The Chicago Booth Leadership Collective
Designed for Executives, by Executives
The Chicago Booth Leadership Collective is a year-long, invitation-only experience for those who lead—and those preparing to.
Blending the academic rigor of Chicago Booth’s renowned faculty with the insight of sitting CEOs, board directors, and industry trailblazers, the program immerses participants in a powerful learning journey that transforms how they think, decide, and lead.
At its core, the program is about the power of peers. Participants engage in high-impact, small-group discussions and real-world exercises that challenge their assumptions, refine their executive judgment, and prepare them for the demands of senior enterprise and board-level leadership.
Who Should Attend
Participants are senior executives and leaders preparing for the most consequential growth of their careers will benefit by attending. Roughly 60% currently serve in C-suite roles; others hold major responsibilities in complex organizations. Attendees come from a diverse range of industries and geographies but share a common ambition—to elevate their decision-making, expand strategic influence, and build organizations capable of sustained value creation.
Each cohort is carefully curated to ensure rich cross-industry learning and deep peer connection. In this environment, “all egos are checked at the door”—participants challenge and support one another through real-world casework and peer-coaching sessions.
Why is the Leadership Collective Different?
The Leadership Collective is founded on three pillars:
- World-class faculty from Chicago Booth Executive Education
- Practical wisdom from current and former CEOs and corporate directors, industry leaders
- A curated community of exceptional peers who learn, mentor, and grow together
This blend of academic rigor, experiential insight, and peer-driven dialogue transforms theory into actionable leadership strategies. More than a course, it’s an ongoing community of practice that continues through alumni and Booth connections.
Faculty and Speakers
The Leadership Collective features Chicago Booth Executive Education faculty and distinguished former CEOs, directors, and industry-leading founders who bring unparalleled experience in transformation and governance.
Notable speakers have included directors who previously ran Baxter International, HCSC, BCG, Kerry Group, Huron Consulting Group, and founded Apollo Global Management.
Past Participant Insights
Executives from past cohorts reflect on the power of peer learning, trusted relationships, and the transformative impact of the Leadership Collective.
"What makes the Leadership Collective experience stand out is the opportunity to join a group of executives in the same general place on their career journey. This is the secret sauce because it makes the learning together more impactful. The fact that we are facing the same things makes the bond more real. All egos are checked at the door.
No one’s trying to prove anything; we’re building lasting friendships while at the same time learning with and from one another. This is powerful because we can show up as who we are as individuals, which creates the space for rich open and honest dialogue. It makes this an environment that just can’t be replicated.”
- Manika Turnbull, CHRO at HCSC Blue Cross Blue Shield
“The Leadership Collective has been an important part of my development as a leader. It is a unique combination of coaching, mentoring, career pathing all wrapped around a peer relationship framework. It’s a "safe space" to explore the unique challenges of addressing your current professional landscape while reaching into your future potential with access to leaders with inspiring backgrounds. Our meetings have made a real impact on me.”
- Kelley Buchanan, VP and Senior Strategy and Planning Officer, Life Company at USAA
“The Leadership Collective was an incredible experience, and has already proven to be valuable to me in my career. The interaction, discussions, and advice I received from Phil, Stan and my fellow LC classmates was not only timely concerning current challenges, but also invaluable as I navigate my career in the future. While many professionals build contacts through their jobs, the opportunities to build the connections I now have with the individuals I met through this program are truly amazing and irreplaceable.
I am so thankful for the opportunity to be part of this program and gain the insights and guidance from individuals who had nothing but my best interests in mind. I feel so much more prepared to face the challenges that executives are asked to resolve.”
- Adam Godderz, SVP, former Chief Legal Officer at Corporate Secretary at Kansas City Southern Railroad (when in program, now he’s General Counsel and Corp Secretary, Euronet Worldwide)
Join our Community
Consistently ranked among the top programs in the United States and worldwide, Chicago Booth Executive Education is where intellectual rigor, engaged teaching, and cutting-edge research meet. When you complete the program, you'll join a global network of nearly 60,000 executives across 149 countries—leaders who embody Booth’s commitment to evidence-based insight and lifelong learning.
Upon completion, you'll receive:
- A Certificate of Completion from Chicago Booth Executive Education.
- A digital badge that serves as a certified online credential of your accomplishment and can be shared among social networks such as LinkedIn.
- An invitation to join the Executive Education private LinkedIn group.
Learn More
For inquiries, nominations, and detailed information on upcoming cohorts:
John Philbin — Adjunct Associate Professor, Chicago Booth Executive Education
john.philbin@chicagobooth.edu 📞 847-494-7445
Ken Johnson — Chicago Booth Executive Education
ken.johnson@chicagobooth.edu 📞 484-788-8082
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