What’s so Different about Executive Education?

This summer, I find myself speaking with many professionals looking to invest in themselves but hesitant to go back to school. They admit they think they would have a hard time sitting in a classroom given that they’ve been out of school for years, often decades. Happily, they were pleased to learn that executive education is quite different from the traditional classroom experience.

Executive education attracts accomplished professionals with a wealth of experience. When these individuals come to Rotman, they generally have a goal in mind, want practical knowledge to meet this goal, and want to apply what they learn as soon as they get back to work.

To meet these needs, our programs blends a number of teaching formats to make the experience a fun, enriching and impactful investment. 

Take part in a symphony

Our faculty are world-class. They provide essential foundational knowledge including best-in-class leadership frameworks, the latest management research and examples of cutting-edge applications. They also bring in renowned industry experts so you see how theories are applied in business.

However, in executive education, they also play another role. They know you bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, so much like a conductor at a symphony, they draw on the talent and experience of you and your peers to enrich the discussions in class. Our faculty are experts in ensuring you contribute as much as you learn.

Test drive your learning

After equipping you with solid foundations, we very quickly get you practicing concepts. Working with peers, you test concepts through illustrative business challenges, role-playing, simulations, workshops and other application-focused, organization-specific challenges.

While learning on the job is invaluable, at Rotman, group exercises also let you express yourself and test your learnings in a safe environment. You also see how others work through challenges and think through opportunities to experience a variety of perspectives. 

Raise your impact at work

Our executive courses use a variety of supporting methods to help you apply your learnings when you leave. Action learning projects, peer advisory groups and coaches help you fine-tune exactly what you need to do once you’re back at the office. Rotman's Strategic Business Leadership Program for example strategically places a coaching check-up six weeks after you’ve been back at work. This lets you check in with us on challenges you’ve encountered and calibrate your progress moving forward. 

What gets measured gets done

Key leadership programs like Rotman's Executive Leadership Program include not just pre-program assessments like the 360, but also measure progress 8 months after the program. This keeps our participants focused on the reason they came to Rotman, motivates them to continue applying their learnings and helps them feel proud of the transformation they’ve accomplished. 

Make the time

Rotman’s programs are calibrated for busy professionals with demanding careers. We know that time away from the office must have high-impact upon your return. While our flagship programs are five days in length, we have a number of shorter options as well. All our programs are focused on giving you new skills and learning and we are ranked among the best in the world for delivering exactly that!

Ready to invest in yourself? Come see why Rotman programs are ranked top in Canada.

Our executive programs include:

Rotman's Executive Leadership Program (October 2017)

Rotman's Strategic Business Leadership Program (October 2017)

And more…