In today’s global economy, where competitive advantage reigns, successful firms rely heavily on the intellectual capital of their executive leadership to manage resources, reorganize departments, forecast trends, and take competitive risks. To develop and enhance such competencies, a growing number of companies are enrolling their managers in executive education programs. These courses are intended to help participants put effective, collaborative methods of leadership to work in their organizations.
BLACK ENTERPRISE researched the top schools with course offerings designed to advance the careers of professionals and executives. The following list highlights the best executive business — education programs nationwide.
Top Business Programs
Leadership and Influence; Women’s Leadership at Points of Transition
School: Babson College Fee: $4,950; $5,950 Dates: March 26 — 30; April 30 — May 4, 2007 Contact: 800 — 882 — 3932; www3.babson.edu/bee
The five — day program helps middle and senior managers enhance organizational skills; the second course is designed for professional women transitioning or assuming increasing leadership responsibility. Improve ability to articulate ideas, win critical team support, motivate colleagues, and resolve interdepartmental conflict; heighten skills at negotiating, leading high — performance teams, and building external and internal networks
Program for Executives
School: Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University Fee: $26,500 Dates: Call for dates Contact: 412 — 268 — 2304; http://business.tepper.cmu.edu
This four — week course combines general management curriculum with personal development. Develop new skills in global marketing, strategic thinking, operations, finance, and team motivation through classroom learning and personal coaching
Fundamentals of Management; Emerging Leader Development
School: Columbia Business School, Columbia University Fee: $17,950; $7,550/$8,950 (nonresidential /residential) Dates: March 18 — 30 and Sept. 16 — 28; April 2 — 6 and Sept. 30 — Oct. 5, 2007
Contact: 212 — 854 — 3395; www0.gsb.columbia.edu/execed
The Fundamentals program is designed for executives who have been targeted to assume significant managerial responsibilities; the Emerging program helps accelerate development as an executive and leader. Enhance communications and organizational proficiency through simulations, case discussions, and workshops; acquire skills for strategy formulation, negotiation, conflict resolution, and implementation of cultural change
Tuck Executive Program
School: Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College Fee: $29,250 Dates: July 21 — Aug. 10, 2007 Contact: 603 — 646 — 2839; www.tuck.dartmouth.edu/exec/
This four — week course provides senior executives with the critical tools and best practices needed to lead their enterprises to greater organizational efficiency and success. Apply latest business insights in financial analysis, marketing, operations, and organizational behavior/develop new approaches to leading and managing change
Strategic Decision Making and Critical Thinking
School: The Johnson School, Cornell University Fee: $6,200 Dates: Oct. 1 — 5, 2007 Contact: 607 — 255 — 4251; www.johnson.cornell.edu/execed/programs/stratdec.html The one — week program helps managers master techniques in high — quality decision making and strategic planning. Increase ability to assess thinking styles of others and impact their decisions and performance within the company
Management Program; The Management Challenge
School: The Fuqua School of Business, Duke University Fee: $28,500; $16,000 Dates: April 29 — May 11/June 17 — 29 (session I/session II); April 15 — 20/June 3 — 8, 2007 (session I/session II) Contact: 800 — 372 — 3932; www.ee.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/open
The Advanced course provides senior executives with a framework for executing new strategies and initiatives; the Challenge prepares managers for the complex demands of organizational leadership. Enhance competitive strategic thinking and financial acumen; cultivate skills in strategic planning and developing an entrepreneurial mindset
Leadership Best Practices; The Women’s Leadership Forum
School: Harvard Business School, Harvard University Fee: $9,500; $7,000 Dates: March 12 — 16; April 29 — May 3, 2007 Contact: 617 — 495 — 6555; www.exed.hbs.edu
Best Practices teaches senior executives techniques for benchmarking and enhancing personal and companywide leadership; the Forum was created to help influential businesswomen better understand, manage, and leverage innovation in their organizations, careers, and lives. Strengthen management skills through lectures, case studies, and group interactions; explore new areas in entrepreneurship and moral leadership
Managing the Extended Supply Chain
School: Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Fee: $8,900 Dates: April 15 — 20 and Nov. 11 — 16, 2007 Contact: 617 — 253 — 7166; http://mitsloan.mit.edu/execed
This program helps participants manage the complexity of today’s fluid network of suppliers and customers. Gain knowledge of how to create new ways of doing business, improve outsourcing processes, recognize opportunities for aftermarket services, and develop long — term customer and supplier relationships
Energizing People for Performance;
The Soul of Leadership School: Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University Fees: $8,250; $3,300 Dates: April 29 — May 4 and Nov. 11 — 16; May 30 — June 1 and Oct. 1 — 3, 2007 Contact: 847 — 467 — 7000; www.kellogg.northwest ern.edu/execed The first course is designed so managers can help others unleash their performance potential; in the second, participants gain deeper understanding of their leadership aptitude. Learn effective workforce management and motivational techniques; gain insight into group dynamics, loyalty, creativity, vision, and security
Executive Management Program
School: SMEAL College of Business, Penn State University Fee: $15,000 Dates: April 1 — 6, May 6 — 11, Oct. 14 — 19, and Nov. 11 — 16, 2007 Contact: www.smeal.psu.edu/psep
This two — week course helps managers develop growth strategies in three distinct areas: top — line, bottom — line, and individual growth. Adopt tools to help identify business growth opportunities, implement new initiatives, enhance operational effectiveness, and develop a portfolio of leadership styles to address any complex situation
African American Leadership Institute
School: Anderson School of Management, UCLA Fee: $5,250 Dates: May 14 — 18, 2007 Contact: 310 — 825 — 2001; www.uclaexeced.com
This five — day program provides a forum to address key personal, interpersonal, and organizational issues that African Americans face as they climb the corporate ladder. Increase productivity, improve leadership and organizational skills, manage change, and leverage mentors and other relationships
The Executive Program
School: Darden School of Business, University of Virginia Fee: $32,500 Dates: June 3 — 29, 2007 Contact: 877 — 833 — 3974; www.darden.edu
The program is tailored to meet the needs of executives and managers who have significant general management responsibilities and wish to heighten their career success. Learn best practices in managerial areas such as strategy planning, managing change, and team building, as well as in functional disciplines such as operations, finance, marketing, and technology
Senior Executives Institute; Leadership Effectiveness Workshop
School: Kenan — Flagler Business School, University of
Fee: $26,000; $3,600 Dates: Feb. 25 — March 2, March 25 — 30, April 29 — May 4, and June 3 — 8; April 11 — 13 and Oct. 29 — 31, 2007 Contact: 800 — 862 — 3932; www.kenan — flagler.unc.edu
The Institute is for senior managers leading fundamental change in their
organizations or who have multifunctional responsibilities; the Workshop helps managers strengthen their personal and organizational effectiveness. Develop practical solutions to manage innovation and drive growth; learn to empower people, foster effective teamwork, and achieve personal growth
Executive Development Program
School: The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania Fee: $22,500 Dates: Feb. 11 — 23 and May 6 — 18, 2007 Contact: 800 — 255 — 3932; http://executiveeduca tion.wharton.upenn.edu/
A two — week course, the program is designed to increase business skills and leadership capabilities of managers who lead key parts of their organization’s business. Improve strategic decision making, deepen understanding of organizational dynamics, learn effective communication, increase knowledge of core areas of business, and explore different management styles through hands — on strategy simulation
Certificate Program
School: William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Rochester Fee: $1,192 (per credit hour) Dates: Year — round Contact: 585 — 275 — 3533; www.simon.rochester.edu
This career advancement program is designed for busy professionals who can take five to six designated M.B.A. courses with the option of matriculating into the full — time program.
Deepen knowledge base in specialized areas such as design organization, e — commerce strategies, financial analysis, and service management