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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

Eligible for

Program for Executive Development

Become a highly effective general manager and business leader

Do you want to make the shift to business leadership? As a general manager, do you need more confidence and influence so you can make a positive impact at a personal and business level?

Transition to Business Leadership is designed to help you take the step up to enterprise leadership. The program helps you make this move quickly and successfully through a unique combination of personal leadership development with coaching, strategy, execution and managing organizational change.

Completing Transition to Business Leadership is your 2nd step to IMD’s Program for Executive Development. Alternatively, you may also take Transition to Business Leadership as a stand-alone program. 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.

Discover the learning journey

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)

years of experience

77%

mid to senior level

23%

C-level

nationalities

Assess your profile

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).

See all events

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).

See all events

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

Participants share top takeaways from the program. Listen now.

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.

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.

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 don’t need to be a superhero to be an executive

Sofie Irgens, SVP, Head of Climate Solutions Accelerator division, Danfoss, Denmark

At Transition to Business Leadership, Sofie learnt that you can be guided by your emotions as well as your head.

“You figure out what kind of leader you want to be.”

Ellen Carey, Vice President, Global Policy and Public Affair, Circulor, Germany

Ellen describes Transition to Business Leadership as “the right fit because of its blend of strategy and personal growth”.

If your team knows why you’re doing things, they will follow and buy into it.

Sulette Enslin, Corporate Banker, Absa Group, South Africa

Transition to Business Leadership showed Sulette that little changes to leadership style can have a big impact on the team.

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

Get your questions answered

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

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.

IMD Executive Certificate - Program Finder Card

Become the 360° business leader

Transition to Business Leadership is the second stage of IMD’s Program for Executive Development Certificate, certifying your professional development in business management and leadership.

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

Apply

Dates

18 Aug – 7 Nov 2025

Location

Lausanne

Length

2 x 2 weeks on campus, plus 3 liVe virtual modules

Price

CHF 32,500

Apply

Dates

29 Sep – 12 Dec 2025

Location

Lausanne

Length

2 x 2 weeks on campus, plus 3 liVe virtual modules

Price

CHF 32,500

Apply

See admission information

On campus

Foundations for Business Leadership

Lead through complexity

Immerse yourself in an intense, highly experiential setting, exposing you to the most current business challenges you will face in general management.

On campus

General Management

Program for Executive Development

Become the 360° business leader

On campus

Executive MBA

Growth starts with you

Develop the skills to excel as a senior global leader. The transformative core of the IMD Executive MBA is what makes it truly unique among EMBA programs. You will go far beyond your current situation, discovering new dimensions of yourself as a reflective leader, delivering much greater impact at the personal and professional levels.