First HPBM Program from IESE and WHU Successfully Completed
The C-level leaders appreciated the exchange, the top-notch speakers, and the program’s level of internationality. Published on April 05, 2022
WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management and the IESE Business School have offered their first-ever joint program for top-level managers. The High-Performance Board Member Program (HPBM program), which took place between November 2021 and February 2022, was met with considerable positive reception from participants.
The program modules took place across seven days at three different locations: the WHU campus in Düsseldorf and the IESE campuses in Munich and Barcelona. The group of participants comprised 19 “C-level” leaders active in various industries, including software, media, engineering, corporate consulting, and energy. Hailing from Portugal, Spain, Poland, Russia, Turkey, and Germany, these high-level executives are active in their companies as CEOs, CFOs, executive vice presidents, managing directors, and other capacities.
The program is targeted at executives from all industries who are either preparing to enter or are already active in the boardroom. Professor Markus Rudolf, Dean of WHU and Academic Director of Executive Education, noted, “Unlike most other board programs, ours does not make technical knowledge the main focus. Instead, participants should learn how to ask the right questions and lead their companies strategically.”
The board members and supervisory board members meet with each other, the lecturers, and top-notch guest speakers on common ground to exchange ideas concerning the most pertinent challenges they face in their respective fields and discuss possible scenarios based on practical examples. The program’s small group maintains a confidential, safe environment to allow for such conversation.
“The HPBM program has given me perspective and self-confidence in the best practices of the boardroom and my role within it,” explained Javier A. García Sedano, Founder and Group Director at OPTIMITIVE, summarizing his experience. With two of the best business schools in all of Europe, along with their first-class faculty, the program offers us the chance to meet with top managers and executives from different countries. You get to learn from their experiences and gain a much broader view of the organization and functions of the boardroom. I really enjoyed it!”
This collaboration between WHU and IESE allows participants to earn a joint certificate from two excellent institutions that are both strong in research. In summarizing the goals of the program, Faculty Director, and holder of the Chair of Innovation and Corporate Transformation at WHU, Professor Serden Ozcan said, “The High-Performance Board Program broadens participants’ understanding of the key tasks, dynamics, and strategic challenges of the boardroom and equips them with action-oriented approaches.”
The next High-Performance Board Program is due to start in November 2022. Further information can be found on the program website.