Executive Transition Program

ESMT Berlin

General Management and corporate governance

About Programme

The Executive Transition Program (ETP) at ESMT Berlin supports senior leaders stepping into general management, where broader responsibility demands not just new skills, but a shift in perspective.

Leadership today is shaped by geopolitical shifts, technological acceleration, and rising societal expectations. Operational excellence remains essential, but it is no longer enough. Success depends on sound judgment, the ability to make decisions under uncertainty, and balancing short-term demands with long-term impact.

ETP prepares you to lead in this environment with clarity, strengthening your decision-making, expanding your cross-functional understanding, and increasing your impact in complex, evolving organizations.

Programme Content

Module 1

Advanced general management functional competencies

You will...

dive into various business functions and their interconnections

apply your learning in a business simulation, orchestrating value creation across functions in a global context

You will also...

explore executive transitions and strategies to address related challenges

reflect on your leadership journey and define the leader you aspire to become.

get to know your classmates and engage in peer coaching

Module 2

Strategic sense-making in a complex geopolitical ecosystem

You will...

take a company-wide perspective to understand key levers for strategic competitiveness, innovativeness and growth including the role of AI to understand what it takes to drive holistic change

learn to make effective, unbiased, ethical and responsible decisions in a leadership team

Module 3

Leadership skills and self-leadership mastery toward a sustainable future

You will...

reflect on your leadership vision, value contribution, and practice storytelling to inspire

understand how to build authority as a leader

discuss how to leverage strategic and operational networks to influence effectively

benefit from group and individual transition coaching to reflect and grow.

Programme Objective

Advanced general management competencies

Business functions and their interdependence in the larger ecosystem

Individual transformation and transition management

Leadership presence and self-leadership mastery

Programme Audience

You are about to or recently have moved into a general management role.

You are leading a business unit, department or regional entity, or overseeing a new product, market, or major project initiative.

You are a leader of people leaders with at least 10 years of business experience and 7 years of leadership experience.

You have a confident command of written and spoken professional English.

Programme Benefits

Develop and strengthen a grounded and credible leadership approach

Build the skills and confidence to manage complex, cross-functional decisions on a global scale

Prepare to respond to shifting market conditions, technological change, and organizational complexity

Strengthen your ability to lead with advanced skills and a broader network

Testimonials

"ETP not only builds confidence in making complex business decisions but also shapes well-rounded leaders committed to sustainable growth and impact."

Vanessa Tessier

Head of Business Unit, TÜV SÜD Schweiz and Board member

"Academic rigor, peer exchange, and deep self-reflection make ETP highly relevant in practice."

Daniel Fröhlich

CFO DACH at Jacobs Douwe Egberts Professional Managing Director JDE Services DE GmbH

"ESMT offered more than top-tier faculty it gave me space to grow as a leader and as a human, in both mindset and business acumen."

Amira El-Deeb

Director, Career Development Department, School of Continuing Education, The American University in Cairo

Testimonial Source