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Open Programs for Individuals

Open Programs for Individuals

Want a New Challenge? Develop Yourself Professionally and Personally

Want a New Challenge? Develop Yourself Professionally and Personally

Our Open Programs are created to suit your job-related development needs. All our programs are on an international top-level, taught by renowned faculty and industry experts. Our aim is to prepare you for your next career step, your next career challenge, or to simply update your knowledge and skills for your current working environment. Besides a broad range of highly relevant, up-to-date managerial topics, the WHU Executive Education portfolio includes special ECTS-Granting-Programs. Earned ECTS credits will showcase the workload of the Executive Education program and can be accredited to study programs at a later point in time.

Explore our Open Program portfolio:

Advanced Management
Advanced Leadership Program
Next course - 

Unlock your leadership potential: This immersive experience enables you to take advantage of cutting-edge theories and best practices to lead your own transformational change. Through hands-on exploration of networked leadership, transformational leadership, and the dynamics of power and influence, you will elevate your crucial leadership readiness.

During this intensive 3-day program for experienced professionals, you will gain profound insights into your leadership approach, investigating critical team dynamics to grasp the strategic impact of leadership at the organizational level.

Through 360-degree feedback, interactive exercises, role-playing, computer simulations, real-world case studies, peer coaching, and dynamic discussions, you will refine your core leadership strengths. Upon successful completion you will receive a WHU Executive Education Certificate.

  • Date
    • -
  • LocationDüsseldorf
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€3,950.00
Advanced Management for Senior Leaders Program
Next course - 

The WHU Advanced Management for Senior Leaders Program is designed for experienced leaders with significant strategic responsibility in their organization. During the program, your focus will be on strategizing during periods of transformation, executive decision-making, and boosting your impact in your organization and a globalized economy. The two in-person modules (3 days each) are designed to challenge your views on strategic thinking and acting, innovation, and leadership through a mixture of methodological elements. This in-class experience is complemented by short online sessions in between the modules. Online sessions are facilitated by Executive Coaches and C-Suite Executives. Enhance your strategic decision-making skills, boost your individual leadership style, and create a valuable impact on your company’s strategy.

You will be awarded with a WHU Executive Education Certificate after successfully completing the program.

  • Date
    • -
  • LocationDüsseldorf
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€8,450.00
CIO Leadership Excellence Program
Next course - 

Digital transformation is the key challenge for executives today. WHU, Foundry (formerly IDG Communications), and Software AG offer an advanced program for senior executives in IT and digitalization that enhances your capabilities to lead and transform your organization into a digital, disruptive, and globalized economy.

The five-day module hosted in Düsseldorf challenges your entrepreneurial mindset and inspirational leadership capabilities. Join an active network of more than 150 program alumni! You will receive a WHU Executive Education Certificate after successfully completing the program.

  • Date
    • -
  • LocationDüsseldorf
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€5,295.00
Crisis Leadership Program
Next course - 

Crises are unexpected events that are characterized by high levels of ambiguity of cause, effect, and means of resolution. When faced with a crisis, leadership gains a special momentum. WHU’s Crisis Leadership Program prepares you to successfully navigate your organization through the storm of economic, political, climate, and societal crises.

This intense 3-day executive program designed specifically for experienced leaders enhances your crisis leadership skills as after all, crisis seems to be the new normal. This course offers you practical, hands-on learning and advice through exercises, role-plays, computer simulation, real-world case studies, and dynamic discussions. Upon successful completion you will receive a WHU Executive Education Certificate.

  • Date
    • -
  • LocationDüsseldorf
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€3,950.00
High-Performance Board Member Program
Next course - 

Corporate boards play an increasingly vital role in today’s disruptive business landscape. As a board member, you can shape the entire future of your organization by providing guidance and oversight on crucial issues facing organizations today, ranging from risk management, business strategy, sustainability, and compliance.

Are you a senior-level executive currently serving on a corporate board, or aspiring to transition into this role? Or maybe you are a senior manager wanting to engage more effectively now with your board: This unique program was designed to give you pragmatic new insights and valuable tools to amplify your impact and secure your organization’s future.

In a dynamic learning forum, industry and academic experts from WHU and IESE Business School will accompany you to ensure you magnify your contribution in your particular role, create strategic value and ensure a sustainable competitive advantage for your organization.

  • Date
    • -
  • LocationDüsseldorf, Munich, Barcelona
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€16,990.00
Management Acceleration Program
Next course - 

Become a confident and strategic leader, equipped to drive growth, and to navigate complex business landscapes. Designed for experienced professionals, the Management Acceleration Program provides a highly immersive and customizable learning experience aimed at developing the skills and knowledge needed to excel in leadership and strategic decision-making. Choose 3 out of 5 comprehensive modules, to deep dive into financial literacy, strategic decision making, strategy execution, advanced leadership, or crisis leadership.

You will receive a WHU Certificate of Excellence in Advanced Management after successfully completing the program.

  • Date
    • -
  • LocationDüsseldorf
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€10,550.00
Management-Führungskräfteprogramm für Non-Profits
Next course - 

The non-profit sector faces increasing challenges as a consequence of digitalization, changes of the legal frameworks and other shifts in the strategic environment. The Management Program for Executives in the Non-profit Sector (Management-Führungskräfteprogramm für Non-Profits) by WHU and DSA helps you to get a structured view on those challenges, to expand your strategic toolkit and establish additional networks in the sector. During the program week, you will engage in discussions with our lecturers in interactive learning sessions, consider practical cases in small groups, and reflect on your role as a leader and your personal leadership style. After successfully participating in the Management Program for Non-profit Executives, you will be awarded a joint certificate by DSA and WHU. The program is held in German language only.

  • Date
    • -
  • LocationDüsseldorf
  • LanguageGerman
  • Fees€3,850.00
The Essence of Coaching for Senior Leaders
Next course - 

This program is offered by Leadership Choices and WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management. You will learn how to add coaching to your leadership signature authentically.

You will primarily learn how coaching as a leader works from a practical perspective. Using the Leadership Choices coaching model, you will be given insights into powerful questions and levels of listening. Moreover, you will learn to apply coaching interventions that have proven successful in a leadership context. Plenty of practical coaching work will take place in the classroom. During the program, you will also be asked to work with real coachees, i.e., coaching clients. After successfully completing the program, you will receive a WHU Executive Education Certificate.

  • Date
    • -
  • LocationDüsseldorf & Online
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€6,950.00
Focused Programs
Digital Education & Experience Program (DEEP)
Next courseto be announced

Digitalization is bringing far-reaching changes to the economy and society while creating new challenges. Today, providing clients with comprehensive legal advice requires more than just legal expertise. Law firms are increasingly confronted with the need to advise on matters that arose when a different legal framework was in place. WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management and the law firm Luther offer sound, practical professional training for lawyers that combines legal, technical and business topics while addressing the challenges entailed by the provision of legal consultations both today and in the future.

Negotiations Program
Next course - 

Our Negotiations Seminar equips you with the skills you need to manage business negotiations successfully, even in the most challenging situations. The 2-day program provides managers and executives with a rich set of negotiation strategies and negotiation techniques to lead successful business-to-business negotiations in any setting – be it day-to-day interactions with suppliers, customers, or colleagues. The international participant group allows you to network with peers from various cultural and industry backgrounds.

During hands-on exercises in the program, such as role-plays, you will be equipped with ready-to-use skills. On top of that, you will take home improved leadership and communication skills! You will receive a WHU Executive Education Certificate after successfully completing the negotiation seminar.

  • Date
    • -
  • LocationDüsseldorf
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€2,450.00
General Management
Capability Program
Next course - 
ECTS

Our world is changing at lightning speed. And so are the challenges you and your organization are facing. At the same time, we strive to integrate purpose, values and meaning into our and others' professional lives. The ability to open up, embrace change and co-create tangible, impactful solutions are critical success factors today and even more so tomorrow.

The Capability Program transforms you with purpose so that you can transform your environment. The action learning program challenges you to step up and take real responsibility as a social entrepreneur in the field. As part of a diverse team, you co-create a tangible social enterprise to improve job and life chances of a deprived community in the project country. In this process, you will find unique opportunities to find and lead by purpose, think and act as an entrepreneur and collaborate as a diverse self-organized team. At the same time, you will be granted 9 ECTS points.

  • Date
    • -
  • LocationSwitzerland | Sri Lanka
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€12,500.00
Certified in Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Digitalization
Next courseSpring 2025
ECTS

The Certified in Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Digitalization Program boosts your entrepreneurial thinking and acting skills. It provides a thorough introduction to the essential concepts of innovation, (corporate) entrepreneurship and a deep dive into data and digitalization topics.
Courses are pitched at the MBA level, which means that relevance and applicability to your job are at their core. All courses consist of highly interactive lectures as well as group work. You will receive a WHU Executive Education Certificate and a Transcript of Records after successfully completing the program.

  • DateSpring 2025
  • LocationDüsseldorf
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€7,950.00
Certified in Finance & Accounting
Next courseFall 2024
ECTS

The Certified in Finance & Accounting Program provides specialization in the dual areas of finance and accounting. You will be introduced to the terminology of both topics and familiarized with the basics as well as some advanced concepts and theories. Courses are pitched at the MBA level, which means that relevance and applicability to your job are at their core. All courses consist of highly interactive lectures as well as group work. You will receive a WHU Executive Education Certificate and a Transcript of Records after successfully completing the program.

  • DateFall 2024
  • LocationDüsseldorf
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€7,950.00
Certified in General Management
Next courseFall 2025
ECTS

The Certified in General Management Program equips future and young managers with comprehensive management knowledge, empowering them to move from a specialist into a general manager role. You will be familiarized with the concepts of B2C and B2B marketing and the specifics of finance, operations, sales, and strategy. Courses are pitched at the MBA level, which means that relevance and applicability to your job are at their core. All courses consist of highly interactive lectures as well as group work. You will receive a WHU Executive Education Certificate and a Transcript of Records after successfully completing the program.

  • DateFall 2025
  • LocationDüsseldorf
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€7,950.00
European Sports Business Program
Next course - 

The Executive Education divisions of three leading European Business Schools – WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, Stockholm School of Economics (SSE), and ESSEC Business School – join forces to offer a new pioneer program for (future) leaders in sports business. Over 3 x 3-day modules, participants learn how to systematically look into the future and develop a strategy for growth (at WHU in Düsseldorf). Furthermore, they study how to turn strategy concepts into commercial success (at SSE in Stockholm) and they will learn about the role of leadership, goal setting, and culture in managing change (at ESSEC in Paris). Participants will not only discover new skills and explore new ways of thinking, but also have the opportunity to expand their network through a diverse group of international peers and world-class experts.

Participants will be awarded an Executive Education Certificate from each business school after successfully completing the program.

  • Date
    • -
  • LocationDüsseldorf, Paris, Stockholm
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€9,900.00
Financial Literacy Program
Next course - 

The Financial Literacy Program is all about how to read, derive, and apply relevant financial information to decision-making situations. Created for managers who are not financial specialists, this program provides a solid foundation in finance and accounting.

This financial literacy training will help you to read, understand, and interpret income statements, cash flow statements, and balance sheets. An overview of types of financing will be presented and you will develop an understanding of the characteristics of different financing instruments. You will be able to effectively apply financial analysis techniques and through that understand the strategic performance goals. You will receive a WHU Executive Education Certificate after successfully completing the program.

  • Date
    • -
  • LocationDüsseldorf
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€3,650.00
General Management Plus Program
Next course - 
ECTS

Boost your General Management skills with the General Management Plus Program: By combining the WHU Management Essentials Program with the Capability Program, which we conduct in cooperation with BOOKBRIDGE, we offer you the opportunity to obtain a WHU Mini MBA certificate with 15 ECTS. At the same time, we empower you to transform yourself and your organization with purpose. During the WHU Management Essentials Program, you will enhance your general management skills in the areas of finance, leadership, strategy, and entrepreneurship. Facilitated by BOOKBRIDGE, you will establish a real-life and fully independent social enterprise in a deprived community during the Capability Program.

  • Date
    • -
  • LocationGermany | Switzerland | Sri Lanka
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€21,950.00
Innovation & Corporate Entrepreneurship Essentials Program
Next course - 

In today’s complex and disruptive world, innovation management is key to staying relevant to customers, keeping ahead of the competition, and taking advantage of emerging digital technologies. The Innovation & Corporate Entrepreneurship Essentials Program will equip you with insights, skills, and tools to act as a frontrunner in innovation and corporate entrepreneurship within your organization. Renowned WHU faculty members and experienced practitioners, with extensive international experience, will share with you the latest research results, practical tools, strategic approaches, and agile methods for fostering an innovative mindset. The program is designed to engage all aspects of innovation and entrepreneurship through guest lectures, group work, case studies, and a Serious Lego Play Session. Special attention will be paid to generative AI and the practical applications of ChatGPT. You will learn how to utilize it effectively in your business development strategies through real-life examples.

You will be awarded with a WHU Executive Education Certificate after successfully completing the program.

  • Date
    • -
  • LocationDüsseldorf
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€3,650.00
Leadership Essentials Program
Next course - 

WHU’s Leadership Essentials Program explores the foundations of leadership by comparing effective and ineffective leadership behaviors – and by challenging you to (re-)consider who you are as a leader and why anybody should be led by you. During the 3-day interactive leadership seminar, you will develop a greater understanding of your own leadership, critical team dynamics as well as the strategic value of leadership at an organizational level.

We use exercises, group work, and case studies to illustrate the behaviors of highly effective leaders. The program concludes with reflections on what you have learned and a forward plan that will help you apply the insights you gained during the business leadership program. You will receive a WHU Executive Education Certificate after successfully completing the program.

  • Date
    • -
  • LocationDüsseldorf
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€3,650.00
Management Essentials Program
Next course - 
ECTS

A leader has to keep many things in mind in order to make sustainable and strategically relevant decisions. WHU Management Essentials Program provide participants who are transitioning into a leadership position or have done so recently, with the fundamental skills of General Management.

You can choose 3 out of 4 of the following programs: Leadership Essentials, Strategy Essentials, Financial Literacy and Innovation & Corporate Entrepreneurship Essentials.

Each of these programs focuses on different skills that are essential for successful leadership. In combination with a personality profile, the programs can be scheduled flexibly. You will receive a WHU Certificate of Excellence in General Management after successfully completing the program. Optionally, you can earn 6 ECTS credits, if you decide to write exams.

  • Date
    • -
  • LocationDüsseldorf
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€9,950.00
Strategic Decision-Making Program
Next course - 

This development program is designed for experienced professionals who aim at learning and employing the art of strategy to improve decision-making. Over the course of this intensive program which is designed as a “training camp”, participants will be engaging in experiments, role plays (e.g., war gaming), and AI-based computer simulations to experience how thinking, deciding, and acting strategically can help achieve desired outcomes.

You will be awarded with a WHU Executive Education Certificate after successfully completing the program.

  • Date
    • -
  • LocationDüsseldorf
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€3,950.00
Strategy Essentials Program
Next course - 

When taking on a general manager position, strategy formulation and strategy implementation become a vital part of your responsibilities. WHU´s Strategy Essentials Program is a fast-paced program providing you with the essential knowledge and tools to develop and implement a strong business strategy. By analyzing and discussing the different facets of business strategy formulation, you will gain an understanding of the importance of a company’s resources, capabilities, and limitations. You will receive a WHU Executive Education Certificate after successfully completing the program.

  • Date
    • -
  • LocationDüsseldorf
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€3,650.00
Strategy Execution for Organizational Growth
Next course - 

How good is our strategy? Which markets are profitable for us? How valuable is our market positioning? How can we achieve operational excellence? WHU’s Strategy Execution for Organizational Growth Program will help you find answers to these questions. Test your strategic mind, implement a business strategy and execute it in a competitive environment. WHU’s Strategy Execution for Organizational Growth Program challenges experienced professionals to enhance their strategy implementation skills.

You will be awarded a WHU Executive Education Certificate after successfully completing the program.

  • Date
    • -
  • LocationDüsseldorf
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€3,950.00
Online Programs
Bootcamp: Unlocking the Power of Generative AI for Business Development
Next courseto be announced

Are you looking to improve your business operations and stay ahead of the competition? Join a virtual bootcamp to learn how to leverage different Generative AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude AI, Perplexity AI) to improve ideation, facilitate customer interactions, optimize data-driven decisions, and automate business tasks. In three interactive sessions, Professor Dries Faems, a digital transformation expert and a thought leader on the topic of Generative AI for business development, will give you an introduction on how to write effective prompts, combine different AI tools, and develop agents to execute and automate tasks in the context of specific use cases. Particular attention is paid to the topic of data security and data protection when using Generative AI tools for business applications. This format is especially suited for business professionals from all industries who are motivated to improve their business operations and stay ahead of the competition by harnessing the power of Generative AI.

You will be awarded with a WHU Executive Education Digital Certificate after successfully completing the bootcamp.

  • DateUpon Request
  • LocationVirtual
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€1,290.00
Online Certified in Finance & Economics
Next course - 
ECTS

The Online Certified in Finance & Economics Program is a virtual Executive Education Program, focusing on the areas of finance and economics. This program will introduce you to the fundamentals of both topics and will equip you with the necessary insights, skills, and tools. All courses are delivered at the MBA level, which means that relevance and applicability to your job are at their core. You will benefit from innovative teaching methods and a virtual but collaborative learning experience. After successful completion of the program, you will be granted a WHU Executive Education Digital Certificate and 10 ECTS credits, which can be credited towards an MBA degree.

  • Date
    • -
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€6,950.00
Online Certified in Strategy & Digitalization
Next courseSummer 2025
ECTS

The Online Certified in Strategy & Digitalization Program is a virtual Executive Education Program, focusing on the areas of strategy and digitalization. This program introduces basic concepts and theories and will equip you with the necessary insights, skills, and tools to create outstanding strategies. Moreover, it presents an introduction to the topic of digitalization and will help participants to start their roadmap towards digital transformation. All online courses are pitched at the MBA level, which means that relevance and applicability to your job are at their core. You will benefit from innovative teaching methods and a virtual but collaborative learning experience. After successful completion of the program, you will be granted a WHU Online Executive Education Certificate and 10 ECTS credits, which can be credited to an MBA (16% of an MBA).

  • DateSummer 2025
  • LocationOnline
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€6,950.00
Online Certified in Value Chain Management
Next courseSpring 2026
ECTS

The Online Certified in Value Chain Management Program focuses on a broad variety of activities and processes within an organization that are needed to create a product or service. This program will introduce you to the different stages of value creation, starting with a product or service idea and ending with its distribution. This includes important aspects such as design, procurement, production, quality control, and others. The more value an organization creates, the more competitive it will be.

Participants will learn how to understand and optimize a business’s Value Chain Management in order to deliver outstanding performances and results.

You will benefit from innovative teaching methods and a virtual but collaborative learning experience. All online courses are pitched at the MBA level and after successful completion of the Program, you will be granted a WHU Online Executive Education Certificate and 10 ECTS credits, which can be credited to an MBA (16% of an MBA).

  • DateSpring 2026
  • LocationOnline
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Fees€6,950.00

Most of our open programs last 2 to 4 days and take place at our WHU campus in Düsseldorf, Germany. We make sure our portfolio of open programs is extended and refreshed on an ongoing basis.

  • Would you like to refresh or enhance your general management knowledge and skills? Or would you like to deepen your knowledge in a specific area of management?
  • Would you like to prepare yourself for your next career step or a new job?
  • Would you like to expand your personal network of peers?

We have the right offer for you: Our portfolio of open programs encompasses a broad and very international set of high-quality development programs.

Our 2025 Program Overview at a glance
Scholarships for ambitious women & emerging markets leaders

Are you looking for a new professional development opportunity? For most of our Open Programs, we offer scholarships (25% and 50% discount) for visionary women and emerging market leaders who want to enhance their professional skills! Please send the completed application form and a letter of motivation to openprograms@whu.edu until 3 months before the program starts.

More Questions? Contact us
More Questions? Contact usNikola Nakov & Yvonne KrackAdmissions Team Executive Education Open Programs
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