Harvard Business School Online, the online platform for Harvard Business School to deliver flexible certificate and credential programs, has launched the Credential of Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business (CLIMB) program. The program consists of seven courses, with four long courses lasting between five to nine weeks and three short courses. Two of the long courses are mandatory selections focusing on leadership and strategy, with the specific content varying based on the participant’s leadership experience. Participants then choose two electives, one in finance and one from HBS Online’s extensive course portfolio, enabling them to align their studies with their professional interests. The three exclusive short courses explore vital skills for the modern business environment: Dynamic Teaming, Leading in a Digital World, and Personal Branding. The program culminates with a capstone project where participants demonstrate what they’ve learned in real life in their own role or organization.
CLIMB offers two paths to cater to participants at different stages of their careers. The New Leaders path is tailored for individuals with zero to three years of managerial experience and a total professional experience of five or more years. The Experienced Leaders path is designed for those with four or more years of managerial experience and professional experience of seven or more years.
Upon completion of the program, participants will be awarded the Credential of Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business, along with four HBS Online Certificates of Completion for each long course in the curriculum. The estimated one-year completion time assumes participants can allocate five to nine hours per week to complete the coursework. Notably, the program does not require applicants to submit GRE or GMAT scores, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. There are two program start dates each year.
Amy Edmondson, the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at HBS and CLIMB faculty chair, stated in the school’s press releases, “Whether you’re a new manager or have several years of experience, CLIMB delivers the in-demand business skills you need for your career today.”
The program promises several key benefits to learners, including developing critical and forward-looking business skills, networking opportunities with a global cohort of peers, and cultivating effective teamwork strategies for high-performing teams in the workplace. Participants will also explore digital tools and data-informed leadership approaches to drive innovation and efficiency while discovering the principles of establishing a successful personal brand.
Applications for the first CLIMB session for New Leaders are open until December 1, 2023, with the session scheduled for January 17, 2024. A second session is planned for the fall of 2024, offering both New Leaders and Experienced Leaders tracks. The program carries a total cost of $15,000 billed in four installments of $3,750 each quarter, from enrollment through completion.
