Note: Women in Leadership is now offered in two formats—an online business certificate and an in-residence business certificate. Please visit the Kelley School of Business Executive Education certificates website to learn more and to enroll in an upcoming program.

Women leaders face unique expectations, norms, and realities in the business world. Discover strategies to become a more effective leader­ in an uneven playing field in the Women in Leadership short course hosted by the Kelley School of Business Executive Education program.

 

In this one-day course, you’ll look at how gender roles influence behavior and evaluation of both men and women. You’ll participate in an open dialogue about managing unspoken perceptions of female leaders. And you’ll learn more effective techniques for leading, persuading, and inspiring others.

This has proved to be a useful—and popular—course. During the course’s first session, Kelley instructors presented to a sold-out class of motivated women leaders and were thrilled by the level of interest and participation in the inaugural class.

Participants said “the tools, references, and relationships were immediately helpful,” and they “appreciated the clarity in which the material was presented.”

One popular section of the course focuses on negotiation strategies for women and the ability to influence others over whom you do not have authority. Goerner and Lovelace provide practical negotiation exercises and tactics that one participant called enlightening.

Responding to participants’ requests for an ongoing dialogue about women’s leadership challenges, Instructors Carolyn Goerner and Daisy Lovelace created an online community. “In addition to the great discussions onsite,” said Lovelace, “participants have access to a private follow-up forum where we continue to share strategies and ideas.”

Creating a community of support is key to empowering women leaders because, as one participant said, “it was great to see we’re not alone in this journey.”

Looking for additional professional development opportunities? Kelley Executive Education has a large selection of short courses to strengthen your leadership, management, or communication skills.

Carolyn Goerner is a clinical professor of management and co-director of the Kelley Women in Business Initiative at the Kelley School of Business.