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 - IMD Business School  - IMD Business School  - IMD Business School
IMD Board Director Diploma

Elevate your performance in the boardroom

IMD Board Director Diploma

Elevate your performance in the boardroom

Location
Lausanne
Length
9 days with flexible timetable
Fee

CHF 30,000

Gain and certify the necessary skills to excel as a modern board member

Much of what is required for a board to be effective can be achieved through the right education. Board education is key to growing excellent individuals into great value-adding board members and transforming a group of individuals into a board that is a major competitive advantage for a company.

An effective board can help companies overcome blind spots in strategy and raise awareness of external risks. It can also connect with governments, society, and other stakeholders, and build trust in ways that executive teams cannot. Today’s overstretched chief executives and senior executives need the support and abilities of boards to handle the increasingly complex world around them.

IMD has elevated board practice for more than four decades, drawing on the research of our Global Board Center. Our programs offer the breadth and depth of knowledge necessary for board members to make a truly meaningful contribution in their roles.

Fully grasp governance best practices

Understand best-in-class corporate governance processes and practices – and how the best boards use this to elevate their contribution.

Update your knowledge

Familiarize yourself with the latest thinking in in key subjects, which are essential to master in order to be a best-in-class board member.

Improve your performance

Close knowledge and skills gaps to improve your individual performance on boards.

Tailor your learning

Customize your learning according to your needs, areas of interest and aspirations to develop yourself as a board member.

Certify your skills

Earn your diploma to demonstrate that you have further developed your knowledge and skills, and are equipped to contribute to elevating your board’s performance.

Man board member in a classroom at IMD business school - IMD Business School
You and your peers

You will have the opportunity to network with fellow participants coming from diverse international organizations and a broad range of industries.

Typical participants are:

  • Non-executive board members
  • Chairpersons

 

from a medium- to large-sized private or public enterprise, non-profit organization, foundation or governmental entity.

After the program, you will continue your learning journey by joining IMD’s vibrant board community.

IMD Board Director Diploma – Your learning journey
Step 1 – Three thematic board programs

On campus, three 2-day programs

Your pathway starts with three short thematic programs focusing on key areas that bring value to the boardroom. You select the ones that are most relevant to your needs, aspirations and fields of interest.

Choose any three from the below:

  • Strategy Governance for Boards
  • Stakeholder Management for Boards
  • Boards and Risks
  • Team Dynamics for Boards
  • Digital Transformation for Boards
  • Finance for Boards
  • Driving Sustainability from the Boardroom
  • The Role of the Chair
  • Women on Boards

 

As you embark on your diploma journey, you will have a coaching call to reflect on your learning objectives and their implications for how you will approach your learning throughout.

Step 2 – High Performance Boards

On campus, 3-day program over 4 days

Our flagship board program is tailored to your interests and requirements, with parallel
sessions devoted to specific subjects. Before starting High Performance Boards, you can
discuss your personal needs and expectations with the program director and share the
challenges your board is facing.

You can also start your journey with High Performance Boards and participate in the short thematic programs afterwards.

Step 3 – Assessment

The final phase of your journey is an assessment of your full portfolio of learning activities
(assignments, quizzes, and learning journal reflections), required to earn your IMD Board
Director Diploma.

Candidates eligible to earn a distinction can also take an optional “Grand Oral” exam. They are
invited to participate in an hour-long discussion about board principles and practice with a panel of distinguished board members.

Step 4 – IMD Board Director Diploma
Portfolio of learning activities

Throughout your learning journey, you will engage in a range of activities aimed at supporting your development of key governance capabilities and prompting reflection about the implications for you as a board member.

Learning journal and personal action plan
Individual and group work
Simulation exercises
Peer assignment and feedback
Coaching and mentoring
Governance competency assessments
Board community - IMD Business School
A valuable board community

Your diploma journey enables you to build a valuable network of board members that you can count on for advice and support far into the future.

You will join a community of past IMD board program participants who meet regularly – face-to-face and virtually – to exchange board experiences from different contexts and discuss the latest developments and trends in governance.

Governance is an opportunity to take a forward-thinking approach and future-proof organizations. The IMD Board Director Diploma is about exactly that.

 - IMD Business School
Anouk De Blieck Non-Executive Director, Elliott Scott HR and Member of the Board of Advisors, Lifeed, Italy

The different programs of the IMD Board Director Diploma have empowered me to make real use of the learnings around board processes, team dynamics and managing politics. With global participants and targeted learning, this diploma shows you what is truly achievable for your board.

 - IMD Business School
George Vadakkekara Executive Chairman, Thejo Engineering Limited, India

I had been on a board before but wanted to be effective and clearer on the role and governance of a board. The IMD Board Director Diploma gave me the skills and confidence for my next mandate.

 - IMD Business School
Christiane Kuehne Non Executive Board Member and Chair of the Sustainability & Ethics Committee at Stora Enso, Finland

I was looking for programs that would really provide the framework for my board work. The IMD Board Director Diploma offered the rich content and the modular learning that I was after for my roles on various boards.

 - IMD Business School
Keith Svendsen CEO, APM Terminals and Independent NED & board member at various companies, The Netherlands

The IMD Board Director Diploma honed my governance experience and skill set and broadened my perspective. I now have a better awareness of where I could have blind spots and the actions I can take to work on them.

 - IMD Business School
Jacqueline Hess Vice-Chair Board of Directors, Vontobel Swiss Financial Advisers AG, Switzerland
1/5
Customize your learning journey

Build your personalized learning journey from a combination of programs covering multiple topics – see journeys from alumni.

 - IMD Business School
Keith Svendsen
CEO, APM Terminals and Independent NED & board member at various companies
His diploma journey
 - IMD Business School
Marie-Françoise Damesin
Board member at Renault Spain, Urbanis, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Applus+
Her diploma journey
 - IMD Business School
George Vadakkekara
Executive Chairman at Thejo Engineering Limited
His diploma journey
Explore your program options
 - IMD Business School
Become part of IMD alumni network

Grow your network by staying engaged with IMD.

On successful completion of this program, you become part of IMD’s powerful alumni network.

130k+ alumni

Networking

250+ events per year

Communities

50+ clubs worldwide

Resources