpand All Collapse All

OPM@WORK UNIT I OPM@WORK UNIT I

Identify opportunities and threats in your company's strategic position
Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of your company's capabilities and resources
Compare your company's financial performance with your competitors
Select the opportunities you want to pursue between OPM@Work Units I and II
Practice pitching an opportunity and receive feedback from your peers

OPM@WORK UNIT II OPM@WORK UNIT II

Conduct a country analysis and present the results
Assess the value and growth options for your company
Analyze the potential benefits and risks of strategic projects
Improve your leadership style through actionable peer feedback
Develop an action plan for leading growth and transformation

OPM@WORK UNIT III OPM@WORK UNIT III

Assess current and future strategy based on your progress between Units I, II, and III
Evaluate your ability to execute your strategy upon completing the program
Prepare for transitions in your business and in your personal situation

OPM@Work Details

OPM@WORK UNIT I

Identify opportunities and threats in your company's strategic position
Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of your company's capabilities and resources
Compare your company's financial performance with your competitors
Select the opportunities you want to pursue between OPM@Work Units I and II
Practice pitching an opportunity and receive feedback from your peers

OPM@WORK UNIT II

Conduct a country analysis and present the results
Assess the value and growth options for your company
Analyze the potential benefits and risks of strategic projects
Improve your leadership style through actionable peer feedback
Develop an action plan for leading growth and transformation

OPM@WORK UNIT III

Assess current and future strategy based on your progress between Units I, II, and III
Evaluate your ability to execute your strategy upon completing the program
Prepare for transitions in your business and in your personal situation

Special Program FeaturesExpand All Collapse All

Living/Learning Group Work Living/Learning Group Work

During each of the three on-campus units, you will have the opportunity to build close, trusting relationships with a small, diverse group of senior executives who understand your challenges—but are not part of your organization. Your living group will stimulate your learning each day as you:

Share global insights with peer executives who span functions, cultures, and countries
Consider diverse perspectives as you discuss cases and assignments
Complete small group exercises and collaborate on projects as a team
Exchange feedback—both personal and professional—in a safe environment

HBS Executive Coaching HBS Executive Coaching

Our distinctive coaching method is highly integrated into the program to accelerate both individual and team growth. Individual coaching sessions and facilitated team meetings will help you develop your unique leadership style and create a personal action plan for ongoing development. All coaching sessions are strictly confidential, giving you the freedom to share your personal goals and professional challenges.

Special Program Features

Living/Learning Group Work

Share global insights with peer executives who span functions, cultures, and countries
Consider diverse perspectives as you discuss cases and assignments
Complete small group exercises and collaborate on projects as a team
Exchange feedback—both personal and professional—in a safe environment

HBS Executive Coaching

The HBS Advantage

OPM is developed and taught by a multidisciplinary team of 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 and entrepreneurs across the globe.

Faculty Chair

Ananth Raman

UPS Foundation Professor of Business Logistics

HBS Unit:

Technology and Operations Management

Faculty

Lynda M. Applegate

Baker Foundation Professor and Sarofim-Rock Professor of Business Administration, Emerita

HBS Units:

Entrepreneurial Management

General Management

Alberto F. Cavallo

Edgerley Family Associate Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Business, Government and the International Economy

Frank V. Cespedes

MBA Class of 1973 Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Entrepreneurial Management

Boris Groysberg

Richard P. Chapman Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Organizational Behavior

Josh Lerner

Jacob H. Schiff Professor of Investment Banking

HBS Units:

Entrepreneurial Management

Finance

Kevin P. Mohan

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Negotiation, Organizations & Markets

Raffaella Sadun

Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Strategy

Suraj Srinivasan

Philip J. Stomberg Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Accounting and Management

More Admissions Information

The HBS Advantage: OPM is developed and taught by a multidisciplinary team of 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 and entrepreneurs across the globe.

Faculty Chair

Ananth Raman

UPS Foundation Professor of Business Logistics

HBS Unit:

Technology and Operations Management

Read Full Bio

Faculty

Lynda M. Applegate

Baker Foundation Professor and Sarofim-Rock Professor of Business Administration, Emerita

HBS Units:

Entrepreneurial Management

General Management

Read Full Bio

Alberto F. Cavallo

Edgerley Family Associate Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Business, Government and the International Economy

Read Full Bio

Frank V. Cespedes

MBA Class of 1973 Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Entrepreneurial Management

Read Full Bio

Boris Groysberg

Richard P. Chapman Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Organizational Behavior

Read Full Bio

Josh Lerner

Jacob H. Schiff Professor of Investment Banking

HBS Units:

Entrepreneurial Management

Finance

Read Full Bio

Kevin P. Mohan

Senior Lecturer of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Negotiation, Organizations & Markets

Read Full Bio

Raffaella Sadun

Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Strategy

Read Full Bio

Suraj Srinivasan

Philip J. Stomberg Professor of Business Administration

HBS Unit:

Accounting and Management

Read Full Bio

Apply Download Brochure

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.

Request the Brochure

Women owners. Empowered by HBS.

Alumni of OPM share stories of how their companies were impacted and their lives were changed.

Need Help? Contact Us:

Ms. Kristin Vaccaro

Manager, Program Advising
Email: kvaccaro@hbs.edu

Identify the Right Program for You

Request the Brochure

Women owners. Empowered by HBS.

Alumni of OPM share stories of how their companies were impacted and their lives were changed.

Need Help? Contact Us:

Ms. Kristin Vaccaro

Manager, Program Advising
Email: kvaccaro@hbs.edu

Identify the Right Program for You