African countries face a distinct set of social, economic, and political conditions that create unique business challenges—along with exciting opportunities. To gain a competitive advantage, businesses across the continent need exceptional, confident leaders. This program prepares you to expand your leadership skills as well as your knowledge of local, regional, and global markets. By improving your ability to design and execute winning strategies, deliver innovative offerings, nurture high-performance teams, and navigate rapid change, you will be ready to help your company drive growth in Africa's dynamic markets.
HBS offers this program in partnership with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) of the University of Pretoria in South Africa.
African countries face a distinct set of social, economic, and political conditions that create unique business challenges—along with exciting opportunities. To gain a competitive advantage, businesses across the continent need exceptional, confident leaders. This program prepares you to expand your leadership skills as well as your knowledge of local, regional, and global markets. By improving your ability to design and execute winning strategies, deliver innovative offerings, nurture high-performance teams, and navigate rapid change, you will be ready to help your company drive growth in Africa's dynamic markets.
HBS offers this program in partnership with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) of the University of Pretoria in South Africa.
Featuring an interactive virtual module, an independent work module, and an in-person module on the HBS campus, this program enables rapidly growing organizations to drive business momentum through more effective leadership. By gaining deeper insight into the best practices of successful business leaders, you will be better equipped to lead effectively and help your organization achieve ambitious goals in local markets, regional markets, and across Africa.
Featuring an interactive virtual module, an independent work module, and an in-person module on the HBS campus, this program enables rapidly growing organizations to drive business momentum through more effective leadership. By gaining deeper insight into the best practices of successful business leaders, you will be better equipped to lead effectively and help your organization achieve ambitious goals in local markets, regional markets, and across Africa.
Experienced senior executives in African companies who have significant responsibility in strategic decision-making.
Participants typically represent growth-oriented organizations, including:
Participants might include CEOs, CFOs, business line heads, or other senior members of a company's executive team, as well as directors general of government agencies.
A limited amount of partial scholarship funding may be available for qualified applicants from not-for-profit organizations. Please include a request for funding in your application.
Program for Leadership Development participants earn 10 PLDA Points on completion
of this program.
Experienced senior executives in African companies who have significant responsibility in strategic decision-making.
Participants typically represent growth-oriented organizations, including:
Participants might include CEOs, CFOs, business line heads, or other senior members of a company's executive team, as well as directors general of government agencies.
A limited amount of partial scholarship funding may be available for qualified applicants from not-for-profit organizations. Please include a request for funding in your application.
Program for Leadership Development participants earn 10 PLDA Points on completion
of this program.
The Senior Executive Program—Africa is designed to help you grow as a leader while minimizing time away from work. Emphasizing business challenges of greatest relevance to leaders in African markets, the curriculum examines the real-life experiences of executives from Africa and around the world to illuminate best practices in management and leadership.
The Senior Executive Program—Africa is designed to help you grow as a leader while minimizing time away from work. Emphasizing business challenges of greatest relevance to leaders in African markets, the curriculum examines the real-life experiences of executives from Africa and around the world to illuminate best practices in management and leadership.
The program includes three modules over eight months. Module 1 includes live, synchronous classes on Tuesday and Thursday (8:00 AM to 1:00 PM ET, including two 30-minute breaks), and small group discussions for learning and networking. Class sessions will take place via the Zoom platform over the course of three two-week sessions separated by 2-4 weeks each. This time back at your organization provides the opportunity to begin incorporating new strategies and tactics immediately.
The intensive in-person Module 3 on the HBS campus combine case studies, presentations from both HBS faculty and Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) faculty, dynamic classroom discussions, small group exercises, and guest speakers. Between these two sessions of highly focused learning, you will work on a special project in which you will address an important business challenge facing your organization. You will also have 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.
The program includes three modules over eight months. Module 1 includes live, synchronous classes on Tuesday and Thursday (8:00 AM to 1:00 PM ET, including two 30-minute breaks), and small group discussions for learning and networking. Class sessions will take place via the Zoom platform over the course of three two-week sessions separated by 2-4 weeks each. This time back at your organization provides the opportunity to begin incorporating new strategies and tactics immediately.
The intensive in-person Module 3 on the HBS campus combine case studies, presentations from both HBS faculty and Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) faculty, dynamic classroom discussions, small group exercises, and guest speakers. Between these two sessions of highly focused learning, you will work on a special project in which you will address an important business challenge facing your organization. You will also have 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.
Business success begins with a sound strategy—one based on a clear-sighted understanding of your firm's capabilities and the competitive dynamics. You will learn how companies deliver value to their customers, enable innovation, and evolve their offerings to sustain competitive advantage. You will also learn how to evolve your leadership style in ways that enhance your organization's success. Before attending Module 1, you should identify a business challenge for your organization, which you will work on during the program as part of the Business Challenge Project. (Upon acceptance to the program, you will receive information to help you select your project.) Key topics include:
Participants should set aside 10-12 hours per week during active program weeks for program work in addition to the synchronous class sessions.
Time to put your newfound knowledge into action at your workplace. Working with your team, you will assess your markets and competition and evolve your corporate strategy. You will also take steps to improve your organization's ability to successfully execute your strategy.
You will test out your enhanced leadership skills and explore ways to adapt your leadership approach to meet the needs of your organization. As you become a more effective leader, you will reflect on the results, gathering insights and questions to share with faculty and peers.
In addition, you will work on a plan to address your chosen business challenge—and prepare to present your plan during Module 3.
Convening with peers and faculty in Boston, you will examine a new realm of leadership topics and gain a deeper understanding of the connections among businesses, governments, and the international economy. You will also present the results of your Business Challenge Project to faculty and peers, using their feedback to refine your action plan and prepare to execute it. Key topics include:
Business success begins with a sound strategy—one based on a clear-sighted understanding of your firm's capabilities and the competitive dynamics. You will learn how companies deliver value to their customers, enable innovation, and evolve their offerings to sustain competitive advantage. You will also learn how to evolve your leadership style in ways that enhance your organization's success. Before attending Module 1, you should identify a business challenge for your organization, which you will work on during the program as part of the Business Challenge Project. (Upon acceptance to the program, you will receive information to help you select your project.) Key topics include:
Participants should set aside 10-12 hours per week during active program weeks for program work in addition to the synchronous class sessions.
Time to put your newfound knowledge into action at your workplace. Working with your team, you will assess your markets and competition and evolve your corporate strategy. You will also take steps to improve your organization's ability to successfully execute your strategy.
You will test out your enhanced leadership skills and explore ways to adapt your leadership approach to meet the needs of your organization. As you become a more effective leader, you will reflect on the results, gathering insights and questions to share with faculty and peers.
In addition, you will work on a plan to address your chosen business challenge—and prepare to present your plan during Module 3.
Convening with peers and faculty in Boston, you will examine a new realm of leadership topics and gain a deeper understanding of the connections among businesses, governments, and the international economy. You will also present the results of your Business Challenge Project to faculty and peers, using their feedback to refine your action plan and prepare to execute it. Key topics include:
A multi-module program creates the opportunity to build close, trusting relationships with a small, diverse group of peer executives who can understand your challenges—but are not part of your organization. Throughout the program, you will work with a small group of peers who will stimulate your learning as you:
While on the HBS campus in Boston, you will also share common space with your living/discussion group, forging relationships that serve as a valuable source of peer feedback, support, and advice.
Throughout the program, you will work on a practical plan for addressing a major business challenge confronting your organization. This exercise will enable you to:
Your connection to HBS will continue long after the program ends, providing exclusive access to information that can help you continue to develop as a leader, expand your network, and sustain your company's success. Upon completion of the program, you will receive:
A multi-module program creates the opportunity to build close, trusting relationships with a small, diverse group of peer executives who can understand your challenges—but are not part of your organization. Throughout the program, you will work with a small group of peers who will stimulate your learning as you:
While on the HBS campus in Boston, you will also share common space with your living/discussion group, forging relationships that serve as a valuable source of peer feedback, support, and advice.
Throughout the program, you will work on a practical plan for addressing a major business challenge confronting your organization. This exercise will enable you to:
Your connection to HBS will continue long after the program ends, providing exclusive access to information that can help you continue to develop as a leader, expand your network, and sustain your company's success. Upon completion of the program, you will receive:
HBS 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.
In the Senior Executive Program—Africa, HBS faculty teach alongside top African faculty who are deeply immersed in African business practices, enabling participants to benefit from a wide range of African and global business insights and best practices.
Ramon Casadesus-Masanell
Herman C. Krannert Professor of Business Administration
Srikant M. Datar
Arthur Lowes Dickinson Professor of Business Administration
Nick Binedell
Founding Director and Sasol Chair of Strategic Management
Mihir A. Desai
Mizuho Financial Group Professor of Finance
Caroline M. Elkins
Visiting Professor of Business Administration
Professor of History and of African and African American Studies
Ngao Motsei
Permanent Faculty
Morris Mthombeni
Executive Director of faculty and Lecturer in the Leadership Cluster
Lynn S. Paine
John G. McLean Professor of Business Administration
Forest L. Reinhardt
John D. Black Professor
HBS 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.
In the Senior Executive Program—Africa, HBS faculty teach alongside top African faculty who are deeply immersed in African business practices, enabling participants to benefit from a wide range of African and global business insights and best practices.
Ramon Casadesus-Masanell
Herman C. Krannert Professor of Business Administration
Srikant M. Datar
Arthur Lowes Dickinson Professor of Business Administration
Nick Binedell
Founding Director and Sasol Chair of Strategic Management
Mihir A. Desai
Mizuho Financial Group Professor of Finance
Caroline M. Elkins
Visiting Professor of Business Administration
Professor of History and of African and African American Studies
Ngao Motsei
Permanent Faculty
Morris Mthombeni
Executive Director of faculty and Lecturer in the Leadership Cluster
Lynn S. Paine
John G. McLean Professor of Business Administration
Forest L. Reinhardt
John D. Black Professor