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    A practical, step-by-step approach to digital business implementation.

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    On campus program
    Foundations for Business Leadership

    Successfully navigate the complexity of general management.

    On campus program

    Foundations for Business Leadership

    Successfully navigate the complexity of general management.

    Location Lausanne

    Length 3 weeks

    Fee CHF 25,000

    Next program starts 5 November 2023

    Successfully navigate the complexity of general management

    General management requires that you rapidly master an expanding skillset. You must continuously strengthen your foundations in key business functions and integrate your knowledge across functions. You need to develop agility, with an entrepreneur’s mindset to seize opportunities in disruptive environments.

    Over 20 days, Foundations for Business Leadership immerses you in an intense, highly experiential setting, exposing you to the most current business challenges you will face as a general manager. Your cross-disciplinary journey will include IMD’s award-winning business cases, plus business simulations, integrative exercises, cutting-edge live cases, dynamic guest speakers, expert faculty, and coaching.

    You will leave the program with a fully integrated view of business a powerful toolkit for general management, combined with the confidence to deliver lasting value for your organization.

    Build cross-functional abilities

    Strengthen your knowledge of key business functions with application to multiple business
    situations for maximum impact.
    Increase value creation

    Increase your awareness of how value is created by integrating functions and discover how to deliver lasting value for your organization.
    Master complexity

    Apply your boosted capabilities to complex business issues and build agility to successfully
    manage uncertainty and disruption.
    Develop an entrepreneurial mindset

    Address your corporate challenges with the mindset of an entrepreneur, creating the conditions to capitalize effectively on opportunities.
    Become a better strategic decision-maker

    Understand the consequences of your decisions on company performance. Hone your decision-making skills to identify sources of competitive advantage.
    Lead and perform as a powerful, coherent team

    Develop your effectiveness in the role of leader and team member for powerful results.
    Discover the learning journey
    Participant profiles

    Are you an experienced manager who wants to develop cross-functional business skills to become an effective general manager or business leader? Typical profiles include Country Manager, Regional Manager, Business Lead, Functional Manager, or Department Manager.

    Then join other highly motivated professionals from widely different functions, cultures, industries, and nationalities. They will broaden your perspectives and enrich your learning greatly. Some participants join from big-name companies and others come from exciting start-up ventures and family businesses. This diversity creates a bonded learning journey.

    2022 class profile (average data)

    15

    years of experience

    81%

    mid to senior level

    19%

    C-level

    13

    nationalities

    Read more about admission criteria

    Foundations for Business Leadership is the right learning environment to expand your perspectives when dealing with key challenges like digitalization, value creation, and changing customer demands. Combine this with open-minded participants from different global industries, and you really get a unique learning experience.

    Lars Relitz Head of Corporate Digital Innovation & Development, Dachser, Germany

    Foundations for Business Leadership is a mind-opener, which relentlessly forces you to question the way you think about your business. The program is an opportunity to strengthen your business knowledge while living a memorable multicultural experience.

    Véronique Athané Ryser Executive Director, SIG, Switzerland

    Foundations for Business Leadership has given me a new perspective in my quest to build on my business acumen. It opened my eyes to the true spirit of entrepreneurship using effectuation versus causal thinking. I believe this will benefit big FMCG organizations to be more effective and efficient.

     

    Philomena Tan Business Manager, Nestlé Products Sdn Bhd, Malaysia
    1/3
    Experience the program
    Hear about the long-term career impact for participants.
    Learn about IMD case-study method.

    Foundations for Business Leadership is unique in the way it builds intensity into the program to mirror what you are likely to face back in your organization.

    Read more

     

    Benoît Leleux Program Co-Director, Stephan Schmidheiny Professor of Entrepreneurship and Finance

    Together we develop your critical thinking, so you are best equipped to implement your learning directly to your own complex business issues.

    Leif Sjöblom Program Co-Director, Professor of Financial Management
    1/2
    Take your next step
    Get a personal recommendation

    Schedule a call with a Program Advisor to discuss your professional development and see if this is the program for you.

    Book a call
    Join a free information session

    Join online and experience a walkthrough of the General Management programs, how they work, what you can expect, and how it will impact your career.

    Join an event
    Discover our Executive MBA

    Thinking of a degree in the long-term? Completing Foundations for Business Leadership is your first step towards IMD’s Executive MBA program.

    Learn more
    Become the 360° business leader

    Foundations for Business Leadership is the first stage of IMD’s Program for Executive Development Diploma, certifying your professional development in business management and leadership.

    Learn more
    Next start & fee

    Length: 3 weeks (20 intensive days including weekends). Offered four times a year.

    Very limited availability
    Dates
    5 Nov – 24 Nov 2023
    Location
    Lausanne
    Length
    3 weeks
    Price
    CHF 25,000
    Apply
    Dates
    21 Jan – 9 Feb 2024
    Location
    Lausanne
    Length
    3 weeks
    Price
    CHF 25,000
    Apply
    Dates
    19 Apr – 8 May 2024
    Location
    Lausanne
    Length
    3 weeks
    Price
    CHF 25,000
    Apply
    Dates
    18 Aug – 6 Sep 2024
    Location
    Lausanne
    Length
    3 weeks
    Price
    CHF 25,000
    Apply
    Dates
    10 Nov – 29 Nov 2024
    Location
    Lausanne
    Length
    3 weeks
    Price
    CHF 25,000
    Apply
    See admission information
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