Comparison of leadership development programmes
From Entry Level to Executive: HWZ Executive Education for Managers
More responsibility, more complex decisions, higher expectations: a new leadership role demands more than just specialist knowledge. This overview shows you which HWZ executive education programme will provide targeted support at your current career stage.
Wissen · July 8, 2026
As soon as you take on responsibility for a team, manage a department, or lead an organisation through change, you quickly realise: Subject-specific expertise alone is no longer sufficient. Today, organisations expect their leaders to provide direction, make decisions, support the development of employees, and remain clear-headed even under pressure. At the same time, topics such as change management, hybrid collaboration, transformation, and dealing with conflict have long become part of everyday leadership.
Many managers therefore ask themselves questions such as: Is my current leadership repertoire still sufficient? How can I further develop my own leadership style? Which leadership skills will be particularly important in the future?
Targeted further education helps you to apply your knowledge confidently in practice and to present yourself more convincingly as a leader.
Which executive education programme is right for you?
There is no single best executive education programme, as the most suitable option depends on your current role, leadership experience, and personal development goals. Three key questions can help guide your decision:
Where are you currently in your leadership career?
Which specific skills would you like to acquire?
How extensive would you like your further education to be?
Depending on whether you are new to a leadership role, already have several years of management experience, or hold strategic responsibility at executive level, different programmes are appropriate.
For new managers: fundamentals for starting out in a leadership role
The transition from specialist to manager is one of the most significant changes in a professional career. Suddenly, the focus shifts away from your own achievements to leading and developing others. Continuing education programmes provide clarity during this phase in your new role and equip you with the essential tools for leadership practice.
Typical topics include:
Transition to a Leadership Role
Leadership Fundamentals
Communication and feedback
Delegation and target agreements
Dealing with initial conflict situations
The following degree programmes are particularly suitable for managers with several years of leadership experience in teams or departments, as well as for anyone wishing to enhance their leadership effectiveness in demanding situations:
For experienced executives: professionalise your leadership and enhance your impact
With increasing experience, the challenges also change. Teams become more complex, change occurs more frequently, and expectations of leadership continue to rise. Experienced managers benefit from further training that expands their existing leadership repertoire – enabling them to handle even more complex situations with confidence. Typical topics include:
Team development and team dynamics
Change Management
Coaching Competencies
Presence and powers of persuasion
Psychological Aspects of Leadership
Leadership in Crisis and Transformation Situations
The following degree programmes are particularly suitable for managers with several years of leadership experience in teams or departments, as well as for anyone wishing to enhance their leadership effectiveness in demanding situations:
For leaders with strategic responsibility: combining leadership with business development
At executive level, the focus shifts from individual teams to entire business units, leadership in a broader context, or topics such as divisional management, transformation, and corporate responsibility.
Executive education at this level covers, among other things:
Strategic Corporate Management
Transformation and Change
Leadership across multiple levels
Digitalisation and AI
Governance and Corporate Development
Future-Oriented Leadership
The following degree programmes are aimed at leaders who are responsible for a business division, a business unit or an entire organisation, and who wish to combine leadership with strategy, performance and change:
What content makes a good leadership programme?
A good executive education programme imparts not only theoretical knowledge, but above all skills that are genuinely applicable and needed in practice:
Managers must lead teams, provide direction, and foster a constructive feedback culture. This also includes the ability to motivate others and to deal professionally with a variety of personalities.
Modern leadership programmes teach practical methods for conflict resolution, communication, coaching and change management. They support managers in remaining able to act, even in exceptional situations.
Effective leadership begins with oneself. This is why high-quality further education focuses on self-reflection, leadership style, resilience, and personal development.
Delegation, target agreements, decision-making and staff development are among the key tools of successful leadership. They form the basis for sustainable leadership success.
Overview of Executive Education Programmes
The following overview shows that the most suitable professional development for managers depends greatly on their current role and development goals. While new managers primarily focus on building confidence in their day-to-day leadership, experienced leaders place greater emphasis on leadership impact, transformation, and strategic responsibility.
| Rollenstufe | Passende HWZ-Studiengänge |
|---|---|
| New as a manager / First Time Leading a Team | CAS Leadership HWZ, CAS Empowering Leadership HWZ, CAS Leadership Skills Training HWZ, Seminar Konflikte souverän lösen HWZ, Seminar Wirksames Auftreten HWZ, Zert. Lehrgang Future Leadership Skills Expert WEKA/HWZ |
| Experienced Team Leadership | CAS High Impact Leadership HWZ, CAS Psychologie des Führens HWZ, CAS Business Management & Leadership HWZ, SAS HR Leadership and Coaching HWZ, CAS Business Culture & Performance HWZ |
| Division Management / Business Responsibility | MAS Management & Leadership HWZ, MAS Leadership HWZ, CAS General Management HWZ |
| Top-Management / Executive Level | Executive MBA General Management HWZ, Executive MBA Digital Leadership HWZ |
Still unsure which executive education programme is right for your leadership role?
Every leadership career is unique, which is why there is no standard solution that works equally well for all managers. What matters most are your current responsibilities, your previous experience, and the specific skills you wish to further develop.
A personal consultation can help you find the right executive education programme and plan your next career step in a targeted manner. Find out more on the detailed pages of each degree programme or seek personal advice from the HWZ’s executive education experts.
