Executive Transition Program
The Executive Transition Program (ETP) prepares senior-level managers and functional executives to successfully transition into general management roles.
Stepping into senior leadership brings a significant shift in responsibilities. It requires strategic thinking, cross-functional decision-making capacity, mature people management skills, and a reflective approach to impactful leadership.
The ETP helps you become not just a competent business leader, but one who is grounded, approachable, and inspiring. It equips you with skills and confidence to:
- manage complex, cross-functional, strategic decisions on a global scale
- adapt to the rapidly evolving demands of modern business
- lead with advanced skills and a larger network of champions.
Key facts
Your profile
- You are about to or recently have moved into a general management role.
- You are leading a business unit, department or regional entity, or overseeing a new product, market, or major project initiative.
- You are a leader of people leaders with at least 10 years of business experience and 7 years of leadership experience.
- You have a confident command of written and spoken professional English.
Benefits
- Strengthened business knowledge
- Enhanced confidence to tackle complex challenges
- Broadened perspective with leadership insights from other disciplines like humanities and geopolitics
- Expanded comfort zone established with peer coaching and immersive experiences
- More connections through the exclusive ETP Salon, a network of top-level leaders and change-makers
Program highlights
- Top faculty from ESMT Berlin and leading partner business schools
- Experiential growth opportunities, including outdoor challenges and actor-led exercises
- Case study discussions or a business simulation to exchange perspectives and practical insights
- Peer coaching sessions to deepen individual learning throughout the program
- Networking with like-minded peers and the broader ETP community
- Inspiring locations and unique spaces for personal reflection and growth
- Select online nuggets and webinars
Topics
- Core business functions and strategy: Strategy Definition and Change Implementation, Financial Management, Operations & Supply Chain Management, Marketing & Commercialization, Innovation and AI, Sustainability, Business Ethics & Responsibility
- Leadership skills: Team Leadership and Decision-Making, Authorizing Your Leadership, Influencing and Stakeholder Engagement, Self-Mastery, Your Presence, Vision and Story, Mindful and Inclusive Leadership, Crucibles of Leadership.
Downloads
Executive Transition Program
Application form
Next dates
Program structure
You will...
- dive into various business functions and their interconnections
- apply your learning in a business simulation, orchestrating value creation across functions in a global context
You will also...
- explore executive transitions and strategies to address related challenges
- reflect on your leadership journey and define the leader you aspire to become.
- get to know your classmates and engage in peer coaching
You will...
- take a company-wide perspective to understand key levers for strategic competitiveness, innovativeness and growth including the role of AI to understand what it takes to drive holistic change
- learn to make effective, unbiased, ethical and responsible decisions in a leadership team
You will...
- reflect on your leadership vision, value contribution, and practice storytelling to inspire
- understand how to build authority as a leader
- discuss how to leverage strategic and operational networks to influence effectively
- benefit from group and individual transition coaching to reflect and grow.
Sarah Horn
Urs Müller
Gianluca Carnabuci
Nora Grasselli
Konstantin Korotov
Olaf Plötner
Hanna Setterberg
Francis de Véricourt
“ETP not only builds confidence in making complex business decisions but also shapes well-rounded leaders committed to sustainable growth and impact.
”
The Executive Transition Program (ETP) equips participants with competence and confidence in making complex, cross-functional business decisions. What stands out, though, is that it focuses on shaping well-rounded leaders who focus on sustainable growth and impact above all. It really helps me to think about who I uniquely am and want to be, not just as a leader but as a human.
The program fosters a safe space for learning, growth, and lifelong connections, while the program team serves as a true role model for inclusive leadership and empowerment. The entire experience feels transformative, with stimulating learning moments that broaden your horizon and challenge you to think deeply about responsible business leadership.
The move from functional to general management requires a fundamental change in capabilities, skills, and attitudes.
ETP gave me the opportunity to learn, experiment, develop, and build a network of great people – while preparing for my transition.
Scholarship opportunities
ESMT Berlin awards full and partial scholarships to talented professionals, including dedicated support for women in leadership roles.
Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Management
Having completed the Executive Transition Program, you will receive the ESMT Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Management, a prestigious recognition of your professional development.
Need more information?
Contact our program advisors:
- Fill out our Request Information form
- Phone: +49 30 21231 1490
- Email: bd@esmt.org
