Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education

10/01/2026

Common biases. Irrational investment behaviors. Decision-trap situations. In today’s complex, rapidly changing financial markets, these factors can influence how investors make decisions and lead to suboptimal outcomes.

Investment Decisions and Behavioral Finance is an intensive on-campus program running November 4–6, 2026. Led by Faculty Chair Richard Zeckhauser, this program explores the psychology of decision-making under risk and uncertainty, helping executives better understand the behavioral factors that shape investment decisions.

Learn more and apply by October 26: https://bit.ly/4xVQjpk

09/30/2026

Watching the Harvard Kennedy School experience unfold through participant photos offers a meaningful reminder of what draws leaders to Cambridge. From reflective walks along the Charles River to engaging discussions inside and outside the classroom, these shared moments highlight the personal journeys that contribute to professional growth.

Tag Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education in your posts for a chance to be featured in our next community roundup.

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Photos from Christine Buttigieg, Stephen Watson, Maria Jose Martinez Arroyo, Sally Chafee, Dr. Dianna M. Mattern, Risti Permani, David Shipley, Brittany Bouchouari, Vikas Poni, Viabhav Khandelwal

09/29/2026

Why do expert teams still make flawed decisions?

When assembling top talent, organizational results depend heavily on how leaders structure engagement. Developed by Faculty Chair Robert Wilkinson, the 4P Model provides a diagnostic framework to address complex leadership challenges.

Examine the four core dimensions:
Perception: Exposing assumptions and inquiring into differing perspectives.
Process: Designing intentional structures for stakeholder engagement.
People: Managing emotional dynamics and establishing trust.
Projection: Aligning a clear strategic narrative across your organization.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4z5r70G

09/28/2026

Filling a schedule with activity is simple. Driving real organizational change requires the discipline to focus on what actually shifts the baseline.

True leadership means distinguishing between keeping teams busy and moving them toward meaningful outcomes.

How do you distinguish between routine activity and true strategic progress?

09/25/2026

Treating constitutional structures as untouchable is a relatively modern concept. The founders built American democracy as an evolving experiment intended to adapt across generations.

As America marks its 250th anniversary, the nation is debating national identity, the role of democracy, even the Constitution.

To examine America at 250, Lindsay Chervinsky and Leah Wright Rigueur—in a collaboration between Harvard Kennedy School and Johns Hopkins University—break down the facts, flaws, and future of the American experiment.

Read the full conversation:

In a collaboration between Harvard Kennedy School and Johns Hopkins University, Lindsay Chervinsky and Leah Wright Rigueur look at the facts and flaws of the American experiment.

09/24/2026

Most organizational discussions around artificial intelligence focus entirely on technological capabilities. The more demanding task is designing the structural framework to deploy it effectively.

In this clip, Faculty Chair Mark Fagan discusses why moving from casual experimentation to organized implementation requires deliberate governance.

Our upcoming executive program, AI in Action: Organizational Strategy for the Responsible Adoption of AI, provides senior leaders with the explicit frameworks needed to manage this transition.

Applications are open through Oct. 13. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4cZoGUS

09/23/2026

Join us on Saturday, November 14th at our Harvard Kennedy School campus for our 50th Anniversary Symposium: Leadership for a New Era event!

Enjoy a full day of forward-looking, cutting-edge research and presentations from HKS faculty. Network with fellow HKS Executive Education alumni and leaders, and join us to celebrate 50 years of empowering leaders.

Learn more and register ➡️ https://bit.ly/3SeMDQR

09/22/2026

🎉 50th Anniversary Alumni Highlight

Sarian Bouma of Sierra Leone, West Africa attended Leadership for the 21st Century in 2007.

Reflecting on her experience, she shared:
"Participating in the Leadership for the 21st Century program has significantly enhanced my career. The focus on leadership, conflict, and chaos has empowered me in my advisory role with Federal and State Agencies, helping my consulting career reach new heights. I am grateful to connect with classmates in high executive roles from around the globe, and the friendships formed during this experience continue to enrich my professional network."

We're proud to have been empowering leaders like Sarian for 50 years.

09/21/2026

A bird's-eye view of what awaits our incoming executive participants here in Cambridge. We are looking forward to welcoming the next cohorts to campus.

Which Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education program are you attending this fall?

09/18/2026

The impact of Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education is defined by the global leaders who assemble in our classrooms. From high-level classroom debates to cross-sector networking across campus, our participants bring extraordinary depth and vision to every cohort.

Here is a look at recent campus moments through the eyes of our participants. Thank you to everyone who shared their experience and contributed to our dynamic community.

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Photos from Lyndsay Mitchell, Sara Kop, Zainab “Zee” Sulaiman, Raquel Paradela Faustino, Avital Menaged, Roni Karassik, Erez Riahi, Judit Teichert, Iris Shamir, Ofir Havkin