Program Overview

The rise of women into society's most powerful leadership roles—across sectors and around the globe—ranks among the most profound social transformations in recent decades.

Women and Power is an intensive, one-week on-campus program designed to accelerate women’s leadership advancement by equipping participants with strategic tools, enhancing core leadership skills, and providing access to a mutually supportive global network of extraordinary peers. The curriculum builds upon the research and executive coaching and education experience of Faculty Co-Chairs Hannah Riley Bowles and Farayi Chipungu, fellow program participants, and other leadership experts. 

This program draws on insights from the cutting edge of recent research on women's leadership advancement. Together with your cohort of leaders from diverse professional backgrounds and similar levels of career achievement, you will gain new skills and frameworks for analyzing political and strategic management issues. A person's gender/sex is not a criterion for admission.

PROGRAM CURRICULUM

During the program, you will be immersed in an inspiring and highly interactive classroom setting that provides the opportunity to discuss strategies for enhancing women's influence and authority in organizational and political contexts, as well as examine today’s most pressing leadership challenges. In-class exercises, case studies, simulations, and small-group discussions create an engaging learning environment. This format gives you and your peers the opportunity to work through real-life challenges while honing your analysis, communications, and negotiations skills. You will return home equipped to apply what you have learned to your current professional situation.

A focal point for sharing in the program are the morning consultation groups. Through this daily discussion, you will gain insight and guidance from your classmates on an array of leadership and management issues. The relationships you make in these groups will continue to be valuable sources of guidance after you return to your organizational role.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The Women and Power curriculum explores the multi-dimensional issues faced by women executives, focusing on:

  • New conceptual frameworks for thinking about leadership across public, nonprofit, and corporate sectors
  • Challenging political and strategic management issues
  • Communication and negotiation skills
  • How the political process can be influenced
  • The comparison of lessons learned with others from diverse professional backgrounds and similar levels of career achievement
  • The latest research on women and leadership

Application Information

Women and Power is designed for senior executives from public, nonprofit/NGO and corporate organizations. While the program is designed specifically to support women's leadership advancement, admissions criteria are based on applicants' professional experience; leadership potential, especially in the public or civic sectors; and their anticipated contributions to the collective learning experience.

Recommended applicants include:

  • Senior level public officials serving at the national, state or local level
  • C-level corporate executives, including presidents and vice presidents
  • Nonprofit/NGO board members and senior administrators
  • Senior posts in national and international civil service
  • Senior elected and appointed public officials

Immerse yourself with a cohort of fellow leaders on Harvard’s historic campus. View a sample program schedule. Note that module titles, speakers, and sequence may change.

WHAT PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING

“It was a special week and the pinnacle of any training I have received over the last 25 years. I feel privileged to have been part of something so special.”

HELEN LENTLE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, WELSH GOVERNMENT, LEGAL DEPT
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Hear From the Faculty Chair

Learn more about Women and Power from Professor Hannah Riley Bowles and past participants of the program.

Faculty & Research

Hannah Riley Bowles Photo

Hannah Riley Bowles

Co-Director, Center for Public Leadership
Co-Director, Women and Public Policy Program
Roy E. Larsen Senior Lecturer in Public Policy and Management

Farayi Chipungu Photo

Farayi Chipungu

Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy

Julie Battilana Photo

Julie Battilana

Alan L. Gleitsman Professor of Social Innovation, HKS; Joseph C. Wilson Professor of Business Administration, HBS
617-495-4204
Stacy Blake-Beard

Stacy Blake-Beard


Rosabeth M. Kanter

Rosabeth M. Kanter

Ernest L. Arbuckle Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School

Timothy O'Brien Photo

Timothy O'Brien

Lecturer in Public Policy

HKS shield.

Wendy Sherman

617-496-2048

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