Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education

Why do some leaders inspire action while others struggle to connect?

In Public Narrative: Leadership, Storytelling, and Action, Professor Marshall Ganz explores how stories can help leaders communicate who they are and why their work matters.

The program helps participants to strengthen their own public narrative through live online sessions and coaching.

In this clip, Ganz discusses the role storytelling plays in leadership. https://bit.ly/4eiIRwv

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3QlO6np

Public Narrative Program Overview In this video, Professor Marshall Ganz discusses his new online pro...

Harvard Kennedy School experts teach and model how better disagreement can lead to better outcomes for everyone.

“The number one thing people get wrong is assuming that the only point of disagreement is to persuade the other person, or resist being persuaded.”
— Julia Minson

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“The courage of ordinary heroes is in each one of us—and each of us, sooner or later, will be presented with a moment to be one.”
— Joseph Pfeifer HKSEE 2006, MC/MPA 2008

The tragedy of 9/11 led Joseph Pfeifer to dedicate his career to understanding and teaching crisis leadership.

Twenty-five years ago, he was the first FDNY battalion chief to lead firefighters into the World Trade Center. In the midst of chaos, he made critical decisions that helped an estimated 17,000 people escape the towers that morning.

In the years that followed, he sought to answer a question that would shape the rest of his career: “How do you lead when you’re thrown into an unexpected situation under great pressure with no script?”

Through research and practice, Pfeifer has come to define the art of crisis leadership as the capacity to connect, collaborate, and coordinate.

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Seismic shifts over the past year, including reduced funding following the collapse of USAID programs, rising geopolitical tensions, and rapid technological advances, have heightened the urgency to rethink the approach to critical development work.

HKS professors share “one big idea” for building a thriving world amid the multitude of challenges facing our geopolitical landscape.

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For decades, Robert N. Stavins has helped shape global thinking on climate economics and environmental policy.

As governments, organizations, and communities navigate the realities of climate change, his work at Harvard Kennedy School explores the economic and political choices that influence effective climate action.

Join him in the upcoming executive program:

Climate Change Policy: Economics and Politics
Live Online: September 14–18, 2026
Application deadline: August 15, 2026

Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4oftqtL

🎉 50th Anniversary Alumni Highlight

Vahe Karapetyan of Yerevan, Armenia, attended Senior Executives in National and International Security in 2025.

Reflecting on his experience, he shared:
"My experience at HKS provided a unique blend of global perspective, strategic insight, and meaningful connections with outstanding leaders from around the world.”

We're proud to have been empowering leaders like Vahe for 50 years.

We love seeing the Harvard Kennedy School campus through the eyes of our participants.

From conversations in the hallways and networking in the courtyard to the milestone of receiving a certificate, these photos capture the full experience of being here.

Thank you to everyone who shared these moments with us recently. We're proud to have you as part of our community.

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Photos from Manasi Subramaniam, Ioana Bauer, Richa Pant, Thabile Ngwato, Chris Greening, Viviantie Sarjuni, Simon Petie, Petra Ehmann, and Khaled Bin Braik.

For more than 20 years, Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education has partnered with the Victory Institute and the David Bohnett Foundation to support LGBTQ leaders in public service through the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program.

Through the Bohnett Fellowship, leaders from across the country have come together at HKS to strengthen their leadership practice and learn alongside peers committed to public impact.

As Pride Month begins, we’re reflecting on the importance of representation in leadership and the impact these leaders continue to have in their communities.

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Disagreement is everywhere. Leading through it is a skill.

The spring 2026 issue of Harvard Kennedy School Magazine highlights how HKS alumni and faculty are putting that skill into practice—bridging divides, navigating high-stakes decisions, and modeling more productive debate in the moments that matter most. https://bit.ly/4uBJF6C

Authority is a role you are given, but leadership is a practice you choose.

One provides direction and order, while the other involves helping a group face difficult realities. Understanding the difference is essential for making progress on your most important challenges.

How do you distinguish between having a title and actually leading?