Chief of Staff Executive Education at Harvard Business School

Developed in collaboration with one of the world’s most prestigious business schools, the programme is designed to help chiefs of staff develop the skills they need to thrive in their roles.

Founded in 1908 as part of Harvard University, Harvard Business School is located on a 40-acre campus in Boston. For more than a century, HBS faculty have drawn on their research, their experience in working with organisations worldwide, and their passion for teaching to educate leaders who make a difference in the world, shaping the practice of business and entrepreneurship around the globe.

Classroom sessions during the Chief of Staff Executive Education Programme at HBS include cases examining leaders’ effectiveness in navigating difficult organisational challenges, and exercises designed to enhance skills foundational to the three key activities. Participants will engage in case discussions exploring multiple aspects of leadership, collaboration, and organisational alignment. Participants will also actively practice different approaches influencing others, managing conflict, and building trust.

Inside and outside the classroom, participants will share their own experiences and questions, teaching and learning from one another as they build relationships with other chiefs of staff. Participants will leave HBS with new understandings of the chief of staff’s role in creating organisational effectiveness and innovation, and new skills for influence and collaboration.

Upcoming Programme

  • Date: Monday 29 September – Friday 03 October, 2025

  • Capacity: 60 members of The Chief of Staff Association

To learn more, reach out to the education team or apply to join our membership.

Apply for Membership

Learning Objectives

The Chief of Staff Executive Education Programme has three key learning outcomes:

1. Leading with relational power

• Enhance and refine your influence and negotiation skills
• Build trust with your principal and key stakeholders to create credibility and be an effective leader
• Develop your authentic leadership style and build your authority as a leader

2. Collaborative leadership

• Expand your repertoire of collaborative action possibilities
• Incorporate nuances of the organisational structure, providing clarity to the principal and other leaders
• Navigate conflict and emotionally charged discussions

3. Ambidextrous innovation

• Develop new insights and approaches to organising “ambidextrously”
• Identify and address common challenges and barriers that hinder congruency
• Enhance problem-solving skills through frameworks and diverse perspectives

Read Our Programme Reports

The Harvard programme reports capture a flavour of the discussions held during the programme and highlight the key insights that emerged.

Catalysing Innovation

In our March 2024 report, Catalysing Innovation, we explore the evolving role of the chief of staff as a pivotal force in fostering innovation and strategic transformation. Drawing from insights at the 2024 Harvard Business School Executive Education Programme, the report highlights how chiefs of staff navigate complex organisational dynamics, influence without formal authority, and create environments conducive to curiosity and reinvention. It underscores their unique position in bridging hierarchical gaps and facilitating cross-functional collaboration to drive impactful change.

Read Now

“The chief of staff role is unique and challenging, and we are committed to providing our members with the resources they need to excel. This programme will equip chiefs of staff with the skills they need to be world-class leaders, expert advisors and strategic decision-makers”

Trent Smyth AM, CEO, The Chief of Staff Association

Interested in joining The Chief of Staff Association?

Apply for Membership