Executive Program for Senior Life Sciences Leaders
Invalid liquid data
Invalid liquid data
Drive Innovation through Strategic Life Sciences Leadership
In the rapidly evolving life sciences industry, driven by technological innovations and a shift toward personalized medicine, there is an increasing need for adept strategic leadership. Organizations rely on leaders with strategic acumen who can embrace advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), leverage data insights and focus on patient centricity. By harnessing the potential of such technologies and a comprehensive understanding of the clinical development process, senior life sciences leaders can navigate industry challenges and lead clinical development and life sciences projects effectively.
The eight-month Executive Program for Senior Life Sciences Leaders from Harvard Medical School Executive Education will equip you with the tools to lead effectively and address the gap between traditional leadership roles and the modern demands of the life sciences industry. The program’s curriculum acknowledges the dynamic landscape of the industry, with a keen focus on developing the essential skills and insights required by senior life sciences leaders to drive innovation and strategic growth. It also features faculty-led live sessions, including dedicated AI-focused live online sessions that examine the strategic application of artificial intelligence in real-world evidence and digital health ecosystems.
Note: This non-degree program offers a certificate of completion to participants who meet the program requirements. It does not grant academic credit or provide certification for specific professions.
75%
$2.8billion
60%
Key Takeaways
Understand the primary forces driving change within the life sciences industry and how conventional practices are evolving to meet modern demands
Employ effective strategies and emerging technologies to accelerate outcomes when leading clinical development projects
Implement digital solutions and real-world evidence across the clinical development life cycle
Recognize the current and potential impact of AI on the life sciences industry and how you can leverage it for growth and success
Apply frameworks and approaches for successful leadership in life sciences and to ensure organizational adaptability and growth
Streamline teams, structures and processes for efficient management of clinical development projects
Lead the Future of Life Sciences in an AI-Driven Era
At the intersection of clinical development, digital innovation, and enterprise leadership, this program strengthens your ability to integrate AI responsibly while leading high-performing organizations in a complex regulatory and market environment.
Strengthen your ability to embed AI within real-world evidence strategies by evaluating data linkage technologies, regulatory frameworks, global data initiatives, and integrated evidence planning models that support informed clinical and market access decisions.
Develop a strategic perspective on integrating AI-driven digital health solutions across enterprise and startup pathways, assessing adoption trends, engagement models, partnership structures, and governance considerations that enable scalable implementation.
Learning Experience
Comprehensive Curriculum
Benefit from a powerful curriculum that combines evidence-based frameworks with an application-based approach
Expert Faculty
Gain insights from Harvard Medical School faculty and other leaders in the health care industry who incorporate their research and practical expertise into the program
On-Campus Networking
Meet multiple cohort peers, industry experts, and faculty during the on-campus networking event
Live Online Sessions
Experience live faculty-led sessions, including AI-focused live online sessions on real-world evidence and digital health ecosystems, alongside engagement with the cohort success coach and industry guest speakers.* (*Live sessions are subject to change.)
Industry Practitioners
Gain insights from leading subject matter experts with deep life sciences industry experience and expertise in multiple domains, including gen AI, data, patient centricity and trial design
Global Peer Group
Network with accomplished other life sciences leaders and peers from around the globe and gain new approaches to leadership
Capstone Project
Work on a capstone project with a series of reflective exercises combining theory with leadership realities in the life sciences industry to address your organization's challenges for immediate impact at work
Frameworks and Tools
Apply useful frameworks and innovative approaches for incorporating digital tools to guide key decision making in clinical development functions
Self-Paced Learning
Learn at your own pace with a weekly commitment of three to five hours of sessions and activities
Case Studies
Access real-world case studies and examples from the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors and elevate your impact
Hands-On Learning
Work on the capstone and leadership lens activities to hone essential leadership skills and empower personal growth
Program Curriculum
The program curriculum is organized into seven parts across 27 modules, focusing on leadership in the context of clinical development today. These modules equip you with the insights and capabilities required to lead life sciences and clinical development initiatives with strategic clarity, optimize evidence and market access strategies, and drive meaningful impact as an innovative leader. The experience is further strengthened through live online faculty-led sessions some of which are AI-focused on real-world evidence and digital health ecosystems, alongside engagement with the cohort success coach and industry guest speakers.
M1: Changes in the Pharmaceutical Landscape
M2: Digital Trends Impacting Biopharma and Patients’ Lives
M3: Access and Equity Issue for the Life Sciences Industry
M4: Patients as Partners in the Life Sciences Industry
M5: Clinical Development and Market Access: Insights from Site Investigators
M6: Strategic Decision-Making for New Digital Offerings
M7: Digital Tools and Therapeutics
M8: Best Practices for Using Real-World Evidence (RWE)
M9: Artificial Intelligence in the Life Sciences Industry
M10: Emerging Concepts of Value for Novel Therapies
M11: Product Development Framework
M12: Strategic Connections between Clinical Development, Medical Affairs and Commercial
M13: Managing Yourself and Leading Others
M14: Leading at the Executive Level
M15: Leading With Emotional Intelligence
M16: From Self-Understanding to Self-Management
M17: The Power of Empathy and Perspective-Taking
M18: Building High-Performing Teams
M19: Understanding and Influencing Others
M20: Fundamentals of Negotiation and Conflict Management
M21: Skill and Agility in Decision Making
Module 22: Understanding Organizational Culture
Module 23: Leading for Innovation and Learning
Module 24: The Leader’s Guide to Managing Change
Module 25: A Primer on Strategy
Module 26: Evaluating Risk and Reward in Growth Opportunities
Module 27: Implementing Strategy in Uncertain Situations
Engage in faculty-led live online sessions designed to explore the strategic application of artificial intelligence in life sciences, while strengthening executive leadership capabilities.
Session 1: Operationalizing AI in Real-World Evidence: Frameworks, Use Cases, and Governance | Prof Arnaub Chatterjee
Define real-world evidence and examine its role in clinical development and market access.
Evaluate data linkage technologies, industry challenges, regulatory frameworks, global data initiatives, integrated evidence planning, and organizational models.
Analyze illustrative case studies, from trial design and patient identification to advanced AI-driven approaches.
Session 2: Building AI-Enabled Digital Health Ecosystems | Prof Robert Chamberlain
Explore strategic approaches for integrating digital health solutions across enterprise and startup pathways.
Assess AI adoption trends, cross-generational user engagement, and data strategies supporting real-world evidence.
Examine platform partnerships, economic and governance considerations, and practical implementation insights.
Note: *Live session schedules are subject to change based on speaker availability.
Leadership Lens
At the end of select modules, you will get an opportunity to complete a self-study leadership lens activity. Apply what you have learned throughout the program to your organization and personal experiences, creating a valuable reference point for future leadership roles.
Capstone Project
The capstone project serves as a crucial component of your learning journey. It encompasses six strategic checkpoints throughout the program that cover various leadership facets, spanning personal mindset, skill enhancement and strategic implementation. The project aims to systematically enhance and solidify your leadership abilities in the realm of clinical research and development.
Who Is This Program For?
The Executive Program for Senior Life Sciences Leaders is meticulously designed for professionals poised at the intersection of innovation, leadership and strategy within the life sciences industry. The program is ideal for:
Current or Aspiring Senior Leaders in the Life Sciences Industry: Tailored for leaders at senior levels within the life sciences sector seeking to deepen their understanding of emerging trends and technologies, enhancing strategic decision making and fostering cross-functional collaboration to drive scientific and operational excellence.
Health care Leaders Transitioning into the Life Sciences Industry: Crafted for experienced health care leaders and senior professionals venturing into the life sciences field who want to elevate their industry-specific knowledge while adapting their leadership skills to foster innovation and achieve tangible results in a new, dynamic sector.
Founders or Early-Stage Leaders in Biotechnology or Pharmaceutical Startups: Designed for startup leaders looking to bridge the gap between extensive experience in big pharma organizations and the unique challenges of successfully leading a startup, emphasizing innovation and strategic growth.
Senior Consultants and Strategists Supporting the Life Sciences Industry: Developed for senior life sciences consulting professionals seeking to gain leadership insights that empower professionals to provide impactful guidance in clinical development, maximizing therapeutic value and efficiency in product approval processes.
Participant Profile
Minimum 10 years of work experience
Fluency in written and spoken English
International exposure (preferred)
Prior knowledge of pharma and/or biotech is suggested but not required
Past participants profile
Work Experience
Top industries
Top countries
Testimonials
Meet the Faculty
Faculty Co-Director; Associate VP, Global Medical, Amgen; Executive Education Teaching Associate, Harvard Medical School; Former Associate Dean for Executive Education at Harvard Medical School.
Stanley Y. Shaw, MD PhD is currently Associate VP, Global Medical, Amgen; Executive Education Teaching Associate, Harvard Medical School. Previously, he served as the Associat...
Faculty Co-Director; Instructor, Harvard University; Executive Education Teaching Associate, Harvard Medical School; Managing Director, The MYLO Center
Margaret C. Andrews has over three decades of experience in academia and business. She has made significant contributions in teaching, professional speaking and leadership dev...
Success Coach
Kimberly is a licensed pharmacist and humanitarian with over 20 years of experience in medical affairs within the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. She has successfully led...
Featured Guest Faculty
Founder & CEO, The Kith Collective
Chief Technology Officer, Lila Sciences; Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School
SVP, AlixPartners
President and GM, Life Sciences, Ecosystem, Public Sector at Datavant; Teaching Associate, Harvard Medical School
Neurologist, Pain Physician, Chief Medical Officer, Click Therapeutics
Fellow, The Aspen Institute
Director, Center for Thoracic Cancers Program; Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Joseph P. Newhouse Professor of Health Care Policy, Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School; Professor of Medicine and Associate Physician in the Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital; Host of Freakonomics, MD podcast
Certificate
Upon completion of this program, you will receive a digital certificate from Harvard Medical School.
Note: The certificate details (name and dates) are placeholders. The final certificate will reflect the actual participant name, cohort dates, and date of issue.
Your digitally verified certificates will be issued in your legal name and emailed to you, at no additional cost, upon completion of the program, per the stipulated requirements. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Harvard Medical School.
Note: This program does not grant academic or professional certifications from Harvard Medical School.
FAQs
Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.
For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.
Program fees for Emeritus programs with Harvard Medical School may not be paid for with (a) funds from the GI Bill, the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Act of 2008, or similar types of military education funding benefits or (b) Title IV financial aid funds.
This program does not grant academic credits, CEUs, PEUs or professional certificate from Harvard Medical School. This non-degree program offers a certificate of completion to participants who meet the program requirements. It does not grant academic credit or provide certification for specific professions.
Connect with a Program Advisor for a 1:1 Session
Email: hms_epslsl@emeritus.org
Phone: +1 567 485 3647 (US) / +44 1182 302681 (UK) / +65 3138 4864 (SG) / +971 80 0088601092 (UAE) / +52 55970 98868 (LATAM)
Early applications are encouraged. Admissions are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Flexible payment options are available.
Starts On