Harvard Business School to host leadership development program for professional service firm leaders

From July 12-17, 2015, Harvard Business School (HBS) Executive Education will host Growing and Leading a Professional Service Firm—China at the Harvard Center Shanghai. Offered in partnership with the Fudan University School of Management in Shanghai, the program will evaluate the evolving professional service sector in China and help leaders of professional service firms expand their business in China’s current economy.

China’s business environment is changing. Assessing the unique set of economic opportunities and challenges specific to the region, this program will help business leaders navigate the changing environment and align their organizations for growth. Professional services represent a relatively new industry in China as compared to more developed industries in the U.S. and European markets. Capitalizing on emerging opportunities, Growing and Leading a Professional Service Firm – China will feature the latest research from HBS senior faculty, covering all aspects of running a professional service firm in China, from strategy development to organizational and individual leadership.

“It’s a very interesting time to be leading and growing a professional service firm within China,” said Das Narayandas, Senior Associate Dean and Chair of Executive Education and Harvard Business Publishing, and faculty chair of Growing and Leading a Professional Service Firm – China. “What this program does is survey the unique opportunities and challenges currently associated with operating within China’s professional service sector, then teaches participants not only universal best practices for leading a professional service firm, but also how to leverage China’s business environment to position their companies for growth and success.”

The program curriculum is divided across four key sections: Addressing Challenges in the Professional Service Industry, Creating an Exceptional Professional Staff and Corporate Culture that Delivers Service Excellence, Controlling the Destiny of Your Firm or Practice and Clarifying the Leader's Role. Alongside a group of accomplished industry peers, participants will explore the diverse ways leaders have approached common challenges, gaining new perspectives on strategy, organizational leadership, and personal leadership styles. Specific topics will include how to invest in a team to attract and retain the best talent, maintaining fiscal discipline while exceeding client expectations, and learning to differentiate your own firm within an increasingly crowded marketplace.

“The program provides value in two key areas,” said Narayandas. “The first is the research and case studies which give real-world insight into the trends and opportunities driving China's professional service sector. The second is the emphasis on developing each participant’s personal leadership potential and empowering them to lead their organizations toward long-term success upon returning to their firm.”

Growing and Leading a Professional Service Firm – China is designed for senior executives or practice leaders in established professional service firms and institutions in China. It also is appropriate for leaders of business-to-business service groups in companies offering solutions composed of both products and value-added services. Firms represented in the classroom will include private or state-owned firms operating in China and looking to expand, as well as multinational or global firms that want to increase their presence in China.