Executive Presence and Influence: Persuasive Leadership Development
Developing Leadership Presence
In today's dynamic business environment, effective leadership is paramount. Wharton Executive Education's Executive Presence and Influence program offers a comprehensive curriculum focused on developing your executive presence, strategic communication skills, and persuasive leadership capabilities. Through interactive modules and real-world applications, you will gain the tools to lead with confidence and influence outcomes.
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Faculty insights: The Wharton Executive Presence and Influence program
Discover how the Wharton Executive Presence and Influence program enables participants to develop essential leadership skills, accelerate professional development, and project confidence while strengthening presence to build trust and drive impact.
Leadership Skills You Will Gain
Effective leadership requires more than intuition — it demands the right skills, strategies, and influence to inspire teams and navigate complex challenges. This program equips you with the tools to lead with confidence, communicate with impact, and drive meaningful outcomes. By the end of this program, you will be able to:
Enhance mindset and behaviors to expand presence as an impactful leader
Understand the critical principles of effective leadership
Analyze rhetorical strategy towards shaping the ability to advance agendas
Apply strategic consideration to networking opportunities as well as build and maintain authentic connections
Construct a personal leadership narrative to set actionable goals
What you will learn in the Wharton Executive Presence and Influence program
The Executive Presence and Influence program is designed with the needs of busy senior executives and emerging leaders in mind. You will learn through video lectures, live webinars, case studies, and interactive discussions guided by Wharton faculty. The six-week online program’s curriculum combines experiential learning, practical applications, and collaboration within a diverse network of leaders, allowing you to improve communication, develop executive presence, and expand your leadership influence for meaningful career impact.
Understand how to leverage informal channels and tools available to push your agenda forward while successfully navigating the gap between expertise and impact.
Identify vital principles for the exercise of leadership and use your presence and poise to amplify your narrative.
Understand how to manage your interpersonal style to enhance impact while discovering actions to craft your leadership presence without micromanaging.
Identify strategies to build a professional network and adopt strategies to cultivate valuable relationships and leverage networks effectively.
Recognize the underpinnings of successful persuasion, why they work, and how you can leverage these techniques in your communications.
Look at the big picture through nontraditional means to communicate your vision and strategy.
Program highlights
Leadership in Action
The Executive Presence and Influence program empowers you to showcase your leadership abilities with confidence and authority. Throughout the program, you will gain practical frameworks and actionable strategies to craft and communicate your unique leadership narrative through:
Informal influence — Recognize the factors influencing your ability to achieve meaningful impact
Communication of vision — Use your vision for your future self to strategize your success
Informal networks — Identify techniques to diversify your network strategically
Leadership narrative — Strengthen your leadership presence
Framework for persuasion — Understand the foundations of successful persuasion
This program features 6 months of free Premium Access to Emeritus Insights—a mobile app with 5,000+ bite-sized, business-focused videos to help you meet your daily learning goals on the go.
Program Faculty
William and Jacalyn Egan Professor of Management; Director, Wharton Center for Leadership and Change Management
Michael Useem is professor of Management and faculty director of the Center for Leadership and Change Management and McNulty Leadership Program at the Wharton School, Universi...
Practice Professor, Operations, Information and Decisions, The Wharton School
Cade Massey is a practice professor in the Wharton School’s Operations, Information, and Decisions Department. He received his PhD from the University of Chicago and taught at...
Certificate
Upon successful completion of the program, you will earn a digital certificate of completion from the Wharton School.
Note: After successful completion of the online program, your verified digital certificate will be emailed to you in the name you used when registering for the program. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of the Wharton School.
This online certificate program does not grant academic credit or a degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Leadership Success Stories
Receive an executive certificate with this learning journey
FAQs
How do I know if this program is right for me?
After reviewing the information on the program landing page, we recommend you submit the short form above to gain access to the program brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this program is a good fit for you, please email learner.success@emeritus.org, and a dedicated program advisor will follow-up with you very shortly.
What leadership competencies does this program develop?
This online leadership training program focuses on enhancing presence, strategic communication, and persuasive capabilities, equipping you to lead with greater impact.
How does this program differ from other leadership courses?
This program from Wharton Executive Education uniquely integrates executive presence and influence strategies, providing a holistic approach to leadership development. Unlike traditional leadership programs, this program builds high-impact leadership skills by integrating executive communication and leadership presence while emphasizing real-world application.
Are there any prerequisites for this program?
Some programs do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the program landing page, as well as in the program brochure. If you are uncertain about program prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at the ID mentioned above.
Note that, unless otherwise stated on the program web page, all programs are taught in English and proficiency in English is required.
What is the typical class profile?
More than 50 percent of our participants are from outside the United States. Business leadership classes vary from one cohort to the next, but, generally, our online certificates draw a highly diverse audience in terms of professional experience, industry, and geography — leading to a very rich peer learning and networking experience.
What are the benefits of manager and leadership training in this program?
Managers will learn how to lead with confidence, effectively communicate their vision, and enhance leadership presence, accelerating career growth
What leadership development training strategies are covered in this program? The program covers leadership techniques, decision-making frameworks, and influence strategies to help leaders inspire and motivate their teams.
How does this program help strengthen leadership communication skills? This executive leadership course enhances your leadership communication capabilities by focusing on presence, persuasive speaking, and strategic messaging — essential skills for influencing teams and driving business impact.
What other dates will this program be offered in the future?
Check back to this program web page or email us to inquire if future program dates or the timeline for future offerings have been confirmed yet.
How much time is required each week?
Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.
How will my time be spent?
We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities including:
Engaging with recorded video lectures from faculty
Attending webinars and office hours, as per the specific program schedule
Reading or engaging with examples of core topics
Completing knowledge checks/quizzes and required activities
Engaging in moderated discussion groups with your peers
Completing your final project, if required
The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on program activities.
What is it like to learn online with the learning collaborator, Emeritus?
More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded.
All the contents of the course including leadership classes would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course.
A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.
How do I interact with other program participants?
Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.
Will I earn a leadership certification upon completion?
While the program does not provide leadership certification, you will receive a certificate of completion from Wharton Executive Education, recognizing your accomplishment in leadership development.
What are the requirements to earn the certificate?
Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life.
This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please email us if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.
What type of certificate will I receive?
Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile.
The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program, once grading is complete.
Can I get the hard copy of the certificate?
No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
Do I receive alumni status after completing this program?
No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.
How long will I have access to the learning materials?
You will have access to online leadership classes and all the videos and program materials for 12 months following the program start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.
What equipment or technical requirements are there for this program?
Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.
Do I need to be online to access the program content?
Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.
Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any livestream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.
Can I still register if the registration deadline has passed?
Yes, you can register up until seven days past the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.
What is the program fee, and what forms of payment do you accept?
The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and usually referenced in the program brochure as well.
Flexible payment options are available (see details below as well as at the top of this program web page next to FEE).
Tuition assistance is available for participants who qualify. Please email learner.success@emeritus.org.
What if I don’t have a credit card? Is there another method of payment accepted?
Yes, you can do the bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor, or email us for details.
I was not able to use the discount code provided. Can you help?
Yes! Please email us with the details of the program you are interested in, and we will assist you.
How can I obtain an invoice for payment?
Please email us your invoicing requirements and the specific program you’re interested in enrolling in.
Is there an option to make flexible payments for this program?
Yes, the flexible payment option allows a participant to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.
How can I obtain a W9 form?
Please connect with us via email for assistance.
Who will be collecting the payment for the program?
Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.
Are there any restrictions on the types of funding that can be used to pay for the program?
Program fees for Emeritus programs with Wharton Executive Education 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.
What is the program refund and deferral policy?
For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.
Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to us at learner.success@emeritus.org or Schedule a call with one of our Program Advisors or call us at +1 680 205 5118 (US) / +44 185 845 9995 (UK) / +65 3135 1422 (SG)
Flexible payment options available.
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