Businesses and corporations are continually recruiting for the best talent that professional pools have to offer.
Coveted C-Suite positions are not always as easily displayed, but are held in high esteem, nonetheless, and are the entity’s most prized roles.
Preparing to step into a chief role requires brand knowledge, execution, and business savvy. The University of Michigan has all of the above, and then some, and is offering a program to women who want to take on a chief-level role while giving them the tools they need to succeed.
Ascending to the C-Suite: From Theory to Practice is a new and unique program designed for women in senior-level positions aspiring to C-Suite roles. The experimental program being offered by the University of Michigan combines real-world knowledge and business to create an educational experience unlike any other.
The curated curriculum centers around specialized subject matter that will ensure success in a chief position. Bringing together women who have served in C-Suite roles, and hopefuls, the program is exclusive to women, but no additional educational background is needed.
“There is no other program like this in the world that we have seen. It brings together the teachings of world-class professors and scholars, coupled with real-life executive women who have ascended to the C-suite levels already,” says Cheri Alexander, Professor Management and Organizations at Ross School of Business and a former executive at General Motors Corporation.
Alexander added that she and Terry Barclay created the CEO Inforum Center for Leadership.
“After I retired from my career at GM, Terry and I were discussing the concept of bringing together important teachings for women to prepare for the C-Suite and the experiences of women who already are there,” she said. “Together, we investigated all the existing executive
leadership programs and then designed one that was a cut above. With the support of our former Ross Dean, Professor Scott DeRue, we gathered exceptional talent from academia and the ‘real world, and executed the program.”
Partnering with the Michigan Ross School of Business, which was recently named a Top three global provider (and the number one provider among U.S. schools’ open enrollment executive programs by the Financial Times) the program looks to help corporations grow and create executive global leaders. Inforum, another partner of the accelerated program, is committed to building careers for women and boosting talent for companies.
“Inforum has been in the business of developing women leaders and building their business networks since 1962, and this is one of the most challenging times we’ve seen for women in the workplace. This unique partnership between Inforum and Michigan Ross is a key solution,” says Terry Barclay, president and Chief Executive Officer of Inforum, in an email.
Although the program is accelerated, the knowledge and relationships gained will be sure to last. Through the program, a professional network is established and cultivated.
“The program is a week-long, but the experience is much longer, due to the preparation required and the connections which follow. The focus is on several key areas including Finance, Strategy, Innovation, and Crisis Management. Women generally have good or at least highly developed interpersonal skills, but we do include advanced Negotiations, Networking, and Social Styles, in the mix of topics,” says Alexander.
The program’s organizers hope the course will continue to grow leadership skills for every participant and help them to reach their C-Suite goal. To take the course, each woman must be in a senior-level position just short of attaining the chief level.
The tuition for the course is $8,200 and includes tuition, class materials, and coffee breaks. This program is excluded from special pricing and must be paid in full. The class runs from November 29 until December 3. Space is limited and applicants are encouraged to submit by the October 14 deadline.
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Photo : Cheri Alexander, Chief Innovation Officer, and Executive Director Corporate Learning
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