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Strategic Business Leadership Program

Lead strategically in an AI-driven world
  • Join a top-ranked global business school
  • Future-proof your leadership with AI
  • Immerse in two on-campus events combined with flexible online sessions
  • Earn an Executive Scholar Certificate and gain select scholar benefits
Total Work Experience

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DURATION

6 months, In-Person and Online

4-6 hours per week | Check the program curriculum for on-campus session dates

PROGRAM FEE

get US$500 off with a referral

ELIGIBILITY

A minimum of 10 years of work experience

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Program Overview: Strategic Business Leadership Program

The Strategic Business Leadership Program from Kellogg Executive Education is designed for ambitious senior leaders who are ready to expand beyond their functional excellence into enterprise-level leadership. In today’s environment of economic volatility and rapid transformation, organizations require executives who can lead beyond their domain expertise and across strategy, technology, operations and people.

Over six months, this high-touch blended program explores decision making, modern organizational models, global economic trends and change management, delivered through two four-day on-campus immersions, live online sessions and real-world case studies. You will gain strategic frameworks, cross-functional perspectives and influential networks to broaden your leadership scope, lead AI adoption and accelerate your pathway toward enterprise-level impact.

Key Takeaways

The Strategic Business Leadership Program is designed as a career-transforming journey that offers proven frameworks, practical AI tools, real-world insights and the confidence to influence decisions and deliver enterprise-wide impact.

Business leadership for growth

  • Strengthen your strategic thinking to drive business model innovation, long-term value creation and corporate strategy.

  • Architect growth strategies with discipline, and track progress using the right performance indicators.

AI-driven transformation

  • Define a strategic roadmap for implementing AI solutions across the enterprise.

  • Evaluate and lead opportunities to embed AI strategy across the enterprise, accelerating innovation and competitive advantage.

Executive leadership impact

  • Elevate your executive presence while sharpening decision making, negotiation, conflict resolution and crisis leadership capabilities.

  • Lead through disruption, drive transformation and build a resilient organization positioned to thrive in uncertainty.

Strategic Business Leadership Program Benefits

Benefits for You

  • Transition from functional expertise to an enterprise-wide leadership mindset, prepared for C-suite responsibilities.

  • Strengthen strategic decision making across capital allocation, growth investments and long-term value creation.

  • Build advanced capabilities in corporate strategy and business model innovation to unlock new growth opportunities.

  • Lead AI-enabled transformation with clear use cases and actionable roadmaps that align strategy, people and operations.

Benefits for Your Organization

  • Develop a leadership style capable of thinking and acting at the enterprise level, improving the quality and scope of strategic decision making.

  • Identify and pursue new growth opportunities, applying proven frameworks for strategy development, business model innovation and market expansion.

  • Translate AI and digital innovation into practical initiatives that improve productivity, customer experience and operational performance.

  • Strengthen cross-functional execution and organizational resilience to navigate disruption, accelerate transformation and sustain long-term value creation.

Enterprise AI Strategy: Evaluation, Adoption and Value Creation

The Strategic Business Leadership Program equips you with the practical tools and strategic perspective required to identify high-impact AI opportunities, evaluate their business value and guide their responsible implementation across the enterprise. Through proprietary frameworks, real-world case studies and industry examples, you will gain valuable insights on how organizations are using AI to drive innovation, efficiency and customer engagement.
Identify High-Value AI Opportunities

Identify high-value AI opportunities

Map AI use cases across functions and prioritize high-impact initiatives using frameworks such as AI Radar 2.0 and AI Canvas 2.0.

Assess Organizational Readiness for AI Adoption

Assess organizational readiness for AI adoption

Evaluate AI capability, governance and implementation maturity using the AI Capability Maturity Model (CMM) and Responsible AI principles.

Redesign Customer Experiences With AI

Redesign customer experiences with AI

Explore how leading organizations apply AI across the customer life cycle using the Customer Experience DNA Framework.

Drive Brand Growth With AI

Drive brand growth with AI

Analyze how global organizations, including Netflix, Coca-Cola and Amtrak, apply AI to personalize experiences and transform service delivery.

Apply AI to operations and performance

Apply AI to operations and performance

Explore how AI improves efficiency and decision making through examples from GE HealthCare, Mass General Brigham, Zebra and Axonify.

Make executive AI decisions

Make executive AI decisions

Evaluate AI investments, design implementation strategies and present recommendations through real-world cases, including Prairie Community Bank and Enerwind.

A Transformational Learning Journey

The Strategic Business Leadership Program is organized into four pillars that build enterprise and global leadership skills while enabling you to deliver sustainable growth and unlock real business value with AI.

Pillars 1 and 4 take place on the campus, whereas Pillars 2 and 3 are delivered through live online modules. The on-campus sessions provide direct access to the vibrant Kellogg ecosystem, allowing you to deep dive into key concepts, engage in expert-led discussions and foster meaningful relationships through shared experiences in a stimulating environment.
Learning Journey

What You Will Learn in the Strategic Business Leadership Program

Begin the program with a four-day on-campus immersion that brings participants together for an intensive learning experience. Through faculty-led sessions, real-world case discussions and peer exchange, this immersion will strengthen your strategic, financial and leadership foundations required for enterprise-level decision making. 

Day 1 begins with program orientation and a leadership session focused on executive leadership and purpose-driven storytelling. You will explore financial statements and how to interpret financial performance to inform strategic decisions.

Day 2 focuses on business operations strategy and competitive positioning, examining how organizations design resilient operations, diagnose their strategic position and defend competitive advantage in dynamic markets. You will explore how to communicate and collaborate authentically as an executive.

Day 3 develops financial and operational decision-making capabilities for enterprise leaders. You will explore forecasting expected cash flows, operations and supply chain strategy, including global sourcing and dual sourcing models, that strengthen organizational resilience.

Day 4 shifts the focus to strategic insight and organizational transformation. You will examine how leaders ask the right questions to uncover opportunity and drive innovation, followed by sessions on organizational change management that explore how leaders mobilize teams and implement transformation initiatives across complex organizations.

Delve into the Focus7 Framework, developed by Fortune 500 veteran and Kellogg faculty member Sanjay Khosla, to scale your organization with a proven approach to growth. Apply the framework to craft a forward-looking growth strategy and motivate teams for cohesive success.

  • Growth Strategy Overview

  • Discovery Workshop — Search for Growth

  • Mapping a Strategy and Building Support

  • People — Unleashing Potential

  • Delegation, Execution and Metrics for Growth and Success

  • Bringing It All Together

Prepare to drive digital transformation through strategic AI integration. Learn to leverage AI and generative AI for strategic impact in various areas, including customer experience​, talent productivity, new product development and personalized marketing.

  • Foundations of AI — From Prediction to Creation to Autonomy

  • AI and Customer Experience Management

  • AI and Operations Management

  • AI and Business Support Function

  • AI Applications in Selected Industries

  • Generative AI and Creative Industries — Transforming Media, Arts and Design

  • AI and Business Transformation — Strategies, Capabilities and Governance

  • AI and Society — Ethics, Regulation and Jobs

Consider a set of interconnected concepts that are essential for modern leaders navigating a rapidly evolving global landscape. Review trends in the world economy, and examine how AI is disrupting traditional organizational models and enabling adaptive, data-driven structures.

Discuss how human nature affects clear thinking in decision making, explore the characteristics and challenges of leadership in various organizational settings and develop a compelling strategy to engage with stakeholders during a crisis.

  • Megatrends in the World Economy 

  • Rethinking Organizational Design in the Age of AI 

  • Executive Decision Making 

  • Values-Based Leadership 

  • Crisis Communications

 Note: the session topics and schedule are subject to change.

Who Is the Strategic Business Leadership Program For?

The Strategic Business Leadership Program from Kellogg Executive Education is ideal for:

  • Directors, vice presidents and functional leaders in large organizations looking to drive cross-functional strategy, transformation, and business performance

  • Executives stepping into business-unit, divisional, cross-functional or regional leadership roles with enterprise-level accountability

  • Senior leaders at high-growth organizations with profit-and-loss accountability and responsibility for growth and operational performance

  • Experienced executives serving as general managers, deputy general managers, vice presidents or senior vice presidents aiming to steer strategic initiatives or major organizational functions

Participants are required to have: 

  • A minimum of 10 years of work experience

  • Fluency in written and spoken English

Kellogg Strategic Business Leadership Program vs Other Executive Leadership Programs: What Sets It Apart?

Strategic Business Leadership Program from Kellogg Executive Education

Other Leadership Programs

Learning Journey

Two on-campus immersions, with access to a global network of peers and industry experts

Single campus touchpoint or optional networking events

AI for Enterprise Leaders

A dedicated eight-week pillar that translates AI from a technical concept into an executive leadership tool

AI woven into broader modules as a theme

Time Invested

Six months of blended learning with two in-person immersions, enabling you to learn without stepping away from responsibilities

Anywhere from six months to a year, with self-paced formats that lack the structure senior leaders need to stay on course

Credential and additional Benefits

A Kellogg Executive Scholar certificate with select scholar benefits, including alumni network membership and a branded email account

Affiliate alumni status or credentials that require additional programs and tuition to unlock full recognition

On-Campus Immersions for Experiential Learning

The Strategic Business Leadership Program includes two immersive on-campus experiences designed to deepen learning through practice and direct engagement with faculty and peers. During these immersions, you will step away from day-to-day responsibilities to focus on leadership, strategy and enterprise decision making in a highly collaborative environment.

Through faculty-led discussions, applied exercises, workshops and informal networking with a global cohort of senior executives across industries, the campus immersions create space for you to share experiences, challenge assumptions and build relationships with leaders navigating similar strategic and transformation challenges.
On-Campus Immersions
On-Campus Immersions
 On-Campus Immersions

Seamless Learning, Anywhere

Learn With AI Tutor

Get instant replies to your questions about program content from our AI Tutor. Find the information you need to learn more confidently and move through topics and key learnings.

Program Features

4-6 hours weekly time commitment

Four to six hours weekly time commitment

Benefit from a flexible certificate program designed to fit into your busy schedule.

Business of AI

Business of AI

Explore strategies to align AI capabilities with organizational goals, increase efficiencies and navigate ethical considerations.

On-campus immersion

On-campus immersion

Participate in two four-day on-campus immersions to interact with faculty, peers and the vibrant Kellogg ecosystem.

Case studies

AI case studies and industry examples

Analyze real-world case studies and examples from across industries to bridge the gap between theoretical AI concepts and their practical applications.

Collaborate - High-touch learning experience

High-touch learning experience

Engage in self-paced modules for foundational knowledge coupled with insights and inspiration from live online faculty sessions, two campus immersions and personalized feedback.

Peer learning

Peer learning

Exchange ideas with cohort peers, and access new perspectives on leadership.

Weekly office hours

Weekly live sessions

Receive guidance from a dedicated program leader to align your program journey with learning goals.

International cohort

International cohort

Join a cohort of accomplished international executives from across industries.

Structured networking activities

Structured networking activities

Connect with like-minded global peers, industry experts and faculty to grow your global network.

Why Kellogg Executive Education?

The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University is a globally recognized business school known for blending rigorous academic thinking with practical application. At Kellogg, learning is shaped by a culture of collaboration, curiosity and innovation. With a strong emphasis on creativity, empathy and inclusive leadership, executives are prepared to lead with clarity, inspire teams across cultures and drive meaningful change in an increasingly complex business environment.

Through Kellogg Executive Education’s executive leadership development programs, you can gain access to world-class faculty who combine cutting-edge research with deep industry experience, equipping yourself with insights that you can apply immediately to drive strategic impact within your organization. You can engage in a dynamic exchange of ideas with accomplished global peers and faculty, gaining new perspectives that challenge conventional thinking.

Top-ranked

Kellogg School of Management's Executive MBA program is among the highest-ranked executive MBA programs nationally, according to Fortune magazine.

67,000+

Kellogg School of Management's expansive alumni network includes more than 65,000 alumni across more than 120 countries.

US$19 billion

Organizations founded by Kellogg School of Management students and alumni have raised more than US$19 billion in funding in the last ten years.

Faculty

Photo of Diana Cordova

Diana Cordova

Faculty Director | Clinical Professor of Executive Education | Academic Director of the Kellogg Executive Leadership Institute (KELI)

Diana Cordova is a recognized expert in the areas of enterprise leadership and human motivation in organizational settings. She has published widely on these subjects and is t...

Profile picture of  Mohanbir Sawhney

Mohanbir Sawhney

McCormick Foundation Chair of Technology | Clinical Professor of Marketing | Director of the Center for Research in Technology & Innovation

Mohanbir Sawhney is a globally recognized expert in business innovation, modern marketing and AI in business. He has authored seven books, including the Wall Street Journal be...

Profile picture of Sanjay Khosla

Sanjay Khosla

Senior Fellow and Adjunct Professor of Marketing, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University | Senior Advisor, Boston Consulting Group

An experienced executive coach, Sanjay Khosla advises many organizations across industries. He is the coauthor of “Fewer, Bigger, Bolder: From Mindless Expansion to Focused Gr...

Profile picture of Harry M. Kraemer

Harry M. Kraemer

Clinical Professor of Leadership at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University

Professor Harry M. Kraemer is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Baxter International Inc., a $12 billion global healthcare company. He has authored four bests...

Profile picture of  Sergio Rebelo

Sergio Rebelo

MUFG Bank Distinguished Professor of International Finance | Professor of Finance | Faculty Director, EMBA Program

Sergio Rebelo’s research focus is on macroeconomics and international finance, including disruptive forces. He is a fellow of the Econometric Society, the National Bureau of E...

Profile picture of  DAVID SCHONTHAL

David Schonthal

Clinical Professor of Strategy | Director of Entrepreneurship Programs at Kellogg | Faculty Director of the Zell Fellows Program | Director of the Levy Institute for Entrepreneurial Practice

Professor David Schonthal has been a practitioner in the world of entrepreneurship, design and innovation for over 20 years. He teaches new venture creation, design thinking, ...

Profile picture of Michelle L. Buck

Michelle L. Buck

Clinical Professor of Executive Education | Clinical Professor of Leadership at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University

Michelle Buck is passionate about developing authentic, courageous and creative leaders. Her teachings focus on self-reflection and self-awareness as foundations of effective ...

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Kellogg Executive Scholar Benefits

Upon completing the program, you will receive an Executive Scholar Certificate and earn select Kellogg Executive Education scholar benefits, including:

  • A Certificate of Professional Achievement, including a digital certificate for your social media profile

  • A 30% discount on Kellogg Executive Education individual programs

  • Membership in the global Kellogg alumni network and access to the online network

  • Opportunities to participate in Kellogg alumni clubs and select webinars and events

  • Access to cutting-edge research and thought leadership content from Kellogg faculty and leading practitioners

  • A Kellogg-branded email account

  • Membership in a private LinkedIn group for Executive Scholars

  • A 10% discount for your colleagues (cannot be combined with any other offer or discount) on individual programs from Kellogg Executive Education

Note: *Please note that the Kellogg Job Board is not available to Executive Scholars..

Program Calendar

General Management Program (GMP) Program Calendar
Example image of certificate that will be awarded upon successful completion of the program

Strategic Business Leadership Program Certificate

Upon successful completion of this program, participants will receive a Kellogg Executive Scholar Certificate. Certificates are delivered electronically to your preferred email address after the program ends.

Note: After successful completion of this program, your verified digital certificate will be emailed to you in the name you used when registering for the program. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Kellogg Executive Education. This program does not grant academic credit or a degree from the Kellogg School of Management.

FAQs

The Strategic Business Leadership Program is an executive learning experience designed for senior professionals preparing to take on enterprise-level leadership roles. This six-month blended program combines strategic thinking, innovation, AI fluency and enterprise leadership to help participants navigate disruption, build business acumen and drive sustainable growth. 

The Strategic Business Leadership Program is designed for experienced senior leaders with significant managerial responsibility. The program is best suited for executives with substantial leadership experience. It may not be the right fit for early-career professionals, individual contributors, or those seeking foundational general management training.

The Strategic Business Leadership Program from Kellogg Executive Education is a career-transforming investment for executives preparing to step into enterprise-level leadership. This experiential program equips you with proven strategic frameworks, AI-driven tools and real-world case studies to strengthen your ability to navigate disruption and lead with confidence. By combining flexible online learning with immersive on-campus sessions, it accelerates your career development and leadership journey, broadens your business perspective and enhances your influence in enterprise decision making.

The best program for transitioning into general management combines cross-functional strategy, AI readiness and enterprise leadership. The Strategic Business Leadership Program from Kellogg Executive Education stands out by delivering a six-month blended curriculum that integrates world-class faculty insights, proprietary frameworks, real-world case studies and immersive on-campus experiences. Designed for mid-career executives, it prepares leaders to expand beyond functional expertise, embrace enterprise-level responsibilities and drive sustainable transformation in a rapidly evolving business environment.

The value of the Strategic Business Leadership Program depends on your career goals and leadership ambitions. If you are a mid-career executive preparing to transition from functional expertise to enterprise-wide leadership, this six-month blended program offers the right balance of developing skills in strategy, AI fluency and executive development. It is particularly well-suited for leaders with professional experience who are seeking to confidently guide organizations through disruption and transformation.

The fee for the Strategic Business Leadership Program is listed on the program page. The cost includes academic content, online coursework, faculty guidance and peer learning. Additional expenses for travel, accommodation or on-campus immersion sessions may apply. Flexible payment options and early enrollment benefits are often available.

Moving from a specialized role into enterprise-wide leadership requires broadening your perspective beyond functional expertise and building capabilities in strategy, AI-driven innovation and cross-functional decision making. Many executives are encouraged to make this transition after excelling in roles such as finance, operations, marketing or technology. The Strategic Business Leadership Program from Kellogg Executive Education accelerates this journey by equipping you to succeed with proven strategic frameworks, AI-driven tools and enterprise leadership skills. 

Executives preparing to step into strategic leadership need a blend of business strategy, innovation management and effective leadership skills. Critical capabilities include talent strategy, organizational development, cross-functional collaboration and the ability to integrate emerging technologies like AI into decision making. The Strategic Business Leadership Program from Kellogg Executive Education provides structured training in these areas, helping participants expand beyond functional expertise and gain the confidence to drive enterprise-wide transformation and long-term value creation.

Participants in the Strategic Business Leadership Program come from diverse industries, including finance, technology, health care, consulting and manufacturing. While no specific degree program certification is required, a minimum of 10 years of company leadership or management experience is required.

The Strategic Business Leadership Program from Kellogg Executive Education offers a unique combination of future-focused curriculum and practical AI tools and frameworks. Participants gain access to Kellogg’s world-renowned faculty, AI-driven leadership insights and a pathway to becoming an Executive Scholar. With its blended design and on-campus immersions, the program delivers both flexibility and high-touch learning, ensuring participants emerge as future-ready leaders prepared to navigate disruption and create sustainable value.

Kellogg Executive Education’s Strategic Business Leadership Program has been designed with your busy schedule in mind. You will be required to commit not more than three to five hours per week, enabling you to benefit from this transformative program while fulfilling your day-to-day work responsibilities. The impactful program offers a blend of self-paced modules, live interactions and in-person immersions.

The six-month, blended learning journey includes live online and video online sessions with renowned faculty, industry experts and global peers. You can take advantage of live sessions and the Slack channel to ask questions and discuss ideas with your success coach and cohort participants. Real-world examples and a debrief of the program learnings are delivered through a combination of recorded video and live online lectures. The program also includes two four-day on-campus sessions on Kellogg campuses in Chicago and Evanston, Illinois.

The program fee covers teaching fees, all academic material and access to online coursework. The fee does not include accommodations for the two four-day on-campus immersions, travel expenses (domestic, international, visa fee and more) and other expenses not specifically mentioned in the fees.

Yes. We provide closed-captioning and transcripts for all pre-recorded videos as well as closed-captioning for recordings of live sessions.

Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.

For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here

Program fees for Emeritus programs with Kellogg Executive Education may not be paid for with (a) funds from the GI Bill, the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Act of 2008, or similar types of military education funding benefits or (b) Title IV financial aid funds.

Connect with a Program Advisor for a 1:1 Session

Email: kellogg_gmp@emeritus.org

Phone: +1 567 350 1225 (U.S.) / +44 1313 812071 (U.K.) / +971 80 0035703746 (U.A.E) / +52 55965 37076 (LATAM)

Schedule a Call: Click here

We encourage early application due to limited cohort capacity.

Flexible payment options available.

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