Elevate your impact, transform your mindset, and accelerate your career with our uniquely designed curriculum that infuses research-based frameworks with social and experiential learning.

Stanford LEAD’s academically rigorous and flexible 8-course curriculum helps leaders develop an innovation mindset and the skill sets needed to implement change. With courses in critical thinking, finance, leadership, and a wide range of electives, you’ll learn how to create dynamic solutions to complex business challenges and navigate the opportunities and obstacles inherent in driving change and innovation.

The LEAD Learning Model

Our breakthrough curriculum with relevant, real-world applications, and meaningful opportunities for collaboration make Stanford LEAD a powerful, high-touch learning experience. It’s a blend of independent learning, group-based work, and live online sessions to keep you interested and involved.

• Courses will inspire dynamic engagement with faculty and peers, enriching your knowledge and expanding your perspectives.
• Actionable feedback and support from Course Facilitators, experienced professionals who are teaching assistants and executive coaches in one, help you dig deeper into the content and apply your learnings.

Start with two foundation courses, add on one leadership course, and then customize your experience with your choice of five electives to build your skill sets and reach your personal and professional goals.

LEAD’s 8-course curriculum will help you:

Master the Foundations (2 Courses)

Learn how to make more financially viable and logical decisions. Through proven frameworks and techniques, these courses will help you drive the right initiatives forward in your organization.

• Critical Analytical Thinking
• Financing Innovation: The Creation of Value

Enhance Your Leadership Core (Select 1 of 3 Courses)

Develop and refine your leadership skills to enhance your impact. Analyze your successes and challenges with feedback and coaching from faculty, peers, and Course Facilitators. 

• Intentional Leadership: A 360 Approach
• Strategic Leadership
• Values-Based Leadership

Define Your Path with Electives (Select 5 of 20 Courses*)

Personalize your learning and achieve your professional objectives. Choose from a wide range of topics to fine tune your skills, fill gaps in knowledge, and turn your learnings into action for real-time impact. 

*The two additional courses from Leadership Core can also be taken as electives.

Earn Your Stanford GSB Professional Certificate

Upon program completion, you will receive a Stanford GSB Professional Certificate in two formats:

• A certified electronic version that may be posted on your social networks
• A printed version for display

Earn 24 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

• CEUs may be used to meet professional recertification requirements or to qualify for professional development or tuition reimbursement programs.

Join the LEAD Community

Even after the program ends, the learning and connections continue when you join the LEAD community — thousands of LEADers who have completed this year-long learning journey. It’s a diverse and supportive community committed to lifelong learning. Enjoy exclusive invitations to speaker sessions and special events, as well as self-organized virtual and in-person events that bring together LEADers with shared goals and interests.