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Advanced Management for Senior Leaders Program

Next program starts
Duration 8 days + short virtual sessions
Language English
Program Fee €9,950.00
Application Deadline July 27, 2026
Seat Availability Seats are available. Apply now to secure your place.
Apply now Schedule a call
Online Info Session February 12, 2026 at 02:30 PM GMT+1
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About the Program

In an era of constant disruption, senior leaders must navigate complexity, drive transformation, and inspire their people to stay ahead. The WHU Advanced Management for Senior Leaders Program is designed for experienced executives with significant organizational responsibilities who seek to elevate their leadership impact by engaging systematically with complex strategic issues while effectively motivating their teams.

Through 2 intensive in-person modules and interactive online sessions, this program challenges you to rethink strategy, innovation, and leadership influence. You will learn from the latest scientific knowledge, hands-on case studies, and cross-industry discussion with your peers, allowing you to integrate new perspectives and apply them to critical business challenges.

Between the in-person modules, short online sessions, led by executive Coaches and C-Suite leaders, provide additional opportunities to refine your leadership approach and enhance strategic mindset. By the end of the program, you will understand what it takes to lead, know how to leverage technology and AI, develop a stronger strategic mindset, and gain the ability to drive meaningful transformation within your organization and the global business landscape.

You will be awarded with a WHU Executive Education Certificate after successfully completing the program.

More Questions? Contact us
Lais Cunha & Nikola NakovAdmissions Team Executive Education Open Programs
Email:openprograms@whu.eduPhone:+49 211 44709-178

Program Content

This high-performance leadership development program consists of 2 in-class modules, comprised of 4 days each, and additional short online sessions in between modules.

Key topics of module 1, On-campus (Düsseldorf):

  • Mastering the dynamics of global leadership
  • Leading strategic growth
  • Harnessing strategic innovation
  • Unlocking the power of ChatGPT & generative AI
  • Enhancing personal & team resilience

Key topics of module 2, On-campus (Düsseldorf):

  • Executing strategy & leading strategic change
  • Gaining practical financial leadership skills
  • Reflecting executive leadership
  • Leading to inspire

Online sessions:

  • Peer consulting
  • Executive insights sessions with management board members

All sessions are designed to challenge your view on corporate transformation and strategy using a mixture of different methodological elements:

  • Interactive and hands-on classroom sessions
  • Peer-to-peer feedback
  • One-on-one and group reflections

Join this unique learning experience and be prepared to be challenged by our renowned program faculty! To ensure that you get the most out of this advanced management program, we have lined up world-class experts from academia and business practice to be your session facilitators.

We have also integrated a welcome reception and closing dinner into the curriculum to enhance networking opportunities.

Program Format and Module Dates

This Program consists of 2 in-class modules, comprised of 4 days each, and additional short online sessions in between modules. Both in-class modules are held at the WHU Campus Düsseldorf, Germany.

Module Dates

In-class Module 1 - , Düsseldorf
Peer Consulting Session (08:00 - 09:30 a.m. (CEST)) -
Executive Insight Session (6:30 – 7:30 p.m. (CEST)) -
Peer Consulting Session (08:00 - 09:30 a.m. (CEST)) -
In-class Module 2 - , Düsseldorf
Program Faculty
WHU-Speaker
About
Prof. Dr. Pisitta Vongswasdi is Professor of Leadership and Society at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management.
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WHU-Speaker
About
Prof. Dr. Dries Faems holds the Chair of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technological Transformation at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management. He is academic director of the WHU Entrepreneurship Center and the WHU Global Online MBA program. He also is a Visiting Professor at Ghent University in Belgium and the LUISS Business School in Italy.
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WHU-Speaker
About
Prof. Dr. Ayse Karaevli is the Chair of Corporate Management & Change at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management. She earned her Doctor of Business Administration from Boston University Questrom School of Business and completed postdoctoral studies at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.
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Guest-Speaker
About
Bernhard Günther has served as Group CFO of a number of stock listed energy companies mainly in Germany and eventually in Finland: RWE, innogy and Fortum. In this capacity he led major transformation programs, most notably the split of RWE and innogy in 2016, the integration of innogy into E.On in 2018-2020 and then finally the preparation of the integration of Fortum and Uniper SE.
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WHU-Speaker
About
Karsten Drath is an entrepreneur, coach, author, and lecturer who is fascinated by the human ability to grow in challenges and crises. For more than 20 years, he has acquired an extensive management background, including numerous international leadership positions at Accenture, Bombardier, and Perot Systems. Prior to his position as Executive Coach, he was Managing Director EMEA of Dell's consulting unit, where he was jointly responsible for setting it up.
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Guest-Speaker
About
Matthias Hartmann, born 1966, is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TechemGmbH since January 2020. Matthias leads the German-based company’s efforts in more than 20 countries to become the digital service partner of the real estate industry protecting resources and hence comply to the goal of making buildings green, smart, and healthy. By this Techem meets the demands of climate protection and decarbonization as well as of efficient processes and healthy living in residential buildings.
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Guest-Speaker
About
James Healy joined Olivier Mythodrama as an experienced program leader delivering courses to a wide variety of global businesses as well as the not-for profit and public sectors. His specific areas of expertise are communication and presence.
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WHU-Speaker
About
Lukas Löhlein has been part of the WHU faculty since 2017. First, he was an associate professor until becoming a full professor and Co-Director of the Institute of Management and Controlling (IMC) in 2023.
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Guest-Speaker
About
Phoebe Kebbel is a member of the of European Executive Committee of FGS Global, the world’s leading stakeholder strategy firm. Phoebe is among Europe’s top capital market communications professionals, trusted by blue-chip, private equity, and family clients for her expertise and judgment. She has advised on over 75 M&A transactions totaling €100 billion and successfully defended companies against shareholder activists and shortseller attacks. Based in Frankfurt since 2003, Phoebe co-heads the firm’ global “Transactions and Financial Communications” practice and helped establish the Paris and Amsterdam offices.
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Guest-Speaker
About
Christof Ehrhart is Executive Vice President and Global Head of Corporate Communications & Governmental Affairs at Robert Bosch GmbH, a leading global technology and services provider. Before joining Bosch in 2019, he served as Executive Vice President for Corporate Communications & Responsibility at Deutsche Post DHL Group for nearly a decade.
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Program Benefits

  • Sharpen your strategic mindset to make high-impact decisions in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments.
  • Master the dynamics of global and virtual leadership to lead diverse, distributed teams with purpose and cohesion.
  • Drive business transformation by linking strategy, innovation, and execution across industries and functions.
  • Leverage cutting-edge insights on Generative AI and emerging technologies to position your organization for long-term success.
  • Gain practical financial leadership skills by exploring key CFO-level topics such as financing, controlling, accounting, and risk governance.
  • Strengthen your ability to lead change by combining strategic clarity with emotional intelligence and team inspiration.
  • Join a dynamic peer network of senior leaders and experienced executives, creating long-lasting learning and professional connections.

Certificate

You will receive a WHU Executive Education Certificate after successfully completing the program.

Participant Profile

Ideal candidate profiles include:

  • Senior executives who have recently made a transition to an executive management position or board-level position, or who are preparing to do so in the near future
  • Experienced professionals who are in transition between jobs.
  • Business owners aiming at sustaining a competitive advantage for their organizations
  • Senior HR development professionals who are driving the development agenda for senior-level positions within their organization
  • Participants will have a minimum of 15 years of leadership experience and a significant strategic responsibility in their organization

The minimum number of participants for this program is 12.

Testimonials
Iman Sheel Co-Founder & Business Development Manager Sahan Cares CIC
„The Advanced Management Program at WHU goes beyond standard leadership training, fusing a human-centric approach with strategic insights and artificial intelligence. Transforming leaders, it fosters the mindset needed to navigate the complexities of the modern business world, balancing empathy, strategic thinking, and technological acumen.“
Harald Dürr Managing Director KKR Kohlberg Kravis Roberts
„The AMSP leaves an impression with its deep and applicable content that can be implemented very well in a professional context. During the engaging time, many impulses for further thinking are set, which continue to accompany me even after completing the program. In addition to the technical depth, I was impressed by the different and modern teaching methods of the competent faculty. A bonus was the scope of participants, which enables interdisciplinary learning and also represents a sustainable network for the future.“
Ivan Kitta Head of Marketing at GoodMills Deutschland: Aurora Mühlen and Müller’s Mühle
„I met a group of highly motivated senior professionals from very different backgrounds: entrepreneurs as well as executives from investment banking, financial services, automotive, and consumer goods sectors. The spirit to excel in business leadership was amazing and lasted over all courses and sessions of the program. I felt privileged to work with my high caliber peers.“
Martin Petsch Managing Director DZ BANK AG - Corporate Finance / M&A
„This Program has taken me a huge step forward on a professional and personal level: The mix of theoretical content and practical experience in conjunction with top-class speakers contributes to the program's success. The international participants are also a great enrichment to my personal network.“
Andreas Schlimgen Managing Director Schlimgen Logistics Solutions GmbH
„The AMSP at WHU not only enhanced my leadership skills but also fostered my personal development. The exchange with fellow participants was incredibly valuable and opened up new perspectives for me.“
Tillmann Kölle Regional Sales Manager South Lenze Vertrieb GmbH
„ The AMP has both inspired and challenged me and therefore has made an impact on my personal growth. In particular the exchange with other program participants in the AMP has been highly valuable. “
Scholarships for ambitious women & emerging markets leaders

Are you looking for a new professional development opportunity? For most of our Open Programs*, we offer two scholarships (25% and 50% discount) for visionary women and emerging markets leaders who want to enhance their professional skills! Please send the completed application form and a letter of motivation to openprograms@whu.edu until 8 weeks before the program starts.

Need help choosing the right program?

Our Admissions Team is happy to assist you.

Call us at +49 211 44709-178.Prefer to choose a time that suits you? Use our easy Schedule a Call option.We look forward to connecting with you!
Lais Cunha & Nikola NakovAdmissions Team Executive Education Open Programs
Email:openprograms@whu.eduPhone:+49 211 44709-178Schedule a call
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