Major Events: Navigating Opportunities and Challenges

This program is designed for a wide variety of leaders preparing for megaevents in their cities:

• Rising, mid, and senior leaders in government, including elected public officials
• Business leaders and entrepreneurs
• Industry leaders and technologists engaged in work around safety in public spaces and movement of people
• Leaders who work in public safety or national or international security, and are engaged in policies around megaevents
• International organizations, diplomatic officials, and members of international governments working to establish norms and policies around megaevents
• Leaders of civic organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and nonprofits representing stakeholders in host cities

View the draft program schedule. Note that module titles, speakers, and sequence may change.

• What is “Major Events: Navigating Opportunities and Challenges”?
  A four‑day, in‑person executive education program at Harvard Kennedy School focused on planning, managing, and securing major events and megaevents (e.g., Olympic Games, political conventions, marathons, citywide festivals).
• Who teaches this program?
  The program is led by Juliette Kayyem, a homeland security and crisis management expert, along with Harvard Kennedy School faculty and practitioners in transportation, urban planning, economics, public safety, and security.
• How is this program different from general event management training?
  This program focuses on the leadership and coordination required for high-profile events—including major sporting events, cultural festivals, conferences, and civic gatherings—rather than day-to-day event logistics. It emphasizes leading across complex stakeholder environments, managing public safety and reputational risk, and aligning events with broader institutional or civic goals. Participants learn alongside a cross-sector cohort from universities, public safety, venue and sports management, and major event organizations
• What will I learn in this executive education program?
  You will learn how to lead and deliver large-scale, high-visibility events by developing strategic plans, managing risk and security, and coordinating across multiple stakeholders and agencies. The program also builds your ability to lead teams under pressure, engage diverse stakeholders effectively, and identify opportunities for lasting impact—drawing on both faculty insights and peer learning across sectors.
• How is the program delivered (format and methods)?
  The program is delivered on campus through faculty presentations, case discussions, real‑world case studies, and an interactive simulation exercise focused on major event planning and crisis response.
• Who should attend this program?
  Ideal participants include rising, mid‑career, and senior government leaders, elected officials, business and industry leaders, technologists working on safety and mobility, public safety and security professionals, international and diplomatic officials, and leaders of NGOs and civic organizations involved in megaevents.
• What sectors or roles is this program designed for?
  Government agencies, city and regional authorities, transportation and infrastructure organizations, private companies sponsoring or operating events, international organizations, security and emergency management agencies, and nonprofits representing community stakeholders.
• What is the level of the program (career stage and experience)?
  It is an executive‑level program designed for professionals with significant responsibility for planning, sponsoring, regulating, or securing large‑scale events and public gatherings.