Program Overview

In today's dynamic environment, effective management requires more than expertise—it demands leadership. The Senior Executive Fellows program at Harvard Kennedy School equips you with the skills to build coalitions, drive results, and lead organizational change. This four-week immersive program is tailored for senior executives from the public sector, military, corporate, and nonprofit sectors, providing a framework for strategic problem-solving and leadership development.

Senior Executive Fellows is the unparalleled professional development program for executives who want to sharpen their leadership and managerial skills. It's designed for GS-14/GS-15 federal employees and their corporate sector, international, non-profit, multi-lateral, and military counterparts.

Led by renowned Harvard faculty and expert practitioners, this immersive four-week executive leadership skills program will provide you with a framework for problem-solving, conditioning you to ask the right questions and find the most strategic approach to your challenge. You'll immediately take on a leadership role in the classroom and gain the tools necessary to look at issues from a new perspective.

This leadership skills program incorporates the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) for Senior Executive Service (SES). Many government agencies offer it as part of their Senior Executive Services (SES) Candidate Development Programs (CDPs).

Program Curriculum

The Senior Executive Fellows ' curriculum covers critical leadership issues, including cooperative versus competitive interactions with government agencies, political appointees, and the media. Through case studies and interactive discussions, you'll gain insights into real-time leadership challenges and develop strategic approaches to address them effectively. Through analysis of the experience and interactive discussions about the critical choices made by key players along the way, you'll gain valuable insights, training and practice in making challenging leadership decisions about actual situations in real time.

Learning Objectives

The Senior Executive Fellows  program aims to help you:

  • Identify and analyze the challenges and opportunities facing your organization—and master them both politically and technically.
  • Develop strategic plans of action using communication, negotiation and coalition-building skills.
  • Manage the tensions between long-term policy goals and short-term political pressures.
  • Create an organizational environment that is responsive to change, but also true to its purpose and tradition.

Application Information

The Senior Executive Fellows program is ideal for senior-level managers and executives aiming to enhance their leadership capabilities. 

Recommended applicants include:

  • Top managers from the U.S. federal government (GS-14 and 15)
  • Senior military officials (O-5 and O-6)
  • Corporate and nonprofit executives
  • International leaders from similar backgrounds

The typical composition of a cohort is 70-80% U.S. federal government and military; the balance comprises leaders from the corporate and nonprofit sectors, state and local governments and those outside the U.S.

illustration of schedule
Schedule for online program

The intensive online program provides a more flexible format where you can apply concepts directly to your work while experiencing the rigor of Harvard remotely. Through an array of online modalities, you will be immersed in the curriculum and make progress on your individual challenges, while connecting with your peers and developing a robust network of colleagues that will last a lifetime. Access a sample online program schedule.

The on-campus program is an immersive and intense learning experience on Harvard’s historic Cambridge campus. During the week, you’ll experience lectures firsthand and connect with peers both in and outside of the classroom. The fee includes tuition, housing, curricular materials, and most meals. Access a sample on-campus program schedule.

 

 

What Participants are Saying

“I gained the tools I needed to become the kind of leader I aspire to be, plus a new network of brilliant professors and peers I can turn to for advice.”
VINCENT FUSARO, US DEPT OF AGRICULTURE
Arrow Down

Faculty & Research

Nathalie Laidler-Kylander Photo

Nathalie Laidler-Kylander

Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy

Francis Hartmann Photo

Francis Hartmann

Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy

Kessely Hong Photo

Kessely Hong

Senior Lecturer in Public Policy
617-384-8111
Roger Porter Photo

Roger Porter

IBM Professor of Business and Government
617-496-4036
Malcolm Sparrow Photo

Malcolm Sparrow

Professor of the Practice of Public Management

Request More Information
Access brochure and receive more information about the program
Access
Apply
Start your application and take the next step in your learning journey.
Apply

Admissions & Financial Information

Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education provides comprehensive admissions and financial information to help you make an informed decision. Learn more now!