Learn about upcoming programs available through Harvard Kennedy School.
Level Up with the Public Leadership Executive Certificate
The Public Leadership concentration is for leaders with extensive public service experience.
Through these professional education programs, you will:
- Explore innovative leadership and management strategies.
- Gain cutting-edge insights on effectively delivering public-facing services while managing diverse constituencies.
Alumni with Executive Certificates in Public Leadership include senior government officials, leaders of non-governmental organizations, and representatives from multilateral organizations.
Executive Certificate Requirements
To earn your Executive Certificate in Public Leadership, you must finish three programs within six years. At least two of which must be from the list of core programs below. Programs may be a mix of online or on-campus. You will need to apply for each program separately and complete them at your own pace within six years. You will receive a $500 discount on your final program.
Core Programs
Create your own learning experience by completing a minimum of 2 programs from the core programs below. You may complete your third program by choosing one from the list below, or by taking any application-based Executive Education programs (except Investment Decisions and Behavioral Finance). Please note: Registration-based Executive Education programs do not count towards the Executive Certificate.
- Art and Practice of Leadership
- Behavioral Insights and Public Policy
- Crisis Leadership in Higher Education
- Emerging Leaders
- Empowering Black Leaders: Strategies for Personal and Professional Success
- Executive Leaders and Government (formerly Senior Managers in Government)
- Implementing Public Policy
- Leadership and Character in Uncertain Times
- Leadership Decision Making
- Leadership in the 21st Century
- Leadership in Crises
- Leadership in Emerging Technology: Security, Strategy & Risk
- Leadership, Organizing, and Action
- Leading Green Growth: Economic Strategies for a Low-Carbon World
- Leading through the Changing Media Landscape
- Negotiation Strategies: Building Agreement Across Boundaries (formerly Mastering Negotiation)
- Nonprofit Management and Leadership: Strategies for Organizational Success
- Persuasive Communication: Narrative, Evidence, and Impact
- Public Narrative: Leadership, Storytelling, and Action
- Senior Executive Fellows
- Senior Executives in National and International Security
- Senior Executives in State and Local Government
- Strategic Leadership: Enhancing Your Personal Effectiveness
- Strategic Management of Regulatory and Enforcement Agencies
- Strategies for Building and Leading Diverse Organizations
- Women and Power
Additional Programs that Qualify for the Executive Certificate
If you have completed one of the programs below in the past six years, you can earn an Executive Certificate by completing two additional programs. At least one of those two must be from the list of core programs listed above.
- Creating Collaborative Solutions
- Creating Public Value
- Digital Transformation in Government
- Driving Government Performance
- Global Change Agents
- Leaders in Development
- Leading Nonviolent Movements
- Moral Leadership in an Imperfect World
- Promoting Racial Equity in the Workplace
- Recovering the Public in Public Value
- Senior Executives in State and Local Government: Leading Resilient Communities
- Strategic Fundraising for Nonprofit Leaders
- Women Leading Change
Upcoming Programs
Leadership Decision Making
Leadership Decision Making
Draws upon theories and evidence from psychology, behavioral economics, and neuroscience to demonstrate how you can design better decision environments.
Upcoming Sessions
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Leadership for the 21st Century
Leadership for the 21st Century
Delves into why we lead the way we do and challenges you to learn how to exercise leadership with more courage, skill and effectiveness.
Upcoming Sessions
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Still Have Questions?
What is the benefit of earning an Executive Certificate?
Your Harvard Kennedy School Executive Certificate is a significant enhancement to your résumé that recognizes your successful completion of multiple executive programs within a particular concentration area. It also makes you part of a global community of accomplished professionals committed to continuous learning and becoming more effective leaders.
What are the requirements to qualify for an Executive Certificate?
To qualify for the Executive Certificate, you must complete three programs within six years. At least two of your matriculated programs must be core programs listed within your chosen concentration. The third may be any HKS Executive Education program of your choosing. Each program has its own program director, program fee, and admission requirements; you will need to successfully submit a new application for each program.
How do I apply for an Executive Certificate?
There is no application required to receive an Executive Certificate. Once you have been admitted to your third eligible program, you will be able to indicate in our system which Executive Certificate you wish to receive at the conclusion of the program.
What is the discount for the third program?
You will receive a $500 discount on your third program.
Can I use Tuition Assistance towards the programs in my concentration area?
If you are awarded tuition assistance, it may be applied towards a program within the concentration area. Please note, however, that HKS Executive Education has a limited amount of tuition assistance available, and most programs require a separate application for tuition assistance once you have been admitted. Please contact the Program Director for your program directly for more details.
Can I use Tuition Assistance and the Executive Certificate discount on my 3rd program?
No, offers cannot be combined.
Do other Harvard University classes/programs qualify towards my HKS Executive Certificate?
No, only programs taken through HKS Executive Education qualify towards your Executive Certificate.
Can I use one program toward two Executive Certificates? Can I earn multiple Executive Certificates in one concentration area?
No, each program can only be applied towards one Executive Certificate, and you may only earn one certificate per concentration area.
Can I earn an Executive Certificate in more than one concentration area?
Yes, you can earn multiple Executive Certificates by completing three unique programs in more than one concentration area.
Is there a limit to how many programs or certificates I can complete in a year?
To get the most out of the Harvard Kennedy School experience, we strongly recommend a short break between earning an Executive Certificate and attending your next program. The lessons learned at HKS take time to fully take root and applying them in real-world scenarios only strengthens their value. Further, due to high demand, HKS strives to ensure that there is space available to as many first-time participants as possible. Applicants who apply to more than four programs in one year will receive a more stringent level of review.
Will registration-based programs qualify for an Executive Certificate?
No, registration-based programs, such as Generative AI: How to Use It and Why It Matters, are not eligible toward an Executive Certificate. However, participants who successfully complete the program will receive a Certificate of Completion to recognize your achievement.
How do I reference my Executive Certificate on my résumé /CV or LinkedIn profile?
Here is the language you should include:
Awarded an Executive Certificate in {Concentration Area} for completion of [Insert Program Name] Program, [Insert Program Month/Year], [Insert Program Name] Program, [Insert Program Month/Year], [Insert Program Name] Program, [Insert Program Month/Year], John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Executive Education.
Where can I find more information about the Executive Certificate, including eligible programs, program fees, and application deadlines?
Explore Our Executive Education Programs