In New York City, USA
— Three consecutive full days of in-person sessions on the Manhattanville campus in New York City
— Led by Angela Lee
Driving Strategic Impact: Mastering Management Consulting Skills
- Requirements
- Attendees are mid to upper-level executives who seek to improve their effectiveness in solving strategic problems and in becoming a trusted advisor for colleagues and clients.
Driving Strategic Impact: Mastering Management Consulting Skills
Overview
Driving Strategic Impact is a three-day, in-person program that strengthens the structured problem-solving and consulting skills executives need to lead strategy projects with clarity, confidence, and measurable impact. Through a practical, end-to-end framework, participants learn how to define and structure complex business challenges, derive insights from data, develop high-value recommendations, and communicate them in ways that drive alignment and action.
The program takes participants through the five phases of a strategy project: defining the problem, structuring the problem, conducting analysis, developing recommendations, and communicating for impact. Designed for leaders who must deliver results in complex environments, the program builds the consulting-style toolkit increasingly required across industries — whether you work in strategy, operations, transformation, finance, product, or general management.
In addition to structured problem-solving, the program includes sessions on managing strategy projects, working effectively with diverse teams, and building executive-level influence. This multidimensional learning experience equips participants to lead strategic work more effectively upon returning to their organizations — making smarter decisions under uncertainty, strengthening stakeholder alignment, and driving measurable impact.
“An invaluable program that provides clear insights, frameworks, and tools for effective problem solving in any area of a business or industry.”
Sergio Arias
Past Participant, Sr. Consultant at SofttekFaculty director Angela Lee introduces the program.
Impact
With Columbia Business School’s Driving Strategic Impact program, participants will:
- Master a structured, consulting-style framework for strategic problem-solving that helps leaders move from ambiguity to clarity — and from analysis to action
- Learn to define and structure strategy projects effectively by aligning sponsors, clarifying scope, and focusing effort on the highest-value business issues
- Turn data into insight and insight into recommendations by building robust fact bases, synthesizing evidence, and developing practical, high-impact strategic options
- Communicate and influence at the executive level by crafting compelling storylines, winning stakeholder buy-in, and building trust-based relationships that accelerate execution
Participant Profile
Driving Strategic Impact is designed for mid- to upper-level executives and professionals who lead or support strategy projects and want to strengthen structured problem-solving, strategic recommendations, and stakeholder influence. The program is particularly valuable for those charged with resolving complex strategic issues within their organizations or for external clients.
Ideal participants include:
- Corporate strategy and internal consulting leaders
- Business development professionals
- Strategic account management leaders
- Product management professionals
Technical or functional professionals who frequently inform and guide strategic decision makers within their organizations will also find this program valuable.
Learning Experience
Participants will leave with a structured, consulting-style approach to leading strategy projects — from defining and structuring complex problems to developing high-value recommendations and communicating them with clarity and influence. The program strengthens decision-making under uncertainty, insight generation from data, and the executive communication skills needed to drive stakeholder alignment and execution.
Driving Strategic Impact is built on five high-impact learning building blocks designed for maximum real-world transfer:
- Strategy Consulting Toolkit: A practical set of tools, frameworks, and best practices in easily reusable formats, including checklists, templates, and step-by-step approaches participants can apply to future strategy work.
- Real-World Case Study: Associate Dean Angela Lee presents a sanitized case study based on a real consulting engagement she led at McKinsey. Participants solve the client challenge using the program toolkit and compare their approach with peer teams and real-world outcomes.
- Consulting Scenarios: Targeted situations designed to challenge instinctive decision-making and reveal common reasoning traps. Each scenario introduces specific tools and methods for navigating similar challenges in real business contexts.
- Role Plays: Simulations that mirror typical client-consultant dynamics, helping participants build confidence in moments where credibility, clarity, and stakeholder alignment are at stake.
- Consulting Stories: Candid, real-world stories from Angela Lee’s consulting experience that bring key concepts to life and help participants internalize practical lessons that drive impact.
“The tools I learned in this program will allow me to implement at least three strategic initiatives during the next six months.”
Jose Carlos Linares
President & CEO, Open Technology Group“Great content, great teacher, great networking opportunities. This program is useful to improve professional and personal skills.”
Luiz Heeren
Managing Partner, InReach Global Consulting LLP“A program that will challenge you and create better team players.”
Avery Toland
Business Strategy and Brand Consultant, Dharma Co.“This program is an exceptional model of blended learning. It is practical and provides essential tools that one immediately appreciates in professional settings.”
Vince Bertram
President and CEO, Project Lead The Way, Inc.“The level of lectures, participants, and impact in this course is very high.”
Eva Bentsen
Hospital Director, Gentofte Hospital“An invaluable program that provides clear insights, frameworks, and tools for effective problem solving in any area of a business or industry.”
Sergio Arias
Senior Consultant, SofttekProgram Structure
Whether in New York City or Paris, Driving Strategic Impact equips you to lead strategic initiatives with clarity, confidence, and measurable results. Offered in two global locations, this immersive, in-person program strengthens your ability to define complex problems, make smarter decisions with imperfect information, and turn data into insight that moves teams and organizations forward.
Across three consecutive full days, you will build a repeatable approach to structuring business challenges, developing compelling storylines, and managing strategy projects from start to finish. You will also sharpen your ability to build trust-based relationships that accelerate alignment, execution, and impact.
Sample Session Titles
- Problem Definition and Problem Structuring
- Making Smarter Decisions with Imperfect Information
- Deriving Insights from Data
- Synthesizing Ideas & Developing a Storyline
- Managing Business Strategy Projects
- Building Trust-Based Relationships
Paris, France
— Three consecutive full days of in-person sessions at the Columbia Global Paris Center*
— Led by Angela Lee
*Location subject to change
Faculty Director
Angela Lee
Professor of Professional Practice, Finance
Faculty Director of the Lang Center for Entrepreneurship
Faculty Director
All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Columbia Business School Executive Education.
FAQ
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.
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 “View My Application Cart” 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. 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?
- Columbia Senior Executive Program
- Executive Development Program
- Emerging Leader Development Program
- Finance and Accounting for the Nonfinancial Executive
- High Impact Leadership
- Leading Strategic Growth and Change
- Chief Executive Officer
- Chief Financial Officer
- Chief Marketing Officer
- Chief Investment Officer
- Venture Capital Private Equity
- Global Banking Program: Fintech, Digital, and Analytics
- Executive Program in Management
- Strategic Wealth Manager
More Strategy Programs
LeadershipDigital Business
$10,250
Leading Digital Transformation: Rebuilding Organizations for the Era of AI
4 CIBE Credits
Strategy & Innovation
$1,950
Developing New Business Ventures (Online): From Ideation to Successful Launch
2 CIBE Credits
Strategy and Leadership in the Future of Work
2 CIBE Credits
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