What's next for your company? What's next for your career? For over 60 years, senior-level global business leaders have been coming to Stanford each summer to discover, to connect, to transform. The Stanford Executive Program is a six-week, academically rigorous program, fueled by cutting-edge research and Silicon Valley innovation. It's an experience that will impact the trajectory of your career, providing strategic skills, Graduate School of Business (GSB) alumni status, and connections that will last a lifetime.


Program Dates: June 19 – July 30, 2016
Application Deadline: April 29, 2016
Program Tuition: $63,500 USD
Individual Leadership Skills Development (Optional): $5,900 USD
Program tuition includes private accommodations, all meals, course materials, and an Apple iPad.


Overview

Expand your mind. Explore new perspectives. Experience a rigorous, relevant, and research-driven curriculum taught by over 30 world-class Graduate School of Business faculty, Stanford professors, and experts from across the University. Plus, hear from Silicon Valley business leaders sharing their real-world successes and failures. The Stanford Executive Program gives you the power to drive results at the highest levels of global management.

Over the course of six weeks, the Stanford Executive Program will help you broaden your vision, navigate critical business challenges, and ignite change both personally and professionally. You'll immerse yourself in a general management curriculum that examines the economic, political, social, and ethical demands of top leadership. You'll gain innovative, actionable business strategies and leadership development. And you'll interact with some of the world's most influential and innovative thought leaders and peers from around the world. What's more, you'll have a unique opportunity to re-tool your health and well-being with exercise classes every morning, yoga on weekends, award-winning food, and extracurricular activities.

Faculty Director
Core Faculty
Elective Faculty
Robert A. Burgelman

The Edmund W. Littlefield Professor of Management, Burgelman has been a faculty member of Stanford Graduate School of Business since 1981. His research interests include corporate entrepreneurship, strategic business exit, and the role of strategy in firm evolution. During the last 25 years, he has analyzed a broad range of companies and authored several papers and books, including Strategy Is Destiny: How Strategy-Making Shapes a Company’s Future (Free Press, 2002). He is a member of the Academy of Management, the Strategic Management Society, and the editorial boards of Strategic Management Journal and California Management Review.

Professor of Political Economy

John G. McCoy-Banc One Corporation Professor of Economics; Director of The Corporate Entreprenuer: Driving Innovation and New Ventures Executive Program

Paul E. Holden Professor of Organizational Behavior; Codirector of the Executive Leadership Development: Analysis to Action Program

Moghadam Family Professor of Leadership and Organizational Behavior; Codirector of the Executive Program for Women Leaders

Adams Distinguished Professor of Management; Professor of Economics (by courtesy), School of Humanities and Sciences

James Irvin Miller Professor of Accounting; Professor of law (by courtesy), Stanford Law School; Senior Faculty of the Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock Center for Corporate Governance at Stanford; Director of the Director's Consortium Executive Program

Robert A. Magowan Professor of Marketing

Jack Steele Parker Professor of Human Resources Management and Economics; Morris Arnold and Nona Jean Cox Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution; Senior Fellow (by courtesy), Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research; Professor of Economics (by courtesy), School of Humanities and Sciences; Coulter Family Faculty Fellow for 2014-2015

Professor of Political Economy; Professor of Political Science (by courtesy), School of Humanities and Sciences

Frank E. Buck Professor of Management; Director of the Leading Change and Organizational Renewal Executive Program

Robert K. Jaedicke Professor of Accounting; Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; Professor of Law (by courtesy), Stanford Law School; Codirector of the Finance and Accounting for the Nonfinancial Executive Program

Atholl McBean Professor of Organizational Behavior and Human Resources; Professor of Sociology (by courtesy), School of Humanities and Sciences; Academic Director, Stanford Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate; Director of the Managing Talent for Strategic Advantage Executive Program; Codirector of the Customer-Focused Innovation Executive Program

Sanwa Bank, Limited, Professor of Marketing; Director of the Strategic Marketing Management Executive Program; Director of The Innovative CIO Executive Program

David and Ann Barlow Professor of Political Economy; Professor of Political Science (by courtesy), School of Humanities and Sciences

Professor of Finance; Director of The Emerging CFO: Strategic Financial Leadership Executive Program; Dhirubhai Ambani Faculty Fellow in Entrepreneurship for 2014-2015

General Atlantic Professor of Marketing

The Economics of Technology Professor; Professor of Economics (by courtesy), School of Humanities and Sciences; Senior Fellow, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research

Konosuke Matsushita Professor of Management; Director of the Executive Program for Growing Companies

William R. Kimball Professor of Organizational Behavior

Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers Professor of Electronic Business and Commerce, and Management; Co-director of the Value Chain Innovation Initiative

Adams Distinguished Professor of Management; Director of the Managing Teams for Innovation and Success Executive Program; Director of the Influence and Negotiation Strategies Executive Program; Codirector of the Executive Program for Women Leaders

Fred H. Merrill Professor of Economics

C.O.G. Miller Distinguished Professor of Finance; Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; Professor of Law (by courtesy), School of Law

Ernest C. Arbuckle Professor of Economics, Director of the Summer Institute for General Management

Morgridge Professor of Organizational Behavior; Professor of Sociology (by courtesy), School of Humanities and Sciences; Hank McKinnell-Pfizer Inc. Faculty Fellow for 2014-2015

Charles A. Holloway Professor of Operations, Information and Technology; Director, Center for Entrepreneurial Studies

Video Introduction
Stanford Executive Program
Join Faculty Director Robert Burgelman and past participants of the Stanford Executive Program to see why spending six weeks of your summer at Stanford provides an invaluable return on investment.

THE SEP EXPERIENCE

  • 01
    Learn from world-renowned Stanford faculty and industry leaders
  • A Global Community
    Collaborate with a diverse peer group to solve tough problems
  • 03
    Study in an environment that is both relaxing and stimulating
  • 04
    Participate in the optional executive coaching for individual leadership skills development
  • 05
    Review and annotate course materials on a Apple iPad
  • 06
    Enjoy complimentary personal concierge services
 

Guest Speakers

 
 
 
 
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Professor of Political Economy, Stanford Graduate School of Business; Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy, Hoover Institution; Professor of Political Science, School of Humanities and Sciences; Director of the Center for Global Business and the Economy; Former U.S. Secretary of State
George P. Shultz
George P. Shultz
Thomas W. and Susan B. Ford Distinguished Fellow; Former U.S. Secretary of State
Carlos Ghosn
Carlos Ghosn
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Renault-Nissan Alliance
A. Michael Spence
A. Michael Spence
Recipient, 2001 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences; Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution; Former Dean, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Antonio Belloni
Antonio Belloni
Group Managing Director, LVMH
Carlos Brito
Carlos Brito
Chief Executive Officer, Anheuser-Busch InBev
Renee James
Renee James
President of Intel Corporation and, with the CEO, is part of the company's two-person Executive Office
William Perry
William J. Perry, MS, PHD
Michael and Barbara Berberian Professor (emeritus) at FSI and Engineering and Co-Director of the Preventive Defense Project at CISAC; FSI Senior Fellow; CISAC Faculty Member
John Slosar
John Slosar
Chairman, Cathay Pacific Airways, Ltd
SEP has more than lived up to my expectations. The professors are the foremost thinkers in their fields and my fellow students brought tremendous experience from a wide range of industries. The robust nature of the coursework, activities, study groups, and individual conversations along the way allowed me to push myself both personally and professionally, maximizing my future contributions in the workplace.
– Tom Andriola
Vice President and General Manager
Royal Philips Electronics N.V.
SEP gave me tremendous exposure to executives in diverse industries from all around the globe allowing me to learn from them within Stanford's rigorous academic setting and in compelling discussions outside the classroom.
– Sanjay Mehrotra
President and Chief Executive Officer
SanDisk Corporation
SEP really helps put a career in focus. All of us left with ideas that have powered us through the year, and will last for years ahead. And most important, we formed a lasting bond. The rule in our class is that if you travel to the vicinity of a classmate, you've got to give him or her a call, and get together for lunch, dinner, or a drink.
– Alan S. Murray
Deputy Managing Editor, the Wall Street Journal
Executive Editor, the Wall Street Journal Online
The Stanford experience allowed me to step outside my role as a scientist and to see the business environment in a new light. The faculty are true artists that combine their expertise with a wonderful ability to set the stage for maximum learning.
– Ludger Dinkelborg
Head of Molecular Imaging
Bayer Schering Pharma AG
I left SEP with confidence and exuberance. I gained a new global perspective that was not only induced by the highly qualified and seasoned faculty, but also was expanded by the interaction I had with my classmates, who came into the program after already achieving much success in their careers. SEP is truly a professional and personal growth experience—an opportunity to step out of your day-to-day life and focus on learning, networking, and expanding your horizon.
– Gail Coury
Vice President, Risk Management
Oracle Corporation
When you come to Stanford, you have to be willing to have your traditional way of thinking challenged. An open mind and enthusiasm to participate will lead you to a truly transformational experience.
– Paul Umbrazunas
COO and Head of Business Development
Credit Suisse Australia
At Stanford, I found an environment that fosters collaboration and provides an opportunity to really engage with your fellow participants and discuss and learn from each other's challenges. The diverse background of the participants makes for a richer experience.
– Kimberly S. Bowers
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President
CST
I was impressed by the unique Stanford experience created by the professors, the program content, and my fellow participants. The insights and new approaches I have acquired will be of great value as I develop a new global vision for my organization.
– Javier González-Soria
Managing Director, Google Travel Spain
Google, Inc.
Key Benefits

The Stanford Executive Program will help you:

  • Broaden your expertise: Expand your knowledge base across all core functional areas through the program’s integrated general management curriculum and unique elective course component. Gain even greater exposure and valuable new perspectives from the diverse mix of program participants.
  • Refresh your knowledge: Even if you already have an MBA or related business degree, it's essential to refresh your core managerial skills with the latest academic research, management frameworks, and best practices. Quickly update and extend core management skills that apply directly to today's global, highly competitive, and dynamic business landscape.
  • Map your direction: Conceive, create, and reiterate your own personal roadmap. Record key insights, visually map and relate these insights to each other, and identify solutions to the strategic challenges you face. Discuss and debate with peers. Return to work with a plan and the tools to drive results.
  • Shape your organization's future: Step back, expand your perspective, and identify breakthrough insights that will drive your organization's future success. Courses highlight the strategic impact of each core functional area of business, and significant class time is devoted to strategic leadership in the global economy.
  • Earn GSB alumni status: Experience a lifetime of learning, networking, and fun—not to mention, golfing on the Stanford course (lifetime members only). All participants in the Stanford Executive Program are considered alumni of Stanford Graduate School of Business and are eligible for lifetime membership in the GSB Alumni Association.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Program Highlights

The program's six-week curriculum is highly integrated and designed to maximize linkages across three key themes. The sixth and final week consists of elective courses you can choose based on your individual development objectives.

Download Course Descriptions
Download Executive Coaching Information

THEME ONE: STRENGTHENING STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP COMPETENCE
Successful leadership depends on making the most effective and efficient use of available economic, competitive, financial, and accounting information. Explore frameworks for making the right strategic decision given the information that’s available.

THEME TWO: DEVELOPING CORE FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES
Develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the functional capabilities with which you are less familiar and learn to anticipate the strategic implications of your functional decisions.

THEME THREE: MANAGING THE EXTENDED MARKET AND NONMARKET ENVIRONMENT
Learn how to proactively influence market and nonmarket forces and interact with employees, customers, and partners from a wide variety of national, socio-political, and cultural backgrounds.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
To accelerate the application of program content, you have the option to purchase executive coaching for individual leadership skills development. This optional program component includes a 360-degree feedback session and self-assessment, followed by the development of a personal 100-Day Leadership Action Plan based on your specific business objectives.

Who Should Attend?

The Stanford Executive Program is a fast-paced, academically challenging program, ideal for senior-level global leaders who are at a critical inflection point in their careers. It’s specifically designed for:

  • Seasoned executives with at least 12 to 15 years of management experience and strategic responsibilities at the company- or country-wide level
SAMPLE Participant Mix
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Curriculum

The program's six-week curriculum is highly integrated and designed to maximize linkages across three key themes.

  • Strengthening strategic leadership competence
  • Developing core functional capabilities
  • Managing the extended market and nonmarket environment

GSB Alumni Status

All participants in the Stanford Executive Program are considered alumni of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and are eligible for lifetime membership in the Alumni Association. The Alumni Association provides participants with endless opportunities for further learning, networking, and enjoyment.

Contact

Kriss Craig
Director of Programs
Phone: +1.650.724.2153
Email: sep@gsb.stanford.edu


The Stanford Difference

The Place: Immerse yourself in innovation.
The Experience: Transform your thinking, your career, your company.
The Approach: Challenge yourself with research-based learning and real-world experience.

Facilities

 
 
 
 
01
Stanford University
The Stanford campus is world renowned for its natural beauty, Spanish mission-style architecture, and temperate climate. With more than 8,180 acres (3,310 hectares), Stanford's campus ranks as one of the largest in the United States. Participants in Stanford's Executive Programs become part of a quintessential university setting, residing together, walking or biking to classes, and enjoying access to Stanford University facilities.
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The Knight Management Center
Opened in spring 2011, the Knight Management Center has transformed the Stanford Graduate School of Business into a vibrant and unified indoor-outdoor, living and learning community. Participants will take classes at this new state-of-the-art campus, which features tiered classrooms with extensive floor-to-ceiling glass, the latest in audiovisual technology, numerous breakout and study rooms, outdoor seating areas to encourage informal discussion, and an open collaboration lab that employs hands-on and design thinking techniques.
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Schwab Residential Center
Designed by renowned Mexican architect, Ricardo Legorreta, the Schwab Residential Center gives residents ample privacy while promoting collegial interaction through shared lounges, outdoor meeting areas, a library, and an exercise room.

Exploring the San Francisco Bay Area

 
 
 
 
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The San Francisco Bay Area
The Stanford campus is located at the center of a wealth of local attractions, which participants can explore on weekends and during the mid-program break. The city of San Francisco lies less than an hour to the north by car or rail, with the world-famous vineyards of Napa Valley just beyond. To the south lie the scenic Pacific beach towns of Santa Cruz, Pebble Beach, Monterey, and Carmel.
02
Practicing a Healthy Lifestyle
All participants are encouraged to take part in the optional physical health component of the Stanford Executive Program. Based on strong evidence that a healthier lifestyle benefits executives in many ways, the program features daily outdoor morning exercise sessions administered by a team of professional fitness instructors.
03
Staying Close to Family and Loved Ones
For many participants, attending the Stanford Executive Program entails a difficult personal choice as they must spend time away from a spouse, partner, child, or other loved ones. Recognizing the gravity of this commitment, the directors of the program incorporate several family-friendly aspects into its design.