Executive Women in Leadership

• Women leaders in mid- to senior-level positions (10+ years of work experience)
• Women who hold or are interested in seeking board positions
• Women entrepreneurs and founders
• Male leaders seeking to better understand gender dynamics in their organizations

• Executive Women in Leadership Certificate from Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
• 50 Professional Development Hours (5 CEUs)
• 0-6 Professional Development Units (PDUs) toward PMI recertification
• 50 Professional Development Credits (PDCs) toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification
• 50 Credit hours towards HRCI recertification

In many organizations, men hold more executive positions and board seats than similarly qualified women. Even organizations that bring on women and men at the same rate still demonstrate a gender imbalance at the highest levels of leadership because the power structures and gender dynamics in place often favor and reward the contributions of men over women. In this environment, even the most experienced and capable women struggle against gender bias and established power dynamics on their way to the top.

In this certificate, you will learn strategies and techniques to skillfully level the playing field as you work to attain higher levels of leadership. You’ll begin with an evaluation of the gender bias and power dynamics present in your organizations and develop strategies to overcome their limiting effects. Next, you will assess and refine the way you present yourself as an executive. Leaders often have to negotiate on behalf of themselves, their teams, and their institutions, so students will explore ways to prepare for the challenges women face in negotiations and adapt their negotiation style to the context of a given situation. Given that strong professional networks are often required to advance careers to the highest level, you will create a plan to fully develop your own networks while navigating the potential traps of gender and power dynamics. Finally, you will peek behind the boardroom door to identify the key competencies needed for board membership and explore the various - and sometimes unlikely - pathways women follow to the boardroom.

For the best experience in this program it is recommended to take these courses in the order that they appear.

This program includes a year of free access to Symposium! These events feature several days of live, highly participatory virtual Zoom sessions with Cornell faculty and experts to explore the most pressing leadership topics. Symposium events are held several times throughout the year. Once enrolled in your program, you will receive information about upcoming events.

Throughout the year, you may participate in as many sessions as you wish. Attending Symposium sessions is not required to successfully complete the certificate program.