What You'll Learn
Companies across every industry are facing complex organizational challenges that require the rapid development of new and agile leaders. More than ever before, emerging leaders must quickly learn and deploy core leadership skills, communicate and negotiate for success, manage change, develop a broad strategic perspective, and expand their professional and personal networks.
This intensive leadership development program is designed to help emerging leaders master core management concepts, build key leadership skills, and explore and develop their personal leadership style. Participants will gain a cross-functional view of management through sessions led by instructors specializing in each subject area and in the development of a personal action plan to implement and sustain their skills.
This program is a hybrid offering which includes an intensive classroom component, synchronous virtual modules, and a blend of synchronous and asynchronous work to develop a personal action plan.
*Download additional program and schedule information.
Program Benefits
- Uncover your strengths and upskill your emotional intelligence
- Improve your negotiation and presentation skills
- Learn frameworks to manage organizational change
- Develop strategic thinking skills to create value and solve critical issues
- Create an action plan for your personal leadership and managerial success
- Learn to uncover and manage implicit biases in decision-making
- Discuss leadership challenges and strategies with peers
- Earn a Certificate of Completion from Harvard Division of Continuing Education
Testimonials
“It was life changing! It helped me a lot to get to know myself better and recognize myself as a leader. On top of that, meeting people from all over the world was an unforgettable experience.”
–Angelica, Paulo, Brazil
“If you are looking to go to the next level in your professional and personal life, EMSEL is the program for you. The knowledge, skills and tools will equip you to become an effective leader. The participants in your cohort will have a lasting impact on you.”
–Recent PDP Participant
Topics Covered
- The power of leading with strengths and emotional intelligence
- Negotiation and communication: an integrated approach
- Managing organizational change
- Cultivating a strategic thinking mindset
- Managing your mind: implicit bias and the workplace
This program serves as a gateway to other Professional Development Programs at Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education, where you can continue to build on your foundation and develop advanced skills in key areas.
Who Should Enroll
This program is ideal for aspiring or new managers who are looking to rapidly increase their leadership skills and strategic perspective, take on additional responsibility, and build their effectiveness in their organization.
Managers who currently hold a senior leadership position may be better served by one of our Executive Leadership programs.
Active participation during all phases of the program is required to earn the Certificate of Completion.
Instructors
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Kevin L. Ball
Kevin L. Ball has over 15 years of experience as a leadership consultant, coach, and trainer from Fortune 500 companies in healthcare, biotech, and aerospace defense industries, to food and beverage manufacturing internationally. In addition to teaching, Kevin is currently Director – Agile Coach at Fidelity Investments, where he is responsible for all organizational scaling efforts across Fidelity’s Institutional domain. -
Eugene B. Kogan
Eugene B. Kogan is a negotiation strategist and coach with more than 15 years of experience enabling international executives and their teams to successfully navigate high-uncertainty environments. He has served as Executive Coach at Harvard Business School and has taught multiple programs with Harvard Professional Development Programs. -
Jill Abruzese Slye
Jill Slye has over 30 years of experience in business and teaches in multiple capacities across various schools at Harvard University. Her classes cover topics such as the fundamentals of public speaking and leadership communication. She is the founder of A Sounding Board, LLC, a global public speaking coaching company. -
Cynthia Ingols
Cynthia Ingols earned a doctorate in Organizational Behavior from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She currently serves on the Board of the Case Research Journal, and is a Fellow at Simmons University’s Institute for Inclusive Leadership. -
Areen Shahbari
Areen has over 15 years of corporate, business training, and consulting experience. She is the CEO of Shahbari Training & Consultancy, an instructor at Harvard University Extension School, and an entrepreneurship and leadership trainer at Babson Executive Education and Stanford University Center for Professional Development. -
Olivia Kang
Olivia is the founding Director of Learning and Design for Outsmarting Human Minds: A Project at Harvard University, a media series she built with Professor Mahzarin Banaji to teach about the science of implicit bias and decision-making.
Exclusive Programs for Organizations
Many of our open enrollment programs can be delivered as an exclusive offering for your team.

Student Success
“Building greater self-awareness is definitely something that I’m still working on and still using. I still reflect back on what I learned in the program and how I can incorporate that knowledge into my current situation.” Kathy Guevara, Program Manager for Out-of-School Programs, DC Department of Employment Services, Washington, DC.
