Columbia Management Essentials (Online)
Overview
Columbia Management Essentials (Online) is a three-month online program that teaches the core pillars of management — leading teams, creating a customer-centric organization, and developing financial acumen.
The program enables participants to accelerate their impact through an intensive learning journey that will equip them to manage people, products, and projects more effectively. The key components of this MBA-inspired curriculum are:
- Enhancing leadership effectiveness
- Effective decision making
- Influencing others
- Customer-centric marketing
- Developing financial intuition
- Launching new products
- Leading and managing teams
- Building social capital
With a focus on immediate application, participants work on a capstone case study, individual and team assignments, cases, self assessments — including Columbia Business School’s proprietary 360 Assessment Tool — and group discussions, applying their learnings immediately to their unique contexts.
Participants will also be part of a powerful learning community comprising a diverse group of fellow participants from a broad range of industries, functions, experiences, and geographies.
Please contact our partners at Emeritus at columbia@emeritus.org, +1 315-982-5094 or +1 315-277-2746 for a personal conversation to learn more.
Delivered in collaboration with
“To get ahead in today's business world and solve integrated, multi-faceted problems, leaders need to possess foundational business tools. At the end of this program, participants will be able to make decisions on business challenges that cut across different functions and geographies.”
Gita Johar
Meyer Feldberg Professor of Business at Columbia Business School
Impact
You will emerge from Columbia Management Essentials (Online) with enhanced cross-functional skills and a sharpened leadership toolkit that will help you accelerate the impact on your organization.
At the end of the program, you will be able to:
- Identify your strengths and weaknesses as a leader with the 360 Assessment Tool
- Understand how different leadership styles affect performance
- Make decisions in a more systematic way to optimize results
- Influence others in a fair and ethical manner
- Develop a customer-centric mindset and find the right product for the right market
- Understand key financial concepts such as time value of money, net present value, and capital budgets for a stronger financial intuition
- Build a healthy social network to support your professional goals
Upon completion of this program, you will earn two credits towards a Certificate with select alumni and tuition benefits. Learn more.
Program Structure
Duration: 12 Weeks
Time Commitment: 4–6 hours/week
This immersive program takes an integrated approach to learning, combining live and recorded lectures, small group assignments, case studies, role plays, and Columbia Business School's 360 Assessment Tool.
The Learning Journey

The program is comprised of the following modules:
Orientation and Welcome
- Launch of 360 Degree Assessment Tool
- Live Webinar “Program Outline & Learning Journey” with Professor Gita Johar
- Optional: Accounting Basics, Financial Statements, and Key Ratios
For a complete program schedule, download the agenda.
“The leadership module was excellent. My favorite part was the 360 Assessment. I now know how I rank amongst my peers in this class and areas I need to improve on.”
“The best part for me were the lessons in how to use information effectively and the focus on teamwork and perspectives. I have applied some of the teachings at the workplace and have seen improvements in many aspects.”
“The leadership and social networking modules both completely changed my way to network and interact as a leader.”
Participant Profile
This program is designed for professionals who have recently taken on or aspire to move into a management role to help them develop leadership and decision-making capabilities. This includes existing managers and technical leaders who have been promoted to a role with management responsibility, executives who build and lead multi-functional teams, and entrepreneurs who need to expand their core business knowledge. Middle- and upper-level managers seeking a well-rounded, MBA-inspired management curriculum will also benefit from exposure to the latest marketing, finance, and leadership strategies taught by Columbia Business School faculty.
Faculty

Gita Johar
Meyer Feldberg Professor of Business in Marketing

Gita Johar
Meyer Feldberg Professor of Business in Marketing
Gita Johar is an influential scholar in the field of consumer psychology who has published several articles on consumer responses to marketing efforts. Her expertise in persuasion makes her uniquely qualified to lead a program on marketing and innovation, where the focus is on generating creative ideas as well as persuading consumers and colleagues to accept these ideas.
Johar has served as associate editor for such journals as the Journal of Marketing Research, the Journal of Consumer Research, and the International Journal of Research in Marketing. She began a term as editor of the Journal of Consumer Research in July 2014. At Columbia, Gita teaches in the MBA, EMBA, and PhD programs and has authored cases on consumer adoption of new products and on marketing and advertising planning.
Johar is the Meyer Feldberg Professor of Business at Columbia Business School and has been on the faculty since 1992. She received her PhD from the NYU Stern School of Business and her MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta.

Oded Netzer
Arthur J. Samberg Professor of Business, Columbia Business School

Oded Netzer
Arthur J. Samberg Professor of Business, Columbia Business School
Professor Netzer's research at Columbia Business School centers on one of the major business challenges of the data-rich environment of the 21st century: developing quantitative methods that leverage data to gain a deeper understanding of customer behavior and guide firms' decisions.
He focuses primarily on building statistical and econometric models to measure consumer preferences and understand how customer choices change over time, and across contexts.

Adam Galinsky
Paul Calello Professor of Leadership and Ethics, Columbia Business School

Adam Galinsky
Paul Calello Professor of Leadership and Ethics, Columbia Business School
Adam Galinsky’s research and teaching focus on leadership, power, negotiations, decision making, diversity, and ethics. He is the co-author of the critically acclaimed and best-selling book, Friend & Foe, and he has published more than 200 scientific articles, chapters, and teaching cases in the fields of management and social psychology. His Ted talk, How to Speak Up for Yourself, is one of the most popular of all time with over 5.9 million views.
His research has received numerous national and international awards from the scientific community, including the most prestigious mid-career award in Social Psychology. He has received teaching awards at the Kellogg School of Management and Princeton University. Based on his research and teaching, Poets and Quants selected him as one of the World’s 50 Best B-School Professors in 2012.
Professor Galinsky has consulted with and conducted executive workshops for hundreds of clients across the globe, including Fortune 100 firms, non-profits, and local and national governments.

Daniel Wolfenzon
Co-Director, Family Business Program
Stefan H. Robock Professor of Finance and Economics

Daniel Wolfenzon
Co-Director, Family Business Program
Stefan H. Robock Professor of Finance and Economics
Daniel Wolfenzon received a Masters and a PhD in economics from Harvard University and holds a BS in economics and a BS in mechanical engineering from MIT. Professor Wolfenzon previously taught at the University of Michigan, the University of Chicago, and NYU. He is also a faculty research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research.
His research interests are in corporate finance and organizational economics. He has studied control sharing in small firms, the effects of investor protection on ownership concentration, and the structure of business groups around the world.
His work has been published in top economic and finance journals such as the Quarterly Journal of Economics, the Review of Economic Studies, the Journal of Finance, and the Journal of Financial Economics.

The late Kathy Phillips
Reuben Mark Professor of Organizational Character

The late Kathy Phillips
Reuben Mark Professor of Organizational Character
Katherine W. Phillips joined the faculty at Columbia Business School as the Paul Calello Professor of Leadership and Ethics in Fall of 2011. Before joining us here, she was an associate professor of Management and Organizations at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University and co-director and founder of Northwestern's Center on the Science of Diversity.
She had also been a Visiting Professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Visiting Scholar at the Center for Advanced Studies in Behavioral Sciences. Professor Phillips received her PhD in Organizational Behavior from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. Her Bachelors degree was in Psychology from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.
Her research addressed the main questions of what is the value of diversity and what are the barriers that prevent society, organizations, and especially work teams from capturing the knowledge, perspectives, and unique backgrounds of every member.
Meet Professor Johar in this video
Meet Professor Galinsky in this video
Hear from Professor Phillips in this video
FAQ
Certification
I’m interested in the Certificate in Business Excellence (CIBE), how do I get started?
At Columbia Business School Executive Education, you’ll be able to customize a unique learning experience by selecting programs that best interest you and are most suited for your needs. Any completed program, regardless of format (live online, in-person, or online), will count towards the Certificate in Business Excellence.
Which programs qualify for the CIBE?
Any completed executive education program, regardless of format (live-online, in-person, or online), will count towards the Certificate in Business Excellence. Partner programs will also count towards the certificate.
Which programs do not qualify for 25 percent tuition benefit?
- Advanced Management Program
- Executive Development Program
- Developing Black Leaders in Financial Services
- Strategic Wealth Manager
- Global Banking Program: Fintech, Digital, and Analytics
- Chief Financial Officer
- Chief Marketing Officer
- Venture Capital Private Equity
- Digital Business Leadership Program
- Executive Program in Management
What programs are considered partner programs?
Executive education programs developed and administered with our educational partners, bring the best of our combined knowledge, thought leadership, resources, and expertise. Kindly find a list of our partners here on our partnership page.
What are the costs of the certificate?
There’s no set cost associated with the certificate path since you’re able to customize your learning journey with in-person and online programs (price will vary depending on the program type and length).
Are there any tuition assistance or scholarships?
At Columbia Business School Executive Education, we offer non-degree and non-credit-based professional development programs to the global business community. As our programs are non-degree and non-credit, they do not qualify for financial aid.
How are CIBE credits determined?
Credits for a program are determined by the program duration and total learning hours.
Where do I find information on the credit value for a program?
You will find this information on each program page. Credits range from 0.5 credits – 26 credits per program.
How do I get enrolled in the CIBE?
Your certificate journey will start with your first program, and you have 4 years to complete your CIBE. You may register for any of our executive education programs on each program page. You may enroll using the “Enroll Now” button, and the application process should take 5-10 minutes.
How do I receive credits?
You are required to fully attend a program and complete all necessary coursework in order to receive CIBE credits. Credits are only awarded after you complete a program.
How do I check the status of my Certificate completion?
Kindly reach out to a Learning Solutions representative for any questions on the status of your CIBE credit count.
Do CIBE credits expire?
Credits are only valid for four years (Please note: While we are not able to offer in-person programming due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the duration to complete the programming has been extended to five years.). If you have not completed your CIBE within four years, we will only count non-expired credits towards your CIBE credit total.
Does the Certificate in Business Excellence expire?
Your Certificate in Business Excellence does not expire. Once you become a certificate recipient, you will join the greater alumni community at Columbia Business School.
I’ve reached 18 CIBE credits, what’s next?
Congratulations! You should receive a digital copy of your certificate at the end of your program. If you do not receive a copy from your program manager, kindly contact your Learning Solutions representative or your program manager for next steps.
Will I receive a physical certificate?
Yes, all certificate recipients will receive a physical plaque. If you completed your last CIBE credits through an online or live online program, you will receive a plaque in the mail. We will ask for you to provide us with your preferred mailing address and our vendor will ship the plaque directly to you. We kindly ask for your patience as the processing time takes a few weeks. Please contact your program manager for the status of your plaque. If you completed your last CIBE credits through an in-person program, you will receive a plaque at the end of the program.
How do I get access to my alumni benefits?
Once you complete your CIBE, we kindly ask for your patience as we process your alumni credentials. The processing time can take anywhere from 8 to 10 weeks long.
Can I refer colleagues to the Certificate in Business Excellence?
If you are a certificate holder, you may sponsor up to four colleagues each year for full-price in-person programs lasting up to seven days and all full-price online programs.
Can I add the Certificate in Business Excellence to LinkedIn?
Yes! We will provide you with instructions on how to add your certificate to your LinkedIn profile after you become a Certificate recipient.
Preferred Pricing and Tuition Benefits for Alumni
Are there preferred pricing options available for live online programs?
Yes, preferred pricing is available for groups of two or more. To inquire, email execed@gsb.columbia.edu.
As a Columbia Business School alumni am I eligible for tuition benefit?
Columbia Business School alumni and up to four of their colleagues are eligible for a 25 percent tuition benefit for this program. More on the Alumni Tuition Benefit.
Assignments
Will there be any homework or assignments?
For select programs, there will be some assignments to complete after the end of select program sessions. Assignments will typically consist of readings, self-reflections, and brief assessments. This approach is designed to help you practice your learnings.
How long will assignments take?
We do not expect that homework assignments will take up a large amount of time to complete.
Will there be any examinations or grades?
There will be no examinations or grades for our live online programs.
Access
When will I receive information on how to log in?
You will receive your login information immediately before the program start date. Kindly reach out to your Program Manager for further instructions on how to prepare and log in for the program.
What platform do you use to deliver live online programs?
We use the Zoom platform.
Recordings
Will sessions be recorded?
Most live online sessions (depending on the faculty and program) will be recorded and will be available for you upon request. In-person programs are not recorded.
How long will they be available for?
Recordings will be available for the duration of the program. Depending on the program, some recordings may have additional availability post-program.
How do I gain access to the recordings?
Your Program Manager will provide you with further instructions on how to gain access to recorded sessions.
Experience
How do participants network during the live online programs? Will I participate in group work?
Our live online programs are fully virtual and highly interactive. Most programs also feature small group work for a high-touch learning experience. The virtual program experience allows participants to feel comfortable and productive learning at home while preserving the interconnectivity of an in-person program.
What are the networking opportunities during the live online sessions?
Yes. Examples of this may include: virtual lunches, virtual receptions, use of the chat function, and virtual office hours for you to connect with participants and faculty. Please refer to the agenda of the specific live online program you are interested in for details.
Live Online Format
What are live online programs?
Now, more than ever, executives need the knowledge and insights to help them adapt to change and solve complex problems. As the business world has evolved, we have applied new best practices to continuously improve your learning experience. With our live online programs, we are taking select in-person programs and are translating them to a fully live and virtual format, delivering the same interactive sessions with faculty and real-time application of the knowledge you would experience in person.
What is the difference between live online and online programs?
Compare our two formats for distance learning here.
What does “live online” mean?
Live online programs are fully virtual, highly interactive programs taking place in real-time, often featuring small group work for a high-touch learning experience. Our Columbia Business School faculty stream to you live and virtually, no matter where you are located.
Are all live online programs the same in terms of format and length?
No. Please refer to the agenda of the specific live online program you are interested in. For any questions, please reach out to the Contact person listed on the program's web page.
Do I have to attend all live sessions?
Participants are expected to attend all sessions. However, we understand that participants may have scheduling conflicts. Kindly let us know in advance whenever possible and your Program Manager would be happy to discuss how we can help you get up to speed. We will also record most faculty sessions, which you can review upon request.
Will I need to attend the live sessions even if I’m based in a different time zone?
You are required to attend all live sessions even if you are based in a different time zone. (Kindly reach out to the Learning Solutions team to learn more about our asynchronous program offerings, which consist predominantly of pre-recorded videos that you can watch on your own time).
COVID-19 Safety Plans
Please review the latest COVID-19 related protocols at Columbia Business School.
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