Program Overview

Leading Strategic Growth and Change

The demands on today’s senior leaders are changing—fast. Staying competitive means spotting opportunities early, adapting strategy in real time, and guiding teams through complex transformations. But leading growth and change in today’s environment requires more than a fixed playbook.

Leading Strategic Growth and Change is a dynamic program that was built from the ground up to evolve alongside the business landscape. Each offering includes a consistent foundation of core strategy and leadership sessions, alongside rotating specialty topics that reflect current market realities, faculty expertise, and participant goals. Executives prepare a personal case – a significant business challenge – then, each day work in a peer-to-peer setting to challenge assumptions, obtain insights and support one another, gaining the insight and confidence needed to lead transformational growth—no matter how conditions shift.

Overview

This program is built for today’s world—where uncertainty and speed demand both sharp analysis and strong leadership. We focus on strategic decisions grounded in deep insight, not just following the crowd.

Key Benefits

After taking this program, participants will:

• Strengthen their ability to think and act strategically in uncertain and fast-changing environments
• Learn a structured approach to evaluating and reprioritizing projects and initiatives
• Gain insight into identifying what to stop—and how to disengage effectively
• Discover methods for fostering learning-focused planning and experimentation
• Better understand the organizational and political realities of leading change
• Explore strategic inflection points, networked contexts, and early warning systems
• Investigate emerging business models, including platform and two-sided markets
• Enhance their ability to build influential relationships and cross-sector partnerships
• Examine the impact of digital transformation and emerging technologies like AI
• Collaborate with peers to test ideas, share challenges, and refine leadership approaches
• Apply program insights directly to a current strategic challenge through case-based work

Participant Profile

• Senior business unit leaders, division heads, and general managers with 10+ years of experience who are setting strategic direction and leading growth
• Executives driving innovation, transformation, or large-scale change across their organizations
• Functional leaders in finance, operations, HR, technology, or marketing looking to broaden their enterprise influence
• Recently promoted senior professionals preparing for cross-functional or enterprise-wide leadership roles
• Founders, entrepreneurs, and executives from scaling or mission-driven organizations navigating periods of disruption or transition

Program Structure

The program is designed to train leaders to get comfortable with ambiguity and address the levels of unprecedented uncertainty we are all facing.

Schedule

• In Person: Five consecutive full days of in-person sessions on the Manhattanville campus in NYC.
• This program typically runs from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET.
• Includes breakfast, lunch and all materials.
• Dates, fees, and locations are subject to change.

Program Agenda

• Day 1
• Day 2
• Day 3
• Day 4
• Day 5
• Why innovation and transformation are not optional in a transient advantage context
• The new strategy playbook
• How to use the real options model for investment to support innovative programs
• Creating an opportunity portfolio for growth
• Personal case sessions for application
• Customers should not be a mystery – 3 techniques for creating customer insight
• Opening night reception

Faculty

Rita McGrath

Academic Director in Executive Education
Author, Seeing Around Corners and The End of Competitive Advantage

Participant Interviews

Tony Okpanachi on Advancing Development Finance through Strategic Growth

As Managing Director and CEO of Development Bank of Nigeria, Tony Okpanachi leads efforts to expand access to finance for MSMEs across the country. In the Leading Strategic Growth and Change program, he gained tools to navigate uncertainty, scale with purpose, and refine his approach to innovation and execution. He shares how the program sharpened his strategic thinking and enriched DBN’s vision for long-term impact.

Abelardo Perches on Navigating Strategic Change in a Family Business

Working within a multigenerational family business, Abelardo Perches sought tools to lead with clarity while honoring the company’s legacy. With our Leading Strategic Growth and Change program, he found structured approaches, diverse perspectives, and the space to rethink how transformation can succeed when people, not just processes, are at the center.

Dates and Cost

• December 1–5, 2025: $12,250
• March 23–27, 2026: $12,250
• June 15–19, 2026: $12,250

Certification

Certificate in Business Excellence (CIBE)

• Any completed program, regardless of format (live online, in-person, or online), will count towards the Certificate in Business Excellence.
• Partner programs will also count towards the certificate.
• Credits for a program are determined by the program duration and total learning hours.
• You will find this information on each program page. Credits range from 0.5 credits – 26 credits per program.

CIBE Credits

• You are required to fully attend a program and complete all necessary coursework in order to receive CIBE credits.
• Credits are only awarded after you complete a program.
• Credits are only valid for four years. If you have not completed your CIBE within four years, we will only count non-expired credits towards your CIBE credit total.

CIBE Benefits

• Upon completion of this program, you will earn credits towards a Certificate in Business Excellence.
• Participants who earn 18 credits or more will be granted access to select alumni benefits.
• Your Certificate in Business Excellence does not expire. Once you become a certificate recipient, you will join the greater alumni community.