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Individual Course

Strategy Execution for Public Leadership

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Course Length

4 weeks

4–5 hours per week

Featuring faculty from:

Harvard Kennedy School LogoHarvard Kennedy School

Certificate Price:

$ 1,600

Apply by Sep 8, 2025

Apply Now

Certificate Price:

$ 1,600

Apply by Sep 8, 2025

Apply Now

Join Harvard Kennedy School faculty and former Pentagon Chief of Staff Eric Rosenbach to learn how to develop strategies for public leadership success.

How do you execute a strategic initiative that has a long-lasting impact? Do you know how to effectively communicate your strategic approach, gathering input and support from key stakeholders? How will you anticipate and respond to scrutiny from shareholders, news media, and the public?

Leaders in government, non-profit, and education organizations face unique challenges when it comes to making strategic, business-oriented decisions. If not thoroughly planned and executed, these decisions have real consequences with high-stakes outcomes. What can we learn from world leaders and experts who have faced these monumental decisions? How can you build a high performing team to successfully execute strategic ideas?

In Strategy Execution for Public Leadership, former United States Pentagon Chief of Staff and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security Eric Rosenbach will lead you through real-life public sector challenges, showing you how a purpose-driven strategy execution framework can lead to long-term adoption and success.

Instructor-Paced

HBS Online

Industries:

  • Government
  • Other Non-profit
  • Education
  • Health Care
  • Rob A.
  • Tina P.
  • Joshua G.

Harvard Case Method Premium Learning

Upgrade Your Skills

Develop Purpose-Driven Strategies for Sustainable Public Impact

Formulate strategies that align with organizational goals and stakeholder priorities. Apply structured frameworks to translate strategy into actionable plans and measurable objectives.

Upgrade Your Skills

Lead High-Performing Teams and Navigate Complex Challenges

Build leadership skills to inspire teams and manage resources under pressure. Assess risks and develop contingency plans to respond confidently to crises.

Upgrade Your Skills

Communicate Strategically for Public Trust and Support

Develop compelling messages to engage stakeholders, media, and the public. Use feedback loops to optimize strategies and reinforce transparency.

  • Learn from real case studies
  • Do it on your own time
  • Get a certificate, add it to your resume
  • Be part of the Harvard Community
Data Science for Business values

Syllabus

This public leadership training course will help executives, managers, and rising managers in the nonprofit, government, and education sectors develop and implement actionable plans and strategies that will have a lasting impact on their organizations and communities they serve. Online Course requirements: There are no prerequisites needed to take this online course. In order to earn a Certificate of Completion from Harvard Online, participants must thoughtfully complete all 8 modules, including satisfactory completion of the associated quizzes, by stated deadlines.

Faculty

Industry Experts

Your Instructor

Eric Rosenbach

Director of the Defense, Emerging Technology, and Strategy Program at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs

Eric Rosenbach is a Senior Lecturer in Public Policy and is the Director of the Defense, Emerging Technology, and Strategy Program at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Rosenbach teaches graduate courses in policy development, strategy execution, and national security. As Pentagon Chief of Staff from 2015–2017, Rosenbach led and managed the execution of dozens of high-profile strategic initiatives for the largest public sector organization in the world. As Assistant Secretary of Defense, Rosenbach was responsible for developing and executing the strategy for all aspects of the Department’s cyber activities and other key areas of defense policy. In the private sector, he led the cybersecurity practice of a global management consulting firm, advising the executives of Fortune 500 companies on strategic risk mitigation strategies.

Industry Expert

Oni Blair

Leadership is a valuable skill that can be cultivated and strengthened. Hear from the Executive Director of The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas to discover what it takes to become an effective leader at any level.

Affiliations are listed for identification purposes only.

Industry Expert

Ash Carter

Communication errors are often cited as the primary reason that initiatives fail. Learn the best strategies for effective communications and media relations from a former United States Secretary of Defense.

Industry Expert

Juliette Kayyem

Risk prevention and mitigation is everyone’s responsibility. Explore how to assess and mitigate risks by learning about international events, including the Ebola Endemic, BP Oil Spill, and more.

Affiliations are listed for identification purposes only.

The course was thoughtfully developed and gave me the opportunity to better understand the public leadership perspective. I would recommend this course to individuals wanting a career in public leadership.
Rob A.
Executive Director
I took the Strategy & Execution course with Eric Rosenbach online earlier this year. It was one of the best things I did in all of 2024.
Tina P.
Chief Executive Officer
[Strategy Execution for Public Leadership] has enriched my personal and professional careers, and I am able to navigate hurdles, projects, or unexpected events more smoothly and successfully.
Joshua G.
The program equipped me with practical skills to enhance decision-making and drive impact across my area of work and beyond. I greatly enjoyed the pragmatic approach, with real-life examples that simplify complex concepts, the course empowering me to apply the information directly to my work, promoting continuous improvement. I highly recommend this course for anyone aiming to improve their strategy execution, assess impact, and make informed decisions.
Roxana H
Advisor
Participating in the Strategy Execution for Public Leadership program was a truly transformative experience. This program has strengthened my ability to lead complex projects, engage stakeholders more effectively, and drive meaningful, results-oriented reforms. I highly recommend it to any public servant committed to delivering lasting impact.
Tarek A.
Engineering & Public Sector Leader
It was wonderful for me to complete the Strategy Execution for Public Leadership online course from Harvard University which will create a new opportunity for me for career development. I really enjoyed the course, and I would like to take this moment to thank everyone who contributed to this course.
Lamine B.

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Past Participant Discounts

Learners who have enrolled in at least one qualifying Harvard Online program can receive a 30% discount, automatically applied to the Program Fee upon time of payment.

Learners who have earned a verified certificate for a HarvardX course hosted on the edX platform are eligible to receive a 30% discount using a discount code. Please check your email for a code or contact us.

Nonprofit, Government, Military, and Education Discounts

Eligibility is determined by a prospective learner’s email address, ending in .org, .gov, .mil, or .edu. Interested learners can apply below for the discount and, if eligible, will receive a promo code to enter when completing payment information to enroll in a Harvard Online program.

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