The demands on today’s senior leaders are changing—fast. Staying competitive means spotting opportunities early, adapting strategy in real time, and guiding teams through complex transformations. But leading growth and change in today’s environment requires more than a fixed playbook.
Leading Strategic Growth and Change is a dynamic program that was built from the ground up to evolve alongside the business landscape. Each offering includes a consistent foundation of core strategy and leadership sessions, alongside rotating specialty topics that reflect current market realities, faculty expertise, and participant goals. Executives prepare a personal case – a significant business challenge – then, each day work in a peer-to-peer setting to challenge assumptions, obtain insights and support one another, gaining the insight and confidence needed to lead transformational growth—no matter how conditions shift.
“This program is built for today’s world—where uncertainty and speed demand both sharp analysis and strong leadership. We focus on strategic decisions grounded in deep insight, not just following the crowd.”
Rita McGrath provides an overview of what executives can expect from attending the Leading Strategic Growth and Change program.
After taking this program, you will be able to:
The program is designed to train leaders to get comfortable with ambiguity and address the levels of unprecedented uncertainty we are all facing.
Schedule
In Person: Five consecutive full days of in-person sessions on the Manhattanville campus in NYC.
This program typically runs from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET.
Includes breakfast, lunch and all materials.
Dates, fees, and locations are subject to change.
To view the agenda for this program, please connect with a Learning Solutions specialist. Contact us.
Academic Director in Executive Education
Author, Seeing Around Corners and The End of Competitive Advantage
Faculty and speakers are subject to change.
As Managing Director and CEO of Development Bank of Nigeria, Tony Okpanachi leads efforts to expand access to finance for MSMEs across the country. In the Leading Strategic Growth and Change program, he gained tools to navigate uncertainty, scale with purpose, and refine his approach to innovation and execution. He shares how the program sharpened his strategic thinking and enriched DBN’s vision for long-term impact.
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.
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?
Upon completion, you will receive a secure, digital certificate through Accredible. Within the platform you will have the option to print your credential, post it to your LinkedIn feed, or display it on your profile as a certification. Please contact your program manager for the status of your digital certificate.
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 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?
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?
When you earn a Certificate in Business Excellence you will receive a 25 percent tuition benefit for full-price Executive Education in-person programs lasting three and four days and all full-price online programs. Exclusions apply**
Which programs do not qualify for a 25 percent 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.
All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Columbia Business School Executive Education.
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