The Berkeley Executive Leadership Program
Realize your Full Potential as an Executive Leader
Overview
The Berkeley Executive Leadership Program is our flagship executive training program exclusively tailored for business leaders and executives ready to expand their capabilities to address their unique leadership challenges and drive growth in every corner of their organization.
This distinctive, globally-recognized executive training curriculum covers an unparalleled breadth and depth of topics such as personal leadership styles and strengths, advanced communication and decision-making, high-performance teams and culture, and disruptive innovation practices. As a participant, you will acquire—and master—a complete toolset of the most modern and practical leadership tools, skills, and frameworks to enable you to not only skillfully lead innovation and growth in your company but also to expand your leadership potential and even begin to reimagine what’s possible.
Key Takeaways
Increase your Influence and Persuasion
Capture your vision, communicate it throughout the organization, and stay on point by identifying your blind spots, building trust, and finding common ground—at every level.
Develop a Competitive Leadership Advantage
Harness innovation and tri-sector leadership (business, government, and social) to skillfully solve today’s most pressing business challenges as well as fortify your C-level role and elevate you and your organization’s reputation.
Create and Nurture a High-Performance Culture
Become a force multiplier, embody mindful leadership to attract and retain ambitious employees, and build and motivate diverse, cross-functional, and global teams.
More about the Berkeley Executive Leadership program
Are you a talented senior leader who has worked hard and succeeded but feels your full executive leadership potential remains untapped? What if you could find a way to harness your strengths and evolve your leadership and management skills to an even higher level—one that helps you take advantage of more leadership opportunities and finally make the impact you aspire to? How might this fundamentally change you, your company, and perhaps even the world?
For influential leaders looking to make a notable impact in a short period, the key to reaching the next level is to focus on advanced executive leadership training that not only enhances leadership qualities—but also magnifies innate talents, builds powerful new skills, and empowers a more strategic and effective approach to tackling business challenges head-on. This is why the Berkeley Executive Leadership Program was created.
Enjoy An Engaging Program Experience
Over five days, Faculty Director Dr. Maura O’Neill—Distinguished Teaching Fellow at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business—along with other eminent faculty, will guide you through this powerful leadership development course packed with:
- Illuminating assessments
- Experiential projects
- Lively discussions
- And pragmatic assignments
You’ll also join a cohort of like-minded professionals and take advantage of valuable networking opportunities designed to enhance your executive leadership skills.
Prework: Hit the Ground Running
This is our most comprehensive and exclusive (by application only) leadership program that includes extensive networking opportunities, an Emotional Social Competency Inventory (ESCI) 360 Survey for yourself and 8-10 colleagues, a Personal Leadership Vision Assignment (to help you articulate your goals/leadership strategy), two productivity assessments + roughly 15 pre-readings spread out over each day of the program. Due to the nature of this prework, we highly recommend you apply and complete payment no later than 40 days prior to the class start date to ensure you have the best program experience.
These assessments will provide valuable insights into your strengths and opportunities for growth across five key areas: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship management, and cognitive competencies.
Emerge As a More Effective, Value-Driven Leader
You will return to your workplace mindful of your value-driven leadership and enhanced leadership qualities with newfound, research-driven capabilities to unlock innovation and growth, create energy and urgency, and drive results.
Additionally, with advanced executive management skills, you will enhance company performance and inspire your team to set and achieve ambitious goals that accelerate both you and your organization’s continued success.
Who's it for
- Executives and senior leaders including CEOs and other C-suite leadership looking to level up their leadership skills
- Founders and entrepreneurs looking to establish strong leadership and innovation principles in their business
- Accomplished leaders seeking to drive growth in every corner of their organization
- Any director-level professional aspiring to make a bigger impact in their company and move into a larger leadership role
Want to approach your employer about professional development classes and request employer support? Read the Employer Payment Assistance Guide.
Format & Structure
In-Person
- Five-day executive leadership development program at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business campus
- World-class faculty-led program
- Pre-program exercises and 360 assessments to uncover leadership aspirations and attributes
- A strategic, personal leadership roadmap to implement when you return to work
- Exclusive networking reception with faculty and peers
- Access to the program alumni community
- Berkeley Executive Leadership Certificate of Completion
We recommend registering at least 3-4 weeks before the program start date due to pre-work assignments.
Your program experience may be affected if you enroll after the recommended date. Seating is limited.
October 2025 Program Dates: Orientation date TBD
Apply for the Program
Dates & Costs
In-Person
Other Ways to Participate
Attend this program with a group of your colleagues.
Attend this program with colleagues to gain greater organizational impact. Groups of five or more receive special rates.
Customize this program for your organization.
Use this program's curriculum as the foundation of a program based on your company's unique objectives.
What people are saying
Get more information
Download the Berkeley Executive Leadership Program Guide
The complimentary guide includes sample schedule, program curriculum, learning objectives, and more.
Employer Reimbursement
Gain tips on how to approach your manager about professional development and tuition reimbursement.
How do I apply to the Berkeley Executive Leadership program?
Applying to the program is simple:
- Click on the "apply" button on the program page
- Complete the online application form. You'll need the following
- A professional bio
- A link to your LinkedIn profile
- Information about your organizational structure
- Our program services team will follow-up with you after reviewing your application
How much time can I expect to spend on coursework each day?
We know that time away from the office is precious, so we work hard to make our program experiences as productive and valuable as possible. Our programs span full business days starting between 8:30-9:00 a.m. and running through 5 p.m. with lunch served in the classroom and short breaks throughout the day.
Approximately 1-2 hours of evening activities and preparation for the next day are required for some programs. Please download the program guide for more detail.
Do your programs provide credits towards a degree, grades, transcripts, or Continuing Education Units (CEUs)?
Our programs are non-degree programs and do not hold any credit unit equivalency, letter grades, pass/fail designation, Continuing Education Units (CEUs), or transcripts. Rather, we provide a certificate of completion at the conclusion of the program.
To qualify for a certificate of completion, a participant must meet the minimum requirements as noted for each program and maintaining at least 80% attendance/engagement.
Can I enroll in a program if I live outside of the U.S.?
Yes. Enrollment is available to global participants, but visa requirements may apply. Proficiency in written and spoken English at a level that allows full engagement and participation in a program is recommended.
For most international participants, a B1/B2 visa—for participation in scientific, educational, professional, or business conventions, conferences, or seminars—is required for entry into the United States to attend a program with us.
Requesting and receiving a visa takes time and we recommend beginning the process three or four months in advance of the start date of a program.
You can ask your Program Manager to prepare an invitation letter to help with your visa application. It is important to emphasize that the visit is for business purposes.
The Visa Waiver Program is available to citizens or nationals from select countries. Check the Department of State website to determine your eligibility and learn about the waiver process.
The list of countries sanctioned by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Asset Control currently includes: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and the Ukraine-Crimea Region, plus the addition of Russia for Berkeley Executive Education at this time.
Faculty
Maura O'Neill
Lecturer | Distinguished Teaching Fellow | Entrepreneurship & Innovation | Management of Organizations
Jennifer Chatman
Dean | Paul J. Cortese Distinguished Professor of Management | Co-Director, Berkeley Center for Workplace Culture and Innovation, Management of Organizations, Haas School of Business
David Riemer
Executive in Residence, Lecturer | Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Haas School of Business
Juliana Schroeder
Associate Professor | Harold Furst Chair in Management Philosophy & Values | Center for Equity, Gender, and Leadership | Management of Organizations
Certificates
Certificate of Completion
Signal your professional achievement to your network and get recognized for your completion! Upon successful completion of the program, UC Berkeley Executive Education grants a verified digital certificate of completion to participants that you are encouraged to add to your profiles.
Note: This program results in a digital certificate of completion and is not eligible for degree credit/CEUs. After successful completion of the program, your verified digital certificate will be emailed to you directly. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of UC Berkeley Executive Education.
Certificate of Business Excellence
Participants in the Certificate of Business Excellence (COBE) program will earn a mark of distinction from a world-class university, gain access to a powerful global network, and enjoy the flexibility of completing the program in up to three years. A UC Berkeley Certificate of Business Excellence allows individuals to create a personal learning journey structured by our four academic pillars to gain management essentials in Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Strategy, and Finance to drive both personal and organizational development.
