Master leadership skills to inspire, empower and influence outcomes
6 weeks | 4-6 hours/week | Self-paced Videos + webinars + cohort
| *** 2026 Cohort Enrolment dates: Feb 12, Mar 26, May 14, Jun 30, Aug 20 *** |
The Executive Presence and Influence program from Wharton Executive Education enables emerging leaders and senior professionals to develop executive presence, build influence, and strengthen persuasive communication to lead with impact. In today’s business environment, where leadership credibility and communication shape outcomes as much as strategy, professionals need a strategic approach to inspire teams and drive organisational success.
Led by renowned Wharton faculty, this six-week online program combines experiential learning, live webinars, practical exercises, and real-world applications to help participants refine their communication and shape their personal leadership narrative. Participants gain the tools, confidence, and mindset to become impactful leaders who can influence outcomes and create measurable change across their organisation.
Course structure:
The Executive Presence and Influence program is designed with the needs of busy senior executives and emerging leaders in mind. You will learn through video lectures, live webinars, case studies, and interactive discussions guided by Wharton faculty. The six-week online program’s curriculum combines experiential learning, practical applications, and collaboration within a diverse network of leaders, allowing you to improve communication, develop executive presence, and expand your leadership influence for meaningful career impact.
- Module 1: Introduction and Informal Influence
- Module 2: Leading with Persuasive Communication
- Module 3: Strengthening Your Leadership Presence
- Module 4: Cultivating Informal Networks
- Module 5: A Framework for Persuasion
- Module 6: Persuasively Communicating Your Vision and Strategy
What you will learn:
Effective leadership requires more than intuition — it calls for the right skills, strategies, and influence to inspire teams and navigate complex challenges. The Wharton Executive Presence and Influence program will enable you to:
- Enhance mindset and behaviors to expand presence as an impactful leader
- Understand the critical principles of effective leadership
- Analyze rhetorical strategy towards shaping the ability to advance agendas
- Apply strategic consideration to networking opportunities as well as build and maintain authentic connections
- Construct a personal leadership narrative to set actionable goals
Key Takeaways:
With Wharton’s Executive Presence and Influence program, you will be ready to display your leadership skills in real time with real impact. During the program, you will receive relevant tools to create your leadership narrative through:
- Informal influence — Recognize the factors influencing your ability to achieve meaningful impact
- Communication of vision — Use your vision for your future self to strategize your success
- Informal networks — Identify techniques to diversify your network strategically
- Leadership narrative — Strengthen your leadership presence
- Framework for persuasion — Understand the foundations of successful persuasion
Program Experience:
- Try-it Activities
- Live Office Hours
- Assignments
- Excel Exercises
- Discussion Boards
- Industry Examples
Duration: 6 weeks, 4-6 hours/week
Delivery: Online: Self-paced Videos + webinars, cohort
Certification - Upon successful completion of the program, you will earn a digital certificate of completion from the Wharton School.
Pricing:
Non-Members US$2920
AMI Members US$2482 (15% discount)
CPD points: 100
Cohort Dates:
This course runs 3 - 4 times a year. The next cohorts are starting:
Feb 12 2026, Mar 26 2026, May 14 2026, Jun 30 2026, Aug 20 2026
Trainers details
Michael Useem
William and Jacalyn Egan Professor of Management; Director, Wharton Center for Leadership and Change Management
Cade Massey
Practice Professor, Operations, Information and Decisions, The Wharton School
Emeritus is an AMI Partner. We are happy to offer the course to our members with an exclusive discount.
