Board Director Program
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Step into the Boardroom with Credibility, Vision, and Purpose
Boards today face growing disruption, from geopolitical shifts and rapid digital change to emerging technologies such as AI and rising stakeholder demands. Board leaders must move beyond compliance and demonstrate thought leadership to provide strategic foresight, ethical governance, and sustainability practices. As the governance landscape evolves, organizations seek board directors who can lead with vision and purpose.
The Board Director Program from UCLA Anderson Executive Education empowers current and aspiring corporate directors like you to build advanced capabilities in financial oversight, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) integration, risk governance, stakeholder engagement, and digital transformation. Through a blend of live online modules and a five-day, in-person immersion on the UCLA Anderson School of Management campus, the program equips board directors with the knowledge, frameworks, and strategies required to lead modern boards. By the end of the program, participants will emerge with a tailored board leadership project, a well-defined leadership style, and the confidence to shape resilient, high-impact boards.
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Learning Outcomes
The Board Director Program will enable you to:
Understand board structures, roles, and evolving responsibilities by gaining expert insights
Practice and refine strategic decision making skills to sharpen your boardroom influence and leadership style
Build your financial fluency and risk governance skills using real-world board scenarios
Integrate ESG frameworks and sustainability best practices to strengthen governance strategies
Navigate stakeholder complexity across markets, build trust, and reshape shareholder negotiations
Integrate ethical reasoning into your approach and grow your boardroom presence
Prepare for emerging risks by leveraging UCLA’s expertise in technology, cybersecurity, AI, and digital governance relevant to modern board challenges
Gain actionable insights into your board leadership style and adapt your approach for maximum boardroom impact
Complete an individualized board leadership project to accelerate your board leadership
UCLA Anderson's Transformative Leader Model
UCLA Anderson’s Transformative Leader Flywheel offers a bold new framework for boardroom excellence. The six-capability model redefines what it means to lead from the top. For today’s directors, mastering these capabilities isn’t optional; it’s essential for effective governance, ethical oversight, and long-term value creation. The UCLA Anderson Board Director Program is purpose-built to cultivate these traits through immersive curriculum and experiential learning, mapping each capability to the real-world roles directors must play to steer their organizations through complexity with clarity and confidence.
Program Highlights
Explore a tailored leadership journey that allows for deeper self-awareness and strategic clarity.
Learn from UCLA Anderson’s emeriti faculty, who have not just studied boardroom governance but have sat at board tables.
Experience a transformative, five-day, in-person immersion at the UCLA Anderson campus in Los Angeles.
Gain a distinctive West Coast perspective from UCLA on cutting-edge topics, including digital risks, AI, cybersecurity, and sustainability.
Engage with immersive program elements, including mock board meetings, case simulations, and the Board Wisdom video library.
Apply your program insights to action with a strategic board project aligned to your personal boardroom trajectory, elevating not just what you know but how you lead.
Prepare to earn UCLA board certification and academic credits through an optional exam aligned with the program’s comprehensive curriculum.
Gain access to select UCLA alumni benefits upon program completion, from networking events to industry-specific community engagement.
Program Curriculum
This three-phase learning journey is designed with a distinct West Coast lens and delivered through a combination of live online modules, a five-day immersive on-campus experience in Los Angeles, and a live online project phase.
Note: Topics and sessions are subject to change.
On-Campus Immersion at UCLA
The myriad cultural, sporting, and entertainment opportunities at UCLA Anderson make the campus highly conducive to learning and growth. The five-day, immersive, in-person module included in the Board Director Program will be held at our Los Angeles campus, situated conveniently at the city’s eclectic heart. Through this module, participants can expect to refresh their intellectual curiosity, escape the daily grind, and emerge inspired for the path ahead.
Lead with the Right Questions
This session provides you with an opportunity to evaluate your grasp of key governance concepts, checking your readiness for UCLA’s board certification exam, which is optional, and develop a strategic framework for the critical questions to raise and answer in board meetings.
Program Timeline
Date | Location | |
|---|---|---|
Welcome Session | February 25, 2026 | Live Online | One 60-Minute Session |
Phase 1: Building the Boardroom Mindset | March 4 – April 15, 2026 | Live Online | Four 120-Minute Sessions |
Phase 2: Board Leadership in Action | April 27 – May 1, 2026 | In Person | Five Days at the UCLA Anderson Campus in Los Angeles |
Phase 3: Board Readiness in Practice | May 13 – 27, 2026 | Live Online | Two 120-Minute Sessions |
Faculty
UCLA Anderson’s distinguished faculty and board members bring more than academic expertise; they bring active boardroom experience. These leaders have served on public, private, and nonprofit boards, offering perspectives grounded in real governance challenges. This program is an opportunity to learn from the experts who shape the boardroom.
Co-Faculty Director, Board Director Program; Faculty Co-Director, Corporate Governance Program; Professor of Accounting, UCLA Anderson School of Management
Co-Faculty Director, Adjunct Professor of Accounting; Associate Dean, Fully Employed MBA Program and Executive MBA Programs, UCLA Anderson School of Management
Contributing Faculty
Faculty Director, Easton Technology Management Center; Adjunct Professor of Decisions, Operations and Technology Management, UCLA Anderson School of Management
Associate Professor of Strategy and Behavioral Decision Making; Director, Behavioral Lab, UCLA Anderson School of Management
Professor of Management, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability; Director, Leadership in Sustainability Certificate Program, UCLA Anderson School of Management
Senior Associate Dean, MBA Programs; Professor of Management and Organizations, UCLA Anderson School of Management
Alumni Benefits
Upon completion of the program, you will receive global alumni status in addition to alumni benefits*:
Gain access to a vast community of over 700,000 UCLA alumni worldwide, providing extensive networking opportunities
Receive a personalized, lifelong forwarding email address
Gain access to lifelong learning initiatives, including workshops, webinars, and executive education programs
Attend alumni-specific events, including the annual alumni conference, regional gatherings, and global networking sessions
Join regional alumni chapters and industry-specific interest groups to deepen your connections and collaborate on shared interests
*Benefits are subject to change at the discretion of UCLA Anderson.
Who Is This Program For?
The Board Director Program equips accomplished executives across industries who are preparing for or are currently serving in board governance roles.
The program is ideal for:
C-suite executives transitioning to board roles and seeking to leverage their leadership experience in governance settings
Executives aspiring to serve on corporate or nonprofit boards and looking to build the expertise needed to add value as effective board members
Current board members aiming to enhance their impact and stay ahead of evolving governance trends
Investors or advisors involved in board governance matters who want to deepen their understanding of boardroom dynamics and decision making
Participants are required to have:
A minimum of 10 years of senior leadership experience
Fluency in written and spoken English
Certificate
Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a verified digital certificate from UCLA Anderson Executive Education.
The certificate is a recognition of the participant’s achievement and the investment they and their organization have made in their education and development.
FAQs
Connect with a Program Advisor for a 1:1 Session
Our program advisors have helped senior executives across the world choose the right program for their career goals. Schedule a 1:1 to get a deeper understanding of why the Board Director Program is the right fit for you.
Email: bod_uclaa@emeritus.org
Phone: +13157573910 (U.S.) / +442038933525 (U.K.) / +971800035703577 (UAE) / +525596523248 (LATAM)
We encourage early application due to limited cohort capacity.
Flexible payment options available.
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