Location
Lausanne
Length
4 days
Fee
CHF 10,900
Next program starts
03 June 2025

Navigate the unique challenges women leaders face

Research consistently demonstrates that gender diversity in senior leadership teams brings tangible value and financial returns for organizations. Yet women continue to face a unique set of challenges and limiting biases as they progress in their careers and assume roles of greater influence.

During this highly immersive leadership journey, you will have the opportunity to connect with senior women leaders from around the world. Together, you will explore your own leadership context and gain invaluable insights on how to navigate it effectively.

Since 2004, IMD’s constantly evolving Strategies for Leadership program has provided women with the tools necessary for addressing those challenges and strengthening their impact as leaders. You will learn how to build the leadership finesse, visibility, and influence to fuel your advancement and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Through a combination of extensive professional coaching and powerful experiential activities, you will develop a deep understanding of yourself as a leader, enhance your executive presence, and reflect on your personal leadership challenges.

By discovering and unlocking your most authentic leadership style, you will be able to move onwards and upwards in your career.

Expand your self-awareness

Explore who you are as a leader and how you are perceived by others. Discover your unique strengths and qualities, and reflect on your personal and professional identity.

Lead with authenticity

Cultivate your unique leadership style, aligned with your strengths and values, and learn to lead others with authenticity, clarity, and self-assurance.

Gain practical tools and strategies

Learn strategies and hands-on tools for bolstering your executive presence, delegating to others, coaching your team, communicating effectively across the organization, and increasing your impact.

Cultivate adaptive leadership

Learn to flex your leadership style to confidently navigate the professional complexities, biases, and invisible barriers that may be holding you back.

Build a lifelong network

Share experiences with a global group of inspiring women leaders and become part of the program’s supportive alumnae network.

 - IMD Business School
You and your class

You are a senior or upper-middle-level female executive determined to move upwards and onwards in your career. You have direct reports or substantial management responsibilities, and you want to grow your leadership influence alongside an inspiring community of senior women leaders who understand the unique challenges you face in the workplace.

Read more about the admission criteria.

2024 class profile (average data)

19

years of experience

55%

senior & C-level

44

average age

20

nationalities

 - IMD Business School  - IMD Business School  - IMD Business School
Information Session
Join us on 6 May 2025

Interested in an IMD leadership program? Don’t miss this opportunity to get all your questions answered by our Program Advisors at 09:00 (CEST).

Information Session

Join us on 6 May 2025

Interested in an IMD leadership program? Don’t miss this opportunity to get all your questions answered by our Program Advisors at 09:00 (CEST).

What women leaders say about the program
 - IMD Business School
Niloofar Ghods

Senior Manager, Executive Assessment & Development, Cisco Systems, United States

Amazing things can happen when you get a group of highly intelligent, capable and inspiring women leaders together for an intensive few days. You build deep relationships with complete strangers, you gain deeper insights about yourself as a leader, and you gain a global network of like-minded women leaders you admire and want to work with again. All this within an environment that is safe and full of compassion and support. What more can you ask for?

 - IMD Business School
Marina Corti

International HR Director, Workplace and Social Responsibility, Cartier, Switzerland

The highlight of this program is really the connections that you make because you establish very authentic relationships. They really impact you as an individual, as a person.

 - IMD Business School
Tift Shepherd

Director Legal, Specialty Chemicals, AkzoNobel Legal Group, The Netherlands

I gained quick and easy tips which I use on an ongoing basis and shared with more junior women in my group. I also took a lot from the coaching sessions that I am applying in my daily life.

Feena May IMD President of Strategies for Leadership alumnae community - IMD Business School
Feena May

President, Strategies for Leadership alumnae community

The Strategies for Leadership annual alumnae event deepens the connections made during the program. You meet a wider network. It’s a moment in time to re-energize, connect, learn, and continue inspiring positive impact in the world. And it’s so much fun.

 - IMD Business School
Minna Wilkki

Head Of Department, European Research Executive Agency, Belgium

The major impact of this program for me in one word is empowerment. It has given me the power to be a better leader in my current position, or to move on to the next stage.

Experience the program
Discover the program highlights – Thrive as women business leaders
Celebrating 20 years of IMD’s Strategies for Leadership program
“Energy, intense, personal journey.” – Hear about Isabel’s experience in the program.
 - IMD Business School

The program creates a supportive context in which women executives are challenged to explore their own leadership identities. You will learn how to advocate your mission
and address gender-specific career derailers.

Read more

Ginka Toegel Program Director
Next start & fee

Length: 4 days on campus, plus self-paced preparation & coaching.

Dates
3 Jun – 6 Jun 2025
Location
Lausanne
Length
4 days
Price
CHF 10,900
Dates
16 Sep – 19 Sep 2025
Location
Lausanne
Length
4 days
Price
CHF 10,900