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Online
Session Date-Application DeadlineProgram Fee$4,300Faculty ChairProgram Director
Executive Certificate: This program is a core program in the Public Leadership and Public Policy concentrations. This program can also be used as a third program for any concentration in the Executive Certificate series.
Program Overview
In today’s rapidly changing and challenging world, successful leaders must act with integrity and authenticity. How do you balance your own personal values with those of a diverse community? How can behavioral sciences provide you with the tools needed to bring about impactful institutional change? Being equipped with this knowledge and the skillset to address current issues of conflict, division and disagreement in real time has never been more important.
Leadership and Character in Uncertain Times is a Harvard Kennedy School executive program delivered fully online so that you can become a more agile, impactful leader without disrupting your work and personal life. Led by Faculty Chair Chris Robichaud, along with a world-class teaching team of vlog scholars, you will engage with the highest caliber of colleagues from around the world to explore new adaptive leadership concepts; gain cutting-edge strategies that you can apply immediately in your own organization or community; and strengthen your ability to exert stronger moral leadership and bring about change, especially as it concerns advancing social justice.
Program Curriculum
Leadership and Character in Uncertain Times is a five-week online program that requires on average just six to eight hours of learning each week. This includes live faculty lectures, expert video content to watch on your own time, engaging small group projects, interactive simulations, robust case-study discussions along with offline self-paced readings and individual work. During the program, Faculty Chair Chris Robichaud is joined by a distinguished roster of renowned Harvard professors and guest speakers, including Iris Bohnet, Dana Born, Cornell Williams Brooks, Farayi Chipungu, Ronald Heifetz, and Jennifer Lerner. See the faculty section below to learn more.
Learning Objectives
Throughout Leadership and Character in Uncertain Times, you and your global cohort of emerging leaders will discover, discuss and delve into several key concepts, including:
- An adaptive leadership framework
- Moral narratives
- Negotiating community values
- Leading within organizations
- Leading in society
Application Information
This program is designed for U.S. and international leaders who are committed to using their positions to promote greater moral leadership and to make a difference for their organizations and countries, including:
- Government managers, policymakers, and practitioners working in nonprofits, nongovernmental organizations, and the corporate sector
- Candidates will be selected based on the goal of fostering a diversity of experiences and perspectives
- Individuals from developed, developing, newly industrialized, and transitional countries are encouraged to apply
Week One: The Adaptive Leadership Framework
During week one, you will be introduced to the concepts of adaptive leadership and moral leadership. Through lectures and videos with Faculty Chair Chris Robichaud and Professor Ron Heifetz, you will learn the basics of the adaptive leadership framework and how it can be applied to your work.
Week Two: Moral Narratives
A crucial part of leadership involves acting with integrity and authenticity. To do this, you must first look inward to discover your core values. During week two, you will engage in online learning with Professor Dana Born to help you discover your true north through a series of exercises.
Week Three: Negotiating Community Values
In the third week of the program, you will explore how to balance your own values with the values of a community, especially when there is conflict and disagreement. You will learn about Haidt's Moral Foundations Theory, cover cases on Nelson Mandela and the ANC, and continue to explore adaptive leadership content from many faculty you’ve already met, as well as Professor Farayi Chipungu.
Week Four: Leading Within Organizations
Together with your cohort, you will explore behavioral sciences and how they can give us tools to bring about institutional change, especially as it concerns advancing matters of social justice. You will learn about choice architecture and nudges from faculty, including Professor Iris Bohnet and Professor Jennifer Lerner.
Week Five: Leading in Society
The final week will focus on advancing social justice outside of organizations, in society as a whole, and all the challenges that come with it. Cases discussed will include Eric Garner, Black Lives Matter, and the NYPD, featuring a unit with Professor Cornell Brooks.
WHAT PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING
“I left the program with powerful, concrete tools that I could apply immediately to my leadership and decision-making process, plus valuable new connections I can call on for inspiration or a different perspective.”
“Professor Robichaud and all the incredible professors inspired each of us to examine our own leadership styles and actions. If you want to make a difference in the world, this is the program for you.”