The Women's Leadership Forum
- Dates: 04–08 MAR 2024
- Format: In-Person Learning takes place on the HBS campus or a designated location.
- Location: HBS Campus
- Fee: $13,500

"Today, I find that I refer to the program's cases when deciding how to handle various situations."
Summary
While today's companies are making a concerted effort to grow leaders from within, many are missing a crucial opportunity by not fully utilizing the talents of executive women. In this women's leadership program, you will join an exceptional group of seasoned women to take your management and leadership skills to the next level. As you explore emerging research and best practices, share experiences and insights, and try out new ideas in a supportive environment, you'll prepare to contribute more fully to your organization's ongoing success.
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Summary
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While today's companies are making a concerted effort to grow leaders from within, many are missing a crucial opportunity by not fully utilizing the talents of executive women. In this women's leadership program, you will join an exceptional group of seasoned women to take your management and leadership skills to the next level. As you explore emerging research and best practices, share experiences and insights, and try out new ideas in a supportive environment, you'll prepare to contribute more fully to your organization's ongoing success.
DetailsExpand AllCollapse All
Help your organization achieve key business goalsHelp your organization achieve key business goals
- Adapt your business to current conditions and build strategic advantage
- Expand your organization's ability to innovate and capture new opportunities
- Negotiate skillfully inside and outside your company
Become a more effective leaderBecome a more effective leader
- Address personal blind spots
- Work more effectively with a diverse range of colleagues
- Make decisions with greater confidence
Enhance your organization's culture and leadership capacityEnhance your organization's culture and leadership capacity
- Develop talent and leadership qualities in others
- Create an internal culture that thrives on diversity and change
- Foster ethical decision making throughout the organization
Expand your personal and professional networkExpand 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
Help your organization achieve key business goals
- Adapt your business to current conditions and build strategic advantage
- Expand your organization's ability to innovate and capture new opportunities
- Negotiate skillfully inside and outside your company
Become a more effective leader
- Address personal blind spots
- Work more effectively with a diverse range of colleagues
- Make decisions with greater confidence
Enhance your organization's culture and leadership capacity
- Develop talent and leadership qualities in others
- Create an internal culture that thrives on diversity and change
- Foster ethical decision making throughout the organization
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
This women's leadership development program is designed for women in senior leadership positions in public and private companies and nonprofit organizations, including senior executives, business owners and entrepreneurs, business unit leaders, and other senior businesswomen.
While the program is designed for women executives (and will be most beneficial to those who identify as such), the program is open to all executives who otherwise fulfill the admissions criteria. Please find our policy on nondiscrimination here.

Program for Leadership Development participants earn 4 PLDA Points on completion of this program.
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Who Should Attend
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This women's leadership development program is designed for women in senior leadership positions in public and private companies and nonprofit organizations, including senior executives, business owners and entrepreneurs, business unit leaders, and other senior businesswomen.
While the program is designed for women executives (and will be most beneficial to those who identify as such), the program is open to all executives who otherwise fulfill the admissions criteria. Please find our policy on nondiscrimination here.
Program for Leadership Development participants earn 4 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.Global perspectives > Leadership growth > Organizational impact.
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.
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Learning and Living at HBS
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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
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
Learning alongside other accomplished senior businesswomen from around the world, you will engage in a rich learning experience that includes faculty presentations, case studies, small-group exercises, self-assessments, and personal coaching. The program features the latest research on leadership, gender in the workplace, and emerging best practices that are helping today's most successful companies outperform the competition. As you learn how other successful women have overcome challenges in their industries, their companies, and their personal interactions, you will expand your repertoire of leadership strategies.
Each day, you will meet with a "board of advisers"—a small group facilitated by a professional coach. These intimate meetings will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, articulate and overcome personal leadership challenges, and develop your personal action plan focused on your leadership approach. Your action plan will then help you apply your learning and continue developing as a leader long after the program.
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.
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What You Will Learn
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Learning alongside other accomplished senior businesswomen from around the world, you will engage in a rich learning experience that includes faculty presentations, case studies, small-group exercises, self-assessments, and personal coaching. The program features the latest research on leadership, gender in the workplace, and emerging best practices that are helping today's most successful companies outperform the competition. As you learn how other successful women have overcome challenges in their industries, their companies, and their personal interactions, you will expand your repertoire of leadership strategies.
Each day, you will meet with a "board of advisers"—a small group facilitated by a professional coach. These intimate meetings will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, articulate and overcome personal leadership challenges, and develop your personal action plan focused on your leadership approach. Your action plan will then help you apply your learning and continue developing as a leader long after the program.
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
LeadershipLeadership
- Aligning your leadership strategy and style with your own personal values and self-image
InnovationInnovation
- Identifying opportunities for new or enhanced products, services, and business models, while supporting entrepreneurial initiatives
NegotiationNegotiation
- Capturing maximum value through skillful and effective negotiation
Service managementService management
- Enhancing service and differentiating on service excellence
Leadership
- Aligning your leadership strategy and style with your own personal values and self-image
Innovation
- Identifying opportunities for new or enhanced products, services, and business models, while supporting entrepreneurial initiatives
Negotiation
- Capturing maximum value through skillful and effective negotiation
Service management
- Enhancing service and differentiating on service excellence
Change
- Leading organizational change and creating an environment that inspires and sustains results-focused change
Values
- Implementing ethical negotiation and decision-making strategies across all levels of the organization
The HBS Advantage
Our Executive Education programs are developed and taught by top 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.
Jesse Philips Professor of Manufacturing
Baker Foundation Professor of Management Practice
Thomas Henry Carroll/Ford Foundation Professor of Business Administration
Senior Lecturer of Business Administration
Tandon Family Professor of Business Administration
Richard P. Chapman Professor of Business Administration
Konosuke Matsushita Professor of Leadership
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The HBS Advantage
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Our Executive Education programs are developed and taught by top 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 ChairJesse Philips Professor of Manufacturing
HBS Unit:Technology and Operations ManagementFacultyBaker Foundation Professor of Management Practice
HBS Unit:Organizational BehaviorThomas Henry Carroll/Ford Foundation Professor of Business Administration
HBS Unit:Business, Government and the International EconomySenior Lecturer of Business Administration
HBS Unit:Technology and Operations ManagementTandon Family Professor of Business Administration
HBS Unit:Negotiation, Organizations & MarketsRichard P. Chapman Professor of Business Administration
HBS Unit:Organizational BehaviorKonosuke Matsushita Professor of Leadership
HBS Unit:Organizational Behavior
Your Peers Expand Your Learning
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Your Peers Expand Your Learning
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Global PerspectiveExperience the world in your classroom.Global PerspectiveExperience the world in your classroom.5%Africa11%Asia Pacific16%Europe5%Latin America2%Middle East61%North America5%Africa11%Asia Pacific16%Europe5%Latin America2%Middle East61%North AmericaTop Industries RepresentedInsights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.Insights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.16%Nonprofit Services13%Financial12%Professional Services9%High Technology8%Health Care7%Education6%Raw Materials / Energy5%Manufacturing3%Chem / Pharma / Bio3%CommunicationsTop Industries RepresentedInsights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.16%Nonprofit Services13%Financial12%Professional Services9%High Technology8%Health Care7%Education6%Raw Materials / Energy5%Manufacturing3%Chem / Pharma / Bio3%CommunicationsExperienceExperienceYears workedYears workedExperienceYears worked10-14 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 more10-14 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
