Transition to Business Leadership

IMD Business School

General Management

About Programme

In today’s ambiguous business environment, organizations expect more from leaders than ever before. Beyond managing teams and delivering results, executives must navigate complexity, drive innovation, and align diverse stakeholders around a shared purpose. To succeed, they need to think and act as enterprise leaders, who see the bigger picture, understand the interdependencies across the organization, and make decisions that create value for the entire business.

Transition to Business Leadership prepares executives for this pivotal step. Through a powerful blend of personal leadership development, transformational coaching, and an advanced strategic toolkit, the program equips you to make the critical shift from leading a function to leading an organization.

You will emerge with the strategic mindset, leadership presence, and decision-making confidence to excel at the highest levels and shape the future of your organization. See participant reviews of the personal and organizational impact of the program.

Discover the learning journey .

Adopt a strategic lens

Learn to align diverse stakeholders around a shared vision to drive enterprise-wide impact, delivering innovation and growth at scale.

Strategize and execute for organizational success

Combine the power of rigorous strategic thinking with deep insight into the imperatives of execution required to lead complex organizations in an integrated way.

Develop leadership presence

Strengthen your ability to influence, negotiate, and motivate at the executive table. See leadership presence video

Boost decision-making confidence

Develop the judgment and tools to excel in ambiguity, balancing short-term performance with long-term, sustainable growth.

Supercharge your leadership network

Build lasting connections with global peers and IMD’s world-class faculty, expanding your leadership community.

This program is part of our broader General Management portfolio for ambitious executives , designed to strengthen strategic leadership, drive organizational performance, and prepare leaders to navigate complex business challenges.

Testimonials

"What makes TBL stand out is its integrated focus on leadership at four levels: leading yourself, your team, your organization, and contributing at a societal level. The program brought together an inspiring global cohort of executives and created a space to reflect, challenge assumptions, and grow – personally and professionally. It helped me rediscover my purpose, sharpen my leadership presence, and gain new clarity on how to lead through transitions with intention and impact."

Severin Gygax

Head of Client Journeys Business Customers, PostFinance, Switzerland

"Although four-weeks seemed a lot initially, I was looking to boost problem-framing skills and to improve work-life balance. Key takeaways include the importance of taking the proper time to understand and frame problems before seeking solutions, and having a set of tools to experiment with, rather than a rigid recipe. The importance of being present, leading with purpose, and creating a high performing “psychologically safe” team."

Annalisa Guidi

Managing Director

"What I took away from Transition to Business Leadership is that I can be a human and an executive leader at the same time. And I’m using this very deliberately in my communication."

Sofie Irgens

GPV Switzerland

"Read impact story"

Mpume Myeza

Senior Vice President, Head of Climate Solutions Accelerator division

"The most profound learning for me was on the inner leader and the importance of balancing being with doing, to effectively show up for my team and organization. The work on the Individual development project was also life changing. I am now more aware of my motivations that drive certain behaviors. This awareness will help me modify behaviors that do not serve my new winning formula. TBL has changed my life for good."

Allen Coltman

Danfoss, Denmark

"The various frameworks are great, easy to use and help with the thinking process towards better solutions. Great conversations with peers and coaches. All these diverse views helped me gain a broader perspective of leadership."

Anton Abraham

Principal Senior FX Sales, Absa Group, South Africa

"Transition to Business Leadership is an"

Anonymous

Principal: Head-TxB Business Development & TWC BB Pan-Africa, Absa Group, South Africa

"excellent program with fantastic content,"

Anonymous

Head Client Advisory – Asia, Middle East and Africa

"real-world examples, and the opportunity"

Anonymous

Citi Treasury and Trade Solutions

"to build lifelong relationships."