10 Best Women’s Leadership Development Programs
Year after year, we celebrate International Women’s Day to honor women. We use phrases such as “women empowerment,” “girl boss,” and “lady boss” daily to make women feel empowered and motivated.
But have we stopped to wonder if we are really creating equal opportunities for women?
Women roughly represent one in four C-suite leaders, and women of color just one in sixteen!
Forbes reveals that as of 2023, women held only 10.4% of leadership positions at Fortune 500 companies, and there are only 52 women running businesses on the Fortune 500 list, an all-time high. With a discrepancy so high, it’s time to start leveling up the leadership game!
While most people assume the “glass ceiling” is the biggest hurdle for women in leadership, that is untrue. The “broken rung” phenomenon is far more relevant for women trying to move up the corporate ladder. For every 100 men promoted from entry-level to manager, only 87 women are promoted. As a result, women fall behind and are unable to catch up.
This blog outlines the best women’s leadership programs to help women hone their expertise, fix the broken step in the corporate ladder, and climb high to occupy C-suite roles.
Top Women’s Leadership Development Programs
Here are the best women’s leadership programs aspiring female leaders can enroll in to enhance their leadership skills, advance their careers, and build an equitable workspace:
Women’s Leadership Development Programme
The Said Business School, University of Oxford, offers the Women’s Leadership Development Program. This six-week online program allows participants to critically examine their leadership styles and strengths. This women’s leadership training program is designed to help participants view leadership as a reflective practice. Its modules are based on three core themes – Self-Acceptance, Self-Development, and Self-Management.
The program equips participants to navigate gender biases and challenges they face in the workplace as women leaders. It also helps them enhance their leadership skills and expertise to empower, inspire, and mentor their peers. You will receive a personal development plan and certificate upon completing the program.
Cost: $1,463
Mode: Online
Duration: 6 Weeks | 9-12 Hours Per Week
Eligibility Criteria: Female Managers & Executives
Women’s Leadership Program: Leading With Power and Influence
The Yale School of Management offers the Women’s Leadership Program: Leading With Power and Influence, which prepares its participants to become energizing leaders. It is a six-week online program that equips women to embrace a new leadership approach that focuses on well-being, a sense of purpose, and belonging rather than the traditional concept of power associated with authority and strength.
This leadership development program for women helps them analyze the underlying power dynamics within an organization and learn how to navigate and influence these dynamics effectively. A unique aspect of this program is that it helps female leaders cultivate a growth mindset and bring about positive change within their teams. Upon completing this program, participants gain a certificate and unlimited access to Yale University’s exclusive resources and career network.
Cost: $2,950
Mode: Online
Duration: 6 Weeks | 4-6 Hours Per Week
Eligibility Criteria: Mid-Level to Senior-Level Female Managers
Leadership Development for Women
The American Management Association offers the Leadership Development for Women course, which caters to women keen on developing the best leadership style to occupy the desired positions within their organizations. This hands-on training seminar lasts two days and is offered online or in person.
This female leadership training seminar helps participants overcome overt and unconscious biases against women as leaders and helps them become resilient and assertive leaders. It also trains women to adopt a competitive mindset, utilize their inherent strengths, and build a strategic network with stakeholders. What makes this course so distinctive is that it also trains leaders to avoid being “perfectionists,” recover from their losses in stressful scenarios, and navigate challenges confidently.
Cost: $2,595 for Non-Members | $2,345 for AMA Members
Mode: Online | In-Person
Duration: 2 Days
Eligibility Criteria: Female Business Professionals
Executive Women in Leadership
Cornell SC Johnson College of Business offers the Executive Women in Leadership certificate program. It caters to women leaders in mid- to senior-level positions and women seeking board positions. It also caters to male leaders seeking to understand gender dynamics within their organizations.
The women’s leadership training program helps participants evaluate gender bias and power dynamics within their organization. It then trains them to develop strategies to navigate these dynamics regularly. The program also allows women to present themselves as authentic leaders, gain competencies required for board membership, and explore unique ways to attain board positions.
The most distinctive aspect of this program is that it allows the participants to participate in a three-day live symposium where they can engage experts from Cornell University. Participants will receive an Executive Women in Leadership certificate once they complete the program.
Cost: $2,625
Mode: Online
Duration: 3 Months | 3-5 Hours Per Week
Eligibility Criteria: Mid to Senior-Level Women Leaders | 10+ years of work experience
Advancing Women of Color in Leadership
Harvard University offers the Advancing Women of Color in Leadership course to help women of color contribute in multiple ways within their organizations. The four-day course emphasizes the need for inclusion and aims to provide equal leadership development opportunities. It also enables women of color to navigate complex organizational politics while developing the leadership style their organization requires. Besides, it equips leaders with efficient communication skills to build, lead, and inspire innovative teams that can deliver successful outcomes.
This program is offered in person at the Harvard Business School Campus. However, Harvard Business School provides regional senior leadership programs at three different locations – India, China, and the Middle East to make them accessible to leaders worldwide. Participants will receive a certificate once they complete the course.
Cost: $5,750
Mode: In-Person
Duration: 4 Days
Eligibility Criteria: 7+ Years of Work Experience
Women’s Executive Leadership: Business Strategies for Success
Wharton University of Pennsylvania Executive Education offers Women’s Executive Leadership: Business Strategies for Success to help female leaders climb the corporate ladder and take on senior leadership responsibilities. The program is built to help female leaders reimagine their leadership style while developing exceptional leadership skills. It also helps them enhance their leadership negotiation skills and equips them with strategies that drive growth within their teams and the organization.
The Learning Group Work is truly the highlight of this women’s executive leadership training program. Participants present a unique, real-life business challenge within their organization's segment. They are then paired with leaders from different industries to gain varied perspectives and an experienced executive coach who will guide them through and help them strategize to overcome the challenge.
Cost: $12,250
Mode: In-Person
Duration: 5 Day | On-Campus
Eligibility Criteria: Women Executives | 10+ Years of Work Experience
Women Leading Change: Shaping Our Future
The Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership offers the Women Leading Change: Shaping Our Future program to challenge the systematic inequality within organizations and train future female leaders. This women’s leadership and development program will help participants build a skill set that will help create an inclusive workplace. It aids female leaders in assessing the systemic challenges they face at work and how they can navigate them confidently and resiliently.
This future female leaders program is available online and helps women develop a unique leadership style and voice to influence their teams and positively impact the organization. Female leaders are equipped with best practices and tools to nurture purpose-led, safe work environments, build strong relationships, and lead teams toward innovation and success. Participants must develop a comprehensive leadership action plan to earn the completion certificate.
Cost: $1,499
Mode: Online
Duration: 8 Weeks | 7-10 Hours Per Week
Eligibility Criteria: Women Professionals and Aspiring Female Leaders
Women’s Senior Leadership Program
The Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management offers the Women’s Senior Leadership Program for senior female executives transitioning into C-Suite leadership roles. This corporate women’s leadership program is designed to help participants gain a deep insight into leadership through Kellogg’s expert corporate faculty. It is a three-multi-day intensive program that trains leaders to expand their understanding of leadership with relevant research findings and gain strategic skills to move on to occupying C-Suite management roles.
The program also equips its participants to prepare for upcoming leadership challenges and how to tackle them effectively. Upon completing the program, participants will gain a certificate and long-term connections with experienced future leaders from various industries.
Cost: $25,150 | Inclusive of Accommodation & Meals
Mode: In-Person | Online
Duration: 3 Non-Consecutive Days
Eligibility Criteria: Women Executives
A Leadership Experience for Women of Color
The Leader’s Edge offers a Leadership Experience for Women of Color, a program catering to diverse women from various backgrounds. Leaner’s Edge was established in 2001 to address the limited representation of women of color in American businesses. The highlight of this women’s leadership training program is the mentors themselves, who are diverse female leaders with varying backgrounds.
These leaders bring expertise and professional experiences shaped by their ethnicities’ history, culture, and traditions. As a result, the program empowers women of color to acknowledge their own experiences and equips them with tools, practices, and skills to contribute to their organizations effectively. The program’s format is somewhat unique, focusing on one-on-one female leadership training, where each participant is matched with a diverse coach.
These training sessions are followed up with group and skill development sessions. The final segment of the program requires participants to develop a leadership action plan that they can further implement within their organizations.
Cost: Unavailable | Contact Them for More Details
Mode: Unavailable | Contact Them for More Details
Duration: 6 to 9 Months
Eligibility Criteria: Women of Color | Female Executives
Rotman Women in Leadership
The Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, offers the Rotman Women in Leadership program. This female leadership development program helps participants explore the historical and cultural constructs that have shaped the perception of leadership over time.
It trains them to overcome these obstacles with valuable tools and practices and empowers them to challenge and redefine the existing leadership perception. Moreover, this female leadership development program helps participants challenge and gauge the impact of gender stereotypes within their organization and develop a leadership style based on non-verbal cues and emotional intelligence. With this program, participants will gain a certificate, a holistic leadership plan for the future, and unlimited access to edX’s career network.
Cost: $1,927
Mode: Online
Duration: 6 Weeks | 6 to 8 Hours Per Week
Eligibility Criteria: Female & Non-Binary Professionals
While this list of women’s leadership development programs is not exhaustive, you can choose various leadership classes for women based on your needs and experience. As the famous quote goes, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Are you ready to reclaim your space within the corporate world? Level up the playing field within corporate spaces to make them more inclusive for all genders!
Inspire, Empower, Lead: Join Kahilla Today!
Kahilla is dedicated to uplifting leaders and helping them achieve their potential through leadership skill development programs. Research shows that a lack of diversity in leadership positions puts organizations at financial risk. Here is where we step in!
We believe in equal and fair opportunity, so we offer leadership training opportunities to early and mid-level professionals from various backgrounds and ethnicities. We aim to help your organization recognize, reskill, and retain talent by enhancing their portfolios.
Are you ready to enhance your professional journey? Explore our leadership programs for individuals and businesses with Kahilla!
FAQs
What is the objective of women’s leadership workshops?
Women’s leadership workshops aim to empower women by enhancing their leadership skills, building confidence, and providing strategies to overcome gender biases. These workshops facilitate career advancement, develop effective networking, and prepare women for senior leadership roles and C-Suite or board positions.
What is the average cost of a women’s leadership development program?
The cost of women’s leadership development programs varies widely depending on the provider, program length, and content. Generally, prices can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Some programs may offer financial aid or scholarships, so consider your fee payment and scholarship options when you are looking for a suitable program.
What are the benefits of women’s leadership programs?
Women’s leadership programs offer numerous benefits, such as:
Enhanced Leadership Skills: Develop critical leadership capabilities such as strategic thinking, decision-making, and effective communication tailored to women's unique strengths.
Improved Negotiation Abilities: Learn effective negotiation techniques to advocate for yourself, your team, and your organization.
Stronger Professional Network: Build and expand a network of like-minded professionals and mentors who can support your career growth.
Overcoming Gender Biases: Acquire strategies to navigate and mitigate gender biases and power dynamics within the workplace.
Career Advancement: Equip yourself with the tools and knowledge to pursue higher leadership roles and board positions.
