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On campus program
Transition to Business Leadership

Transforming managers into leaders

On campus program

Transition to Business Leadership

Transforming managers into leaders

Location
Lausanne
Length

2 x 2 weeks

Fee
CHF 32,500
Next program starts
17 March 2025
Become a highly effective general manager and business leader

Are you ready to make the shift to business leadership? As a general manager, do you want to build the confidence and influence needed to create a positive impact both personally and professionally?

Transition to Business Leadership guides you through the critical shifts necessary to move from functional expertise to enterprise-wide leadership, empowering you to lead effectively at the highest levels of your organization. You’ll master transitions that take you from tactical thinking to strategic vision, and from managing within your function to driving and integrating the organization’s overall mission.

Combining personal leadership development with coaching, strategy, execution, and change management, you will be empowered to put powerful insights into action directly to create real impact at the personal, team, organizational, and societal levels. See participant reviews of the personal and organizational impact of the program.

Lead through turbulence

Explore the fundamental and timeless challenges of leadership in learning to guide your team and transform your organization in times of great turbulence.

Cultivate a holistic approach to leadership

Integrate the core elements of “the whole leader” combining the rational with emotional, your sense of purpose, presence, and connection.

Strategize and execute for organizational success

Combine the power of rigorous strategic thinking with deep insight into the imperatives of
execution required to lead complex organizations in an integrated way.

Foster effective decision-making

Leverage the power of establishing the agenda and designing the process to convene the right
people, create pathways that are rationally and emotionally sound, and proceed at the right pace.

Build a lifelong network

Engage in a fully integrated “living learning journey” with accomplished peers, blending virtual and in-person experiences to create a powerful learning process.

 

The program takes you four interconnected leadership journeys,” says Prof. Michael Watkins

Find out how these four journeys help you transition to a business leadership role.

You and your class

Are you an experienced manager who has recently transitioned, or will soon transition, into a business leadership/general management position? Are you looking to further develop your leadership capabilities and be equipped to drive successful organizational change?

Then join other seasoned executives from diverse industries, cultures, and nationalities for an enriching learning experience. This global network of peers will provide valuable insights and support as you advance in your career and take on more senior roles. Read more about the admission criteria.

2023 class profile (average data)

18

years of experience

77%

mid to senior level

23%

C-level

19

nationalities

Information Session
19 November 2024

Interested in an IMD general management program? Don’t miss this opportunity to get all your questions answered by our Program Advisors at 12pm (CET).

Information Session

19 November 2024

Interested in an IMD general management program? Don’t miss this opportunity to get all your questions answered by our Program Advisors at 12pm (CET).

“Every minute is well spent. I recommend you go through this journey.”

Participants share top takeaways from the program. Listen now.

More participant perspectives

Learn more about impact

Annalisa Guidi

Managing Director
GPV Switzerland

Leading with purpose

Although four-weeks seemed a lot initially, I was looking to boost problem-framing skills and to improve work-life balance. Key takeaways include the importance of taking the proper time to understand and frame problems before seeking solutions, and having a set of tools to experiment with, rather than a rigid recipe. The importance of being present, leading with purpose, and creating a high performing “psychologically safe” team.

Sofie Irgens

Senior Vice President, Head of Climate Solutions Accelerator division
Danfoss, Denmark

Learning to be a human and an executive leader at the same time

What I took away from Transition to Business Leadership is that I can be a human and an executive leader at the same time. And I’m using this very deliberately in my communication.

Anton Abraham

Head Client Advisory – Asia, Middle East and Africa
Citi Treasury and Trade Solutions
Hong Kong

An excellent program

Transition to Business Leadership is an excellent program with fantastic content, real-world examples, and the opportunity to build lifelong relationships.

You focus on building key influence skills such as negotiation and communication and lay the foundations to successfully lead change in your organization.

Read more

Michael Watkins Program Co-Director, Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change

Transition to Business Leadership enables you to leverage a blend of virtual and in-person experiences to create a powerful, integrated learning process.

Read more

Albrecht Enders Program Co-Director, Professor of Financial Management
1/2
Next start & fee

Length: 2 x 2 weeks on campus.

Dates
17 Mar – 23 May 2025
Location
Lausanne
Length
2 x 2 weeks on campus, plus 3 liVe virtual modules
Price
CHF 32,500
Dates
18 Aug – 7 Nov 2025
Location
Lausanne
Length
2 x 2 weeks on campus, plus 3 liVe virtual modules
Price
CHF 32,500
Dates
29 Sep – 12 Dec 2025
Location
Lausanne
Length
2 x 2 weeks on campus, plus 3 liVe virtual modules
Price
CHF 32,500