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  • Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability→
This course is part of the Business in Society and Leadership & Management track.
Introduction to Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability
 

Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability

$1,750
Next 6-week session starts June 14th
Apply
Develop a toolkit for making tough leadership decisions.
6
weeks
6-7
hours per week
5
modules
Self-Paced
with regular deadlines

 This course earns you a Certificate of Completion from HBS Online. What you earn.

Overview
Syllabus
Enrollment
Stories
FAQs
Apply Now

Key Concepts

Develop a framework for understanding the responsibilities leaders have to their investors, customers, employees, and society
Determine and deliver on your economic, legal, and ethical responsibilities
Formulate a plan to address conflicts and communicate the “why” behind your decisions
Establish a toolkit for making tough leadership decisions now and in the future

Who Will Benefit

Determine and deliver on your responsibilities to investors, customers, employees, and society.
"Don't lose hope. These courses helped change my career trajectory, and I hope they do wonders in your life as well. In the end, it'll be all worth it."
Riya Dashoriya
Engineering Manager at Quizlet at Infosys
Prepare for, or acclimate to, new leadership roles in which you’ll be faced with making difficult decisions.
"For me, that connection from textbook to reality made the courses memorable, enjoyable, and interesting. Case studies were absolutely my favorite part of the program."
Kyle Rosenmeyer
Boise State University Graduate, Engineer, and Photographer
Learn how to navigate new leadership challenges as you build or scale your venture.
"I would advise that you ask for help or opinions on any topic that appears murky to you."
Fabian Ibekwe
Founder, Angelus Consulting and Research Limited at Infosys

What You Earn

Certificate of Completion

Certificate of Completion

Boost your resume with a Certificate of Completion from HBS Online

Earn by: completing this course

Certificate of Specialization

Certificate of Specialization

Prove your mastery of leadership and management and business in society

Earn by: completing any three courses within either subject area to earn a Certificate of Specialization

Learn More about what you earn

Syllabus

5 Modules, 30-35 Hours
Download full syllabus
6-7
hrs
Module 1

Delivering on Responsibilities to Customers

Understand what “gray-area situations” are and the reflective leadership model to start assessing difficult circumstances and improve your decision-making skills.

Highlights

Jim Mullen, former CEO, Biogen Idec
ShowHide Details

Concepts

  1. Course Introduction and Overview of the Reflective Leadership Model
  2. The Complexities of Business-Customer Relationships
  3. Applying the Reflective Leadership Questions
  4. Ethical Practices with Business Customers

Featured Exercises

  • Examine gray-area decisions related to customers
  • Apply the reflective leadership model to work through a crisis
  • Differentiate between customers, clients, and counterparties
6-7
hrs
Module 2

Ensuring Fairness for Employees

Learn how to make a fair workplace culture at scale that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion, and analyze how personal beliefs might influence decision-making. Develop techniques to combat bias.

Highlights

Oona King, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Snap Inc., former Chief Diversity Officer at Google
ShowHide Details

Concepts

  1. Employee Considerations
  2. An Analysis Using the Reflective Leadership Framework
  3. Examining Employee Responsibilities at Scale: What Can We Learn from Google?
  4. Review and Self-Reflection

Featured Exercises

  • Analyze your biases and reflect on past decisions to help identify problem areas
  • Consider how employee rights factor into firing decisions
  • Identify three types of fairness in employee-employer relationships
7-8
hrs
Module 3

Investor Responsibilities and Fiduciary Duties

Explore due diligence and how fiduciary duties influence leadership responsibilities. Unpack the tensions leaders face when balancing value creation for investors with accountability to other constituencies.

Highlights

Laura Miller, former Mayor of Dallas, Texas
ShowHide Details

Concepts

  1. Theranos: Where Does the Responsibility Lie?
  2. Power and Money at TXU Corporation
  3. From TXU to Energy Future Holdings
  4. Review and Self-Reflection

Featured Exercises

  • Evaluate long-versus short-term responsibilities through the lens of different stakeholder interests
  • Reflect on the responsibilities of founders, CEOs, and boards
6-7
hrs
Module 4

The Social Responsibility of Business

Understand different perspectives on the role of business in society and why an organizational approach focusing on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues can—and should—be financially viable.

Highlights

Terry Kier, CEO, SA Taxi
Teneale Holley, Chief Strategy Officer, SA Taxi
Matsidikanye Moswane, Chief Government and Industry Officer, SA Taxi
ShowHide Details

Concepts

  1. The Changing Role of Business in Society
  2. Engaging with Harms in the Garment Industry
  3. SA Taxi: One Firm’s Response to Harms
  4. Long-Term Value Through Commitment to Society

Featured Exercises

  • Analyze an organization’s goals by reflecting on your company’s purpose
  • Identify different types of harms most common in your industry
6-7
hrs
Module 5

Reflective Leadership in a Digital World

Discover how the scale, scope, and speed of business in Big Tech affects leadership responsibilities and integrate your knowledge of the reflective leadership model through a critical analysis of Facebook.

Highlights

Frances Haugen, Algorithmic Product Specialist and Facebook Whistleblower
Jessica Fjeld, Assistant Director, Cyberlaw Clinic at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society
Walt Mossberg, Journalist
ShowHide Details

Concepts

  1. Leadership Changes in the Digital Age
  2. Awareness: Considerations and Responsibilities at Facebook
  3. Judgment: What Should Facebook Do?
  4. How Should Facebook Do It?

Featured Exercises

  • Develop action plans to address specific company problems
  • Reflect on past mistakes and issues in tech to identify improvement areas
  • Identify your strengths and weaknesses when dealing with ethical decision-making
Free E-Book

How to Become a More Effective Leader

Learn about the difference between leadership and management, uncover the qualities and skills that characterize an effective leader, gain an understanding of common leadership styles, and explore how you can unleash the potential in yourself and others.
Access Your Free E-Book

Our Difference

Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability helps current and aspiring managers determine and deliver on their responsibilities to customers, employees, investors, and society by drawing on economic, legal, and ethical considerations.
Stay active by engaging in a new activity every three to five minutes, including applying the reflective leadership framework.
Stay active by engaging in a new activity every three to five minutes, including applying the reflective leadership framework.
Description of silent animated video above: Learner completes an interactive question by dragging and dropping choices into two different categories
Get social by collaborating and networking with a global community of peers before, during, and after the course.
Get social by collaborating and networking with a global community of peers before, during, and after the course.
Description of silent animated video above: Learner types an answer in the discussion board in response to a peer's question
Immerse yourself in real-world, case-based examples brought to life by industry-leading companies like Facebook, Google, and SA Taxi.
Immerse yourself in real-world, case-based examples brought to life by industry-leading companies like Facebook, Google, and SA Taxi.
Description of silent animated video above: Learner scrolls through video interviews from prominent business leaders

About the Professor

Nien-hê Hsieh
Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability

Kim B. Clark Professor of Business Administration
“This course will offer valuable tools to sharpen your judgment and decision-making skills and help you act and lead with integrity and good conscience.”

Dates & Eligibility

Starting
Jun
14
6 Weeks  $1,750
Application deadline June 5
View weekly calendar
Apply Now
Starting
Aug
23
6 Weeks  $1,750
Application deadline August 14
View weekly calendar
Apply Now
  • Free application
  • No documentation required
  • Confirmation within one week

All applicants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the course.

Learn about bringing this course to your organization.

Learner Stories

91%
Gained Deeper Expertise in Specific Areas
Participating in the student discussions and answering cold calls was empowering. It ignited a drive within me to learn and absorb as much as I could.
Leslie Pico
A small business owner and tech entrepreneur from Arizona
Programming & System Analysis, Biomedical Engineering, Estrella Mountain Community College
Small Business Administration, Northern Arizona University
As always, the case studies are eye-opening. The content is superb, and the presentation of the case is superb as well.
Richard Pitts
VP and Senior Medical Director at St. Joseph Heritage Health
Read more learner stories
* Source: 2022 surveys and course data
 
All FAQs

Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability FAQs

What are the learning requirements, and how are grades assigned?

+–

Participants in Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability are eligible for a Certificate of Completion from Harvard Business School Online.

Participants are expected to fully complete all coursework in a thoughtful and timely manner. This will mean meeting each week’s course module deadlines and fully answering questions posed therein. This helps ensure your cohort proceeds through the course at a similar pace and can take full advantage of social learning opportunities. In addition to module and assignment completion, we expect participation in the social learning elements of the course by offering feedback on others’ reflections and contributing to conversations on the platform. Participants who fail to complete the course requirements will not receive a certificate and will not be eligible to retake the course.

More detailed information on course requirements will be communicated at the start of the course. No grades are assigned for Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability. Participants will either be evaluated as complete or not complete.

What materials will I have access to after the course?

+–

You will have access to the materials in every prior module as you progress through the program. Access to course materials and the course platform ends 60 days after the final program deadline.

At the end of each course module, you’ll be able to download a PDF summary highlighting key concepts introduced in the course. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a PDF compilation of all the module summary documents. We hope these serve as a helpful resource after you finish the course.

How should I list my certificate on my resume?

+–

Harvard Business School Online
Certificate in Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability
[Cohort Start Month and Year]

List your certificate on your LinkedIn profile under "Education" with the language from the Credential Verification page:

School: Harvard Business School Online
Dates Attended: [The year you participated in the program]
Degree: Other; Certificate in Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability
Field of Study: Leave blank
Grade: Complete
Activities and Societies: Leave blank

For the program description on LinkedIn, please use the following:

Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability is a 6-week, 35-hour online certificate program from Harvard Business School. It helps current and aspiring managers determine and deliver on their responsibilities to customers, employees, investors, and society, drawing on economic, legal, and ethical considerations.

 

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Apply by March 27
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Apply by April 3
$1,750Certificate 
 
All FAQs

Top FAQs

How are HBS Online courses delivered?

+–

We offer self-paced programs (with weekly deadlines) on the HBS Online course platform.

Our platform features short, highly produced videos of HBS faculty and guest business experts, interactive graphs and exercises, cold calls to keep you engaged, and opportunities to contribute to a vibrant online community.

Are HBS Online programs available in languages other than English?

+–

We expect to offer our courses in additional languages in the future but, at this time, HBS Online can only be provided in English.

All course content is delivered in written English. Closed captioning in English is available for all videos. There are no live interactions during the course that requires the learner to speak English. Written English proficiency should suffice.

Do I need to come to campus to participate in HBS Online programs?

+–

No, all of our programs are 100 percent online, and available to participants regardless of their location.

How do I enroll in a course?

+–

All programs require the completion of a brief application. The applications vary slightly from program to program, but all ask for some personal background information. You can apply for and enroll in programs here. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before starting an application for the program of your choice.

Our easy online application is free, and no special documentation is required. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

After submitting your application, you should receive an email confirmation from HBS Online. If you do not receive this email, please check your junk email folders and double-check your account to make sure the application was successfully submitted.

Updates to your application and enrollment status will be shown on your Dashboard. We confirm enrollment eligibility within one week of your application.

Does Harvard Business School Online offer an online MBA?

+–

No, Harvard Business School Online offers business certificate programs.

What are my payment options?

+–

We accept payments via credit card, wire transfer, Western Union, and (when available) bank loan. Some candidates may qualify for scholarships or financial aid, which will be credited against the Program Fee once eligibility is determined. Please refer to the Payment & Financial Aid page for further information.

We also allow you to split your payment across 2 separate credit card transactions or send a payment link email to another person on your behalf. If splitting your payment into 2 transactions, a minimum payment of $350 is required for the first transaction.

In all cases, net Program Fees must be paid in full (in US Dollars) to complete registration.

What are the policies for refunds and deferrals?

+–

After enrolling in a program, you may request a withdrawal with refund (minus a $100 nonrefundable enrollment fee) up until 24 hours after the start of your program. Please review the Program Policies page for more details on refunds and deferrals. If your employer has contracted with HBS Online for participation in a program, or if you elect to enroll in the undergraduate credit option of the Credential of Readiness (CORe) program, note that policies for these options may differ.

 

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