The demands on chief operating officers and other operations leaders have greatly expanded far beyond simply optimizing resources, cutting costs and spurring efficiencies. Indeed, these leaders are now expected to align their role with wider corporate strategy and collaborate more closely with other C-suite executives to tackle issues such as sustainability and digital transformation.

To help them in that transition, and also to cope with the changing nature of operations management in light of major disruptions arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine, several business schools run executive education courses tailored to operations leaders. 

On these programs, the participants learn everything from agile manufacturing to design thinking, lean methodologies and even storytelling. Many of the courses link operations to strategy, underscoring the cross-disciplinary nature of these subjects. Other courses focus more on how operations relates to supply chain management, which is increasing under the spotlight in the pandemic.

The role of the chief financial officer (CFO) is being transformed by a confluence of factors, from changing operating models to digitalization and society’s changing expectations. CFOs are now expected to become strategic partners to their CEOs, with a seat at the table for developing overall corporate strategy.

This means that the skills and competencies that the modern CFOs need to succeed is changing. Happily, a number of executive education programs have stepped in to help facilitate the role’s transformation.

These courses help participants to strengthen their leadership capabilities and learn how to communicate financial input more effectively, while also gaining insight into the latest developments in corporate finance.

Digital technology is a prominent theme for many of these courses, as CFOs use data analytics to build the finance function of the future. Another major development that is changing the CFO role is the growing importance of ESG (environmental, social and governance) factors in financial reporting.

All of this and more is covered in the courses listed below. Ultimately, CFOs taking these programs will gain the skills and confidence to lead their organizations and drive growth.

Effective leadership is ever more crucial for organizations. Recognizing the significance of nurturing good leaders, business schools across the globe have crafted executive education courses specifically designed to cultivate the next generation.

These programs, offered by world-class institutions, can have a transformative impact on participants, equipping them with key insights, strategic thinking and other leadership skills.

Below, we list 10 of the very best executive education courses on leadership offered at prestigious business schools worldwide -- from the hallowed halls of Harvard to the inspiring campuses of Oxford. On these elite programs, executive participants not only discover their true leadership potential, but also forge lifelong connections with an influential alumni network.