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As an alternative to an executive MBA program, Harvard Business School offers an accelerated learning experience that transforms the world's most promising managers into the next generation of powerful leaders—the Program for Leadership Development (PLD). Unlike an eMBA, PLD is tailored to your unique leadership needs and organizational challenges. One-on-one professional coaching and a personal case study, a dynamic interchange in a diverse yet intimate living group, and full-time HBS faculty who are industry thought leaders are the hallmarks of this intensive program.

Often compared to a rapid-fire MBA, PLD is designed for managers and functional specialists with approximately 10 to 15 years of experience who are considered to be high-potential executives. Focused on leadership, change, and innovation, you will gain a broader understanding of core business functions and deeper confidence in your decision-making skills. You will emerge with an action plan for advancing your personal leadership path—and strengthening your company's competitive advantage.

Ideally suited for busy professionals who want to develop their leadership skills with minimal downtime, the rigorous PLD curriculum is tailored to achieve a singular goal—accelerate the development of high-potential leaders. Delivered via four intensive modules that take place over the course of six months, the compressed format is designed with your responsibilities in mind. The two on-campus modules require a total of four weeks away from your job.

Featuring exercises and tutorials in accounting, finance, and quantitative methods, this web-based module strengthens your core skills and establishes a common level of understanding for the modules that follow. From cost accounting to financial analysis, you will gain insights into the processes that drive an organization's budgeting, pricing, and forecasting decisions. You also will take part in an intensive, customized Leadership Learning Path Assessment designed to accelerate your personal growth.

By delving deeply into key business functions—such as strategy, marketing, finance and accounting, and operations, you will learn how they interrelate and contribute to your company's overall strategy. Your diverse network of peers will provide global perspectives on complex leadership issues, and your personal coach will help you assess your leadership style and apply new concepts to your specific professional situation.

Back at your organization, you will apply your new knowledge and continue to develop your skills through a series of highly structured online exercises, group work, and individual study. You will create a strategy statement and value proposition for your company, engage in faculty-led webinars on selected PLD topics, and explore innovative strategies that foster collaboration across globally distributed teams.

Immersed in classroom and group learning, you will examine ways to improve your leadership effectiveness and decision-making capabilities. You will present an overview of your specific business challenge and personal action plan to your coach and living group. Based on their feedback, you will refine and finalize your case. Your coach also will help you interpret and apply the results of your Leadership Learning Path Assessment. With a deeper understanding of change management processes and approaches, you will return to your company ready to drive innovation and move quickly on promising opportunities.

This two-week session brings all the elements of your PLD learning together in an intensive exploration of what it means to be an authentic leader. You will examine, leadership and accountability, personal leadership in business and society, and how to lead effectively at each future stage of your professional development. After completing this module, you will earn HBS alumni status. (You also can earn alumni status by completing 10 days/two credit weeks of open-enrollment or custom programs.)