MIT Sloan School of Management

Women's Leadership Program

MIT Sloan School of Management

Negotiation & Communication

About Programme

Why attend the Women's Leadership Program?

We continue to have too few women in the most senior roles in organizations across our economies, regardless of industry. Why? While women don’t necessarily face significant barriers to enter the workplace, they most certainly face multiple obstacles when it comes to advancement. As leaders, we can better ensure our success and that of other women, by understanding what often holds us back from gaining or maximizing power, how to claim that power authentically, and how to lead more effectively.

Led by renowned women faculty, this four-day learning journey on the MIT campus will help you deepen your leadership capabilities and provide you with critical mind-sets and skill sets essential for advancement. Informed by the latest research on leadership, negotiation, and power, the Women’s Leadership Program will help you develop a plan for action and will give you the essential tools you need to implement it.

The course is conducted in an energizing, supportive environment and includes small group work and the opportunity for relationship building.

Course Topics

Programme Content

Day 1: Who Are We As Leaders?

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Setting the Scene

9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

What Got Us Here?

1:00 PM – 1:45 PM

Lunch

1:45 PM – 3:30 PM

What Holds Women Back?

3:30 PM – 4:45 PM

Break

3:45 PM – 5:15 PM

What Holds Women Back? (cont.)

5:15 PM – 6:00 PM

Learnings from Today

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Drinks and Group Dinner

Day 2: Developing Our Voice at the Table

8:00 AM – 8:30 AM

Reflections So Far

8:30 AM – 11:15 AM

Developing the Network You Need (w/ breaks)

11:15 AM – 1:00 PM

Developing a Powerful Voice at the Table

1:00 PM – 1:45 PM

Lunch

1:45 PM – 3:00 PM

Developing a Powerful Voice at the Table (cont.)

3:15 PM – 5:30 PM

Communicating with Impact: Women and the ‘Vision Thing’

5:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Learnings from Today

6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Panel/Fireside Chat: Networks and Power (over drinks and hors d’oeuvres)

Day 3: Developing Gravitas and Impact

8:00 AM – 8:30 AM

Reflections So Far

8:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Leading Physically to Develop Presence and Gravitas

11:30 AM – 11:45 AM

Break

11:45 AM – 1:00 PM

Practicing Our Messages

1:00 PM – 1:45 PM

Lunch

1:45 PM – 5:00 PM

Effective Negotiation (w/ breaks)

5:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Learnings from Today

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Panel/Fireside Chat on Today's Theme

Day 4: Applying This to Our Worlds

8:00 AM – 8:30 AM

Reflections So Far

8:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Putting Our Learning Into Action (w/ breaks)

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Changing Our Organizations

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

Lunch

2:30 PM – 4:15 PM

What Might Still Hold You Back?: Understanding Our Immunity to Change

4:15 PM – 4:30 PM

Break

4:30 PM – 4:45 PM

What Will You Do?: Commitments and Next Steps

4:45 PM – 5:00 PM

Reflections on the Day and on the Program

Programme Objective

Participants will return from the program with a realistic plan to achieve their specific goal and an understanding of:

What can often hold women back from gaining or maximizing power and how to overcome these issues

What got them here as leaders and how to use this to lead more authentically

How to build a more strategic network to support future goals

How to communicate with impact and own the room

How to negotiate more effectively

Changes to make in their organization that help others

Participants will have ample opportunity for networking and relationship building with peers, allowing for resource development that extends well beyond the scope of the four days.

Programme Audience

This program is ideal for professionals in mid- to senior-level positions who are either seeking a general management or C-suite role or looking to pursue other opportunities that would leverage their accumulated expertise, whether technical, financial, legal, or medical. These opportunities might include:

Taking on a larger role with a greater span of control and where their existing technical expertise will no longer be sufficient for success
Starting a new business venture
Joining a board of directors for the first time
The program is also designed to meet the needs of companies seeking new and better ways to support their high performing women professionals, generate more effective leaders, and build value for their organization

We welcome applicants from a range of organizations including both public and private companies, not-for-profit organizations, venture capital and private equity funds, law practices, the medical profession, and healthcare industries.

"Just back from an amazing, and thought provoking week... I am rejuvenated, and have started to curate next steps to make sure that this education is fully executed on."

"The Women's Leadership Program came at a time when I was seeking clarity on what's next in my career journey. I got that and so much more out of it. Spending 4 days in a group of 40+ brilliant women with 3 incredible professors provided me with the inspiration, questions, and ideas to clarify what I want to do next with my career and who I need to help me. By the end, I have a new network of champions and a roadmap for my career agenda that I'm actively working on every week. "

"The course was exceptional and exceeded my expectations, the practical day to day exercises and examples made it easier to assimilate and relate. It was also exciting to bond with 40+ women in an absolutely safe space, where people were free to be vulnerable."

Breaking Barriers and Building Allies: A Conversation with Women Executive Certificate Holders

In this webinar, we discuss the challenges women leaders still often face as they progress through their career—and how MIT has helped strengthen their expertise.

Programme Benefits

Thought Leadership

Led by women faculty and administrators and conducted in an energizing environment

Networking

Designed for a global cohort of ambitious, professionals

Mens et Manus

Participate in practical and action-oriented sessions that are grounded in the latest research on leadership, negotiation, and power

Certificate

Earn a certificate of course completion from the MIT Sloan School of Management

Testimonials

"Truly thorough, full of practical application, deep self dive, and inspiration to challenge oneself and grow further. Phenomenal teaching and engagement of all in the room. Unforgettable experience in the most wonderful of ways!"

Elena I

"The MIT Sloan Women's Leadership Programme gave me a clear, practical approach to being strategic ; how I show up in meetings, the questions I ask, and how I build relationships and networks that matter, rather than leaving it to chance. With nearly three decades in upstream oil and gas supply chain leadership, I came in with deep operational expertise but wanted sharper tools for translating that into strategic presence. This programme delivered; practical, immediately applicable, and pushed by faculty who challenged us to test ideas against our own real-world contexts. I'm leaving with clearer instincts on where to focus my energy and how to build influence with intention. Highly recommended for any woman leader ready to move from reactive to deliberate."

Chioma O

"Just back from an amazing, and thought provoking week for Women's leadership. The content was well thought out, and Dr. Murry and Dr. Johnson were inspiring professors and left me with wanting more. I also thought the guest speakers were critical in presenting a holistic experience ( negotiating and performance). I am rejuvenated, and have started to curate next steps to make sure that this education is fully executed on. I also want to highlight the amazing support team as these sessions"

Stephanie F

"The Women's Leadership Program came at a time when I was seeking clarity on what's next in my career journey. I got that and so much more out of it. Spending 4 days in a group of 40 brilliant women with 3 incredible professors provided me with the inspiration, questions, and ideas to clarify what I want to do next with my career and who I need to help me. By the end, I have a new network of champions and a roadmap for my career agenda that I'm actively working on every week."

Katie C

"The course was exceptional and exceeded my expectations, the practical day to day exercises and examples made it easier to assimilate and relate. It was also exciting to bond with 40 women in an absolutely safe space, where people were free to be vulnerable."

Omotejirevwe I

"The Women's Leadership Program at MIT is more than just a courseit's a transformative journey that empowers women to lead with confidence and make a lasting impact in their organizations and communities. Whether you're an aspiring leader or an experienced executive, this program offers the resources and support you need to thrive in your leadership journey. It is led by an exceptional team of MIT faculty members and industry experts who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience. Their insights and guidance are invaluable in helping participants open up, understand, and navigate the challenges faced by women leaders through a blend of interactive lectures, hands-on workshops, and group discussions. The program's structure encourages active participation, fostering a collaborative and supportive learning environment. Attendees will be equipped with skills, knowledge, and confidence to continually excel in their careers and an incredible network of inspiring women leaders from across the globe!"

Carla S

"This program was exactly what I had been hoping for. Using a data-driven approach, I now am able to see the structures and behaviors that I was using to hold myself back. These four days drove home important themes and armed me with tools to tackle: networking, my relationship with power, and physical and vocal presence. Reflection enabled me to build a plan to action the learning that I was exposed to. Best of all, the learning environment took place amidst an outstanding group of women, each"

Tania O

"It was simply great. Definetely reccomended for women in established and new leadership roles. Faculty and peers learning is super."

Gaia M

"An excellent course for anyone who are in mid career and seeking to reevaluate the path and gain some major experience and skills for the next journey. I found Leading with Physical and Vocal Presence was too compact and some area not relevant to business day to day impact and confidence . Negotiation subject was missing since MIT has one of the best course for those subject , they should leveraged that ."

Mozhdeh k

"The Womens Leadership Program exceeded my expectations. The instructors were top-notch, demonstrating high engagement to ensure our personal success. The cohort was phenomenal, openly sharing and transferring ideas."

Casey G

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Prashansa Uttam

Programme Advisor

+91 9403890085[email protected]Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm IST

MIT Sloan School of Management

Executive Education Office

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https://mitsloan.mit.edu
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Women's Leadership Program | MIT Sloan