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