Traditionally, the majority of board appointments are made through informal networks that are especially hard for women to break into. Designed specifically for top women executives, this program provides insight into navigating the board selection process and maximizing your success as a corporate director. Focused on the critical issues facing boards today, you will learn how to approach board selection strategically, raise your profile—and find your best match.

Summary: Traditionally, the majority of board appointments are made through informal networks that are especially hard for women to break into. Designed specifically for top women executives, this program provides insight into navigating the board selection process and maximizing your success as a corporate director. Focused on the critical issues facing boards today, you will learn how to approach board selection strategically, raise your profile—and find your best match.

Key Benefits

Preparing to take your place on a corporate board means building the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that boards are seeking. This program unpacks the process of board selection to help you understand the explicit and implicit ways that boards function. You will learn how to advance your candidacy by making connections with directors, founders, funders, and elite search firms—and excel in your new role by contributing to corporate governance at the highest level.

DetailsExpand All Collapse All

Build your readiness for a board position Build your readiness for a board position

Explore how different types of corporate boards function
Examine the best practices of high-functioning boards
Gain insight into the roles of board members and committees

Pursue a board position Pursue a board position

Understand the politics and pitfalls of corporate networks
Raise your profile among directors, founders, and funders
Match your skills and talents to the board's specific needs

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

Build your readiness for a board position

Explore how different types of corporate boards function
Examine the best practices of high-functioning boards
Gain insight into the roles of board members and committees

Pursue a board position

Understand the politics and pitfalls of corporate networks
Raise your profile among directors, founders, and funders
Match your skills and talents to the board's specific needs

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

Senior businesswomen who hold positions in large established companies ranging from division head to CEO—or who are retired from such positions
Women in senior executive roles who currently sit on nonprofit or private boards who wish to serve on public corporate boards in any industry

Participating Companies Have Included:

Credit Suisse

DuPont Company

General Motors

The Hershey Company

Marriott

NBCUniversal

Office Depot

Save the Children

Thomson Reuters Corporation

Unilever

Zurich Insurance Group

Dive Deeper into the Experience

We Celebrate New Ways of Thinking. Are You Ready?

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

Building a Foundation for Boardroom Success

Increase your impact as a future board member.

Read Her Story

Discover more about business. And yourself.

Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.

Who Should Attend: Senior businesswomen who hold positions in large established companies ranging from division head to CEO—or who are retired from such positions

Women in senior executive roles who currently sit on nonprofit or private boards who wish to serve on public corporate boards in any industry

Participating Companies Have Included:

Credit Suisse

DuPont Company

General Motors

The Hershey Company

Marriott

NBCUniversal

Office Depot

Save the Children

Thomson Reuters Corporation

Unilever

Zurich Insurance Group

Dive Deeper into the Experience

We Celebrate New Ways of Thinking. Are You Ready?

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

Learn More Learn More

Building a Foundation for Boardroom Success

Increase your impact as a future board member.

Read Her Story

Discover more about business. And yourself.

Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.

Learn More Learn More

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.

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.

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.

The application, telling us about your experience, your organization, and your current responsibilities, goals, and challenges
A nominating statement from a senior executive with corporate board experience

To review both the application and nominating statement, download the Application PDF. You can submit your application via our online application form or by returning a completed PDF. When submitting the online application form, you will be asked for the email address of the individual serving as your nominating executive. That individual will receive an email with a link to an online nominating statement.

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).

Nominating Statement

To gain a deeper understanding of your background and your potential as a leader, we require a nominating statement from a senior executive with corporate board experience. To submit the letter, follow the instructions in your application.

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.

A limited number of needs-based partial scholarships are available thanks to the generous support of Linda Rabbitt, CEO and chairman of Rand Construction Corporation. Participants accepted to the program may send a brief statement of need for review by the Financial Aid Committee. For more information, please contact Melissa Walawender at mwalawender@hbs.edu or +1.617.495.6266

Admissions Criteria and Process

To apply, you will submit:

The application, telling us about your experience, your organization, and your current responsibilities, goals, and challenges
A nominating statement from a senior executive with corporate board experience

Answering Your Questions

Nominating Statement

Application Submission

Application Review

Fee, Payment, and Cancellations

What You Will Learn

Through a rich learning experience that includes presentations, case studies, expert panel discussions, and individual coaching sessions, you will set the stage for success as a board member. In addition to engaging with HBS faculty, executive search professionals, legal experts, and cybersecurity experts, you will have the opportunity to exchange insights with other accomplished professional women.

After the program ends, you will be able to draw on resources that can help you research and pursue corporate board opportunities

What You Will Learn

After the program ends, you will be able to draw on resources that can help you research and pursue corporate board opportunities

Key AreasExpand All Collapse All

Understanding how boards work Understanding how boards work

Exploring the legal and regulatory environments affecting boards
Examining the roles and responsibilities of board members
Understanding both formal and informal board dynamics
Recognizing the "gender" lens—how women are perceived in the boardroom
Working with and evaluating the CEO

Developing board-critical skills Developing board-critical skills

Reading between the lines of financial statements
Leading through risk and other oversight challenges
Making strategic and timely decisions
Communicating effectively with diverse stakeholders
Managing yourself in high-stakes situations

Navigating the selection process Navigating the selection process

Understanding how executive firms match candidates with opportunities
Disrupting the established lines of succession
Developing your wish list
Becoming the winning candidate

Raising your profile Raising your profile

Networking within your organization
Establishing connections with elite search firms
Interacting with CEOs to benefit from their experience and perspectives

Key Areas

Understanding how boards work

Exploring the legal and regulatory environments affecting boards
Examining the roles and responsibilities of board members
Understanding both formal and informal board dynamics
Recognizing the "gender" lens—how women are perceived in the boardroom
Working with and evaluating the CEO

Developing board-critical skills

Reading between the lines of financial statements
Leading through risk and other oversight challenges
Making strategic and timely decisions
Communicating effectively with diverse stakeholders
Managing yourself in high-stakes situations

Navigating the selection process

Understanding how executive firms match candidates with opportunities
Disrupting the established lines of succession
Developing your wish list
Becoming the winning candidate

Raising your profile

Networking within your organization
Establishing connections with elite search firms
Interacting with CEOs to benefit from their experience and perspectives

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 Cochair

Boris Groysberg

Richard P. Chapman Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Organizational Behavior Unit; and faculty cochair of "Women on Boards."

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Lynn S. Paine

John G. McLean Professor of Business Administration. Senior Associate Dean for International Development. Member of the General Management Unit; and faculty cochair of "Women on Boards," and "Making Corporate Boards More Effective."

Read Full Bio

Faculty

William W. George

Senior Fellow. Member of the General Management Unit; founder of the "Authentic Leader Development" program, and faculty cochair of "Leading Global Businesses."

Read Full Bio

Paul M. Healy

James R. Williston Professor of Business Administration. Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Development. Member of the Accounting and Management Unit; and faculty cochair of "Strategic Financial Analysis for Business Evaluation."

Read Full Bio

F. Warren McFarlan

T.J. Dermot Dunphy Baker Foundation Professor of Business Administration, Emeritus.

Read Full Bio

Youngme E. Moon

Donald K. David Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Marketing Unit; and member of the General Management Unit.

Read Full Bio

David A. Moss

Paul Whiton Cherington Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Business, Government and the International Economy Unit.

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 Cochair

Boris Groysberg

Richard P. Chapman Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Organizational Behavior Unit; and faculty cochair of "Women on Boards."

Read Full Bio

Lynn S. Paine

John G. McLean Professor of Business Administration. Senior Associate Dean for International Development. Member of the General Management Unit; and faculty cochair of "Women on Boards," and "Making Corporate Boards More Effective."

Read Full Bio

Faculty

William W. George

Senior Fellow. Member of the General Management Unit; founder of the "Authentic Leader Development" program, and faculty cochair of "Leading Global Businesses."

Read Full Bio

Paul M. Healy

James R. Williston Professor of Business Administration. Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Development. Member of the Accounting and Management Unit; and faculty cochair of "Strategic Financial Analysis for Business Evaluation."

Read Full Bio

F. Warren McFarlan

T.J. Dermot Dunphy Baker Foundation Professor of Business Administration, Emeritus.

Read Full Bio

Youngme E. Moon

Donald K. David Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Marketing Unit; and member of the General Management Unit.

Read Full Bio

David A. Moss

Paul Whiton Cherington Professor of Business Administration. Member of the Business, Government and the International Economy Unit.

Read Full Bio

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More Admissions Information

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.

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