Reset, Adapt, & Be Ready To Lead What's Next With Duke
At Duke Executive Education, we've designed an intentional experience to support the growth of dynamic leadership—a space to recharge, reset, and expand your leadership horizon. Nestled in the natural beauty of the Duke Forest in Durham, North Carolina, Duke Executive Education provides an immersive environment designed for deep, experiential learning and meaningful connections. With modern amenities, rich history, and a tradition of academic rigor and cutting-edge research, Duke offers the clarity and context executives need to unlock their full impact.
At Duke, Inspiration Is All Around
While Duke's campus may feel like a world apart, it’s just minutes from city life. From the quiet elegance of Duke Gardens to the iconic spires of Duke Chapel, the campus invites reflection and dialogue. Whether you’re walking tree-lined paths or gathering with peers for a coffee in the JB Duke Hotel or in downtown Durham, the atmosphere is always energizing and inspiring.
Outside of time in the classroom, there is no shortage of great food and one-of-a-kind experiences to fill your days. Dining at Duke blends locally-inspired cuisine at the Fairview Dining Room with downtown Durham’s award-winning international food scene. Beyond meals, discover the Nasher Museum of Art, attend a performance through Duke Arts, or catch a Duke Athletic's game and show your Blue Devil pride. This blend of culture and cuisine enriches your time on campus—because great ideas often spark over great shared experiences.
Just beyond the academic core, Duke Forest spans more than 7,000 acres and features miles of trails perfect for hiking, running, biking, or reflective walks—offering space to clear your mind or continue meaningful conversations in motion. It’s a place that encourages big thinking, personal and professional renewal, and deeper connection.
Becoming Part of the Blue Devil Tradition
Leadership development doesn’t stop when class ends. At Duke, it extends to the spirit of the place—including its legendary athletics. Tour the legendary Cameron Indoor Stadium and experience the energy that has defined Blue Devil greatness.
Or take a more leisurely path with a round of golf at the celebrated Duke Golf Club—designed by Robert Trent Jones and ranked among the best in the region. These moments offer opportunities to build relationships and unwind—key ingredients for transformative learning.
Accommodations: Seamless, Sophisticated, On-Campus
Executives staying on campus enjoy 4-star amenities at the JB Duke Hotel. The hotel's sleek, modern aesthetic is designed with comfort in mind. And with direct access to Fuqua and the rest of the Duke campus, our on-campus accommodations offer an easy, elegant home base that keeps your focus on learning—not logistics.
A People-Centered Approach to Executive Development
Reach out to us for more information on Duke Executive Education programs.
What sets Duke Executive Education apart is the intentionality behind the experience. We design every element—from program content to environment—to support your professional goals and leadership development. Whether you’re here to learn new frameworks, develop a ready-to-implement solution to a specific business challenge, or gain clarity as a leader, Duke provides the tools, space, and community to help you rise to your next challenge.
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Education that fits your organization
Tailored executive education programs address the strategic goals, unique challenges, and skills gaps in your organization. Our tailored programs adapt Fuqua's world-class open enrollment courses with elements customized for your organization's culture and development goals. Partnering with your organization ensures that the learning content is directly relevant to company objectives and translates into practical skills and knowledge that can be immediately applied in your workplace.
Develop and Retain Your Talent Pool
In today’s highly competitive business environment, developing and retaining talent is critical to driving organizational success.
Tailored executive education programs can improve performance, enhance engagement, and showcase an organization’s commitment to providing skill enhancement and career growth—all of which play key roles in talent retention, job satisfaction, and effective teamwork.
Ultimately, organizations gain a competitive edge by staying ahead of industry trends and ensuring that their leadership teams possess cutting-edge knowledge and skills.
The Return on Your Investment
Choosing Duke Executive Education and The Fuqua School of Business for tailored programs offers organizations access to a prestigious institution with a track record of academic excellence, expertise, and a commitment to staying at the forefront of business research and trends.
Programs are formatted to fit your needs, ensuring flexibility to accommodate your organization's preferences and logistical constraints.
Program Formats
- We can host the program here on the Duke campus or off-site at the location of your choice
- We conduct programs in-person, online (synchronous), or in a blended format
Our programs deliver:
- Academic excellence. Duke University's Fuqua School of Business is renowned for its academic excellence and rigorous standards. We consistently rank among the top business schools globally—your team will receive a world-class education.
- Faculty expertise. Programs are taught by distinguished Duke faculty who are experts in various fields of business and management. Faculty members bring their cutting-edge research and practical industry experience, ensuring that participants learn from the best in the field.
- Measurable impact. Duke and Fuqua are committed to assessing the impact of our programs. We provide tools and metrics to measure the return on investment (ROI) and the effectiveness of tailored programs.
- Emphasis on ethical leadership. Duke and Fuqua have a strong commitment to ethical leadership and social responsibility. Our Executive Education programs emphasize the importance of ethical decision-making in business.
- Global perspective. Duke University has a global reach, and our executive education programs often incorporate a global perspective, helping participants understand and navigate the complexities of today's international business landscape.
Tailored Program Topics
Duke Executive Education offers a wide range of program options, from short courses to longer-term, comprehensive programs. This diversity allows organizations to choose the format and content that best suits their needs. Program areas of expertise include:
Focus on preparing high-potentials for more senior leadership roles; new models and competencies of leadership for a changing global business landscape; and how to leverage communication, influence, and negotiations to advance ideas and initiatives.
Address issues of strategy development, refinement, and alignment with execution/implementation. Equip your organization to see around corners, develop competitive, customer-centered strategies and consider how cultural, regulatory, and market differences impact value creation across internal and external stakeholders.
Focus on cultivating intrapreneurial mindsets, formulating growth strategies, effective risk management, and fostering accountability, while innovating and developing new business models.
Harness the opportunities provided by successful digital transformation, encompassing technology trends (AI, Cloud Computing, IoT), data-driven strategic decision-making, and the change management component of data/technology within the future of work.
Empower your managers and leaders with programs that cover finance, operations, and marketing to create a common understanding and knowledge base for cross-functional teams or to advance the cutting-edge work of specialized teams in your organization.
Get Started
Reach out to us for more information on Duke Executive Education Tailored Programs.
We'll meet with you to understand your needs and develop a proposal detailing how we can support your organization. Once contracted, we co-design the program with your organization and bring in a faculty Academic Program Director who will ensure the quality and rigor of the program experience. Throughout the program, we'll continue to assess and adjust program elements in real-time as needed.
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Need a Fully Bespoke Solution?
If your organization is interested in a custom-designed, bespoke program, please contact our colleagues at Duke Corporate Education.
If you aren't sure which type of program is best for your organization, reach out to us and we will help assess your needs to identify the best solution.
Strategic Negotiation Training
In a business environment defined by constant change, old negotiation playbooks fall short. Why? Negotiation is no longer just a transactional exchange — it’s how today’s forward-thinking leaders align priorities, build trust, and drive meaningful change.
Whether you're leading strategic partnerships, navigating stakeholder tension, or managing high-stakes conversations, your ability to influence outcomes through negotiation defines your leadership impact. This executive negotiation course builds on proven principles — like BATNA, framing, and preparation — and expands them with modern tools for trust-building, emotional intelligence, and negotiating change.
Duke’s negotiation training program teaches the frameworks, tools, and mindset to lead negotiations that matter — across the table, across teams, and across moments of uncertainty.
Led by award-winning negotiation researcher and thought leader Professor Ashleigh Shelby Rosette, this immersive three-day experience combines advanced strategic negotiation tactics with hands-on practice, equipping you with tools you can use immediately. You’ll return to your organization ready to perform under pressure, align interests, build trust, and lead with confidence in any high-stakes conversation.
Negotiation Essentials—Whether You’re Closing Deals or Driving Alignment
For Partnership Builders and Client Strategy Leaders
Sharpen your negotiation strategy, strengthen leverage, and craft agreements that drive long-term business value. This advanced negotiation development workshop equips you to lead conversations that drive action.
For Internal Leaders and Cross-Functional Teams
Gain negotiation skills for leaders managing internal alignment, stakeholder tension, and competing priorities — even when you lack formal authority. Learn how to influence outcomes and foster collaboration.
For Entrepreneurs and Founders
Navigate investor talks, build high-impact partnerships, and negotiate with confidence under pressure. This advanced negotiation course provides practical frameworks for high-growth environments.
For Change Leaders and Team Builders
Transform resistance into trust and misalignment into shared purpose. Master negotiation strategies for managers tasked with leading through uncertainty and change.
Inside Duke's Strategic Negotiation Training
From day one, this program is designed for real-world impact.
Watch as Professor Ashleigh Shelby Rosette shares how negotiation course participants apply strategy in real time — negotiating, getting feedback, and sharpening their instincts with every exercise. It’s the kind of experience that sticks — and shows up in your next high-stakes conversation.
Designed for Real-World Negotiation Challenges
Whether you’re managing across teams, guiding critical initiatives, or aligning diverse priorities, this program helps leaders across industries turn complexity into clarity and influence into impact.
“I now feel like I’m better prepared, and a more conscious negotiator. I learned a lot of concepts that any professional can use, such as the power of anchoring and making 1st offers. Now when the person across the table repeats a perspective, I try to diffuse it.”—Biren Gandhi, Director of Procurement, Leading Manufacturer
Interactive Learning: Engage in dynamic simulations, role-playing exercises, and case studies that reflect real-world negotiation challenges.
Personalized Feedback: Receive tailored feedback from Professor Rosette and peers to refine your instincts and techniques.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of professionals from various industries, expanding your network and sharing insights.
Practical Application: Apply what you learn immediately in your professional context, driving tangible improvements in outcomes across business contexts.
More About the Negotiation Program
Over 3 days, you’ll focus on negotiation tactics, case studies, and leading-edge negotiation techniques. Engaging class discussions provide insight on key concepts, while a series of live negotiations in a variety of diverse settings ensure you integrate core principles with personal experience.
Discussion topics in this immersive professional development program are designed to help you develop your negotiation style and see differences as opportunities — rather than obstacles — in a negotiation. Covering a range of subjects that draw on next-level research in management and leadership, you’ll learn effective strategies that can help you attain better outcomes. We will employ negotiation exercises, as well as negotiation simulations to prepare you for your next real-world interaction at the bargaining table.
Course Topics
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Introduction to Negotiations
This module lays the groundwork by exploring key concepts of successful negotiation. Participants will learn the importance of preparation, assessments, objectives, and understanding the psychological and behavioral aspects that influence negotiation outcomes. Emphasis is placed on building a strategic approach to negotiations and recognizing common pitfalls to avoid.
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Reflecting Inward—Centering on Self: Getting What You Want
Some negotiations focus on competitive scenarios where parties aim to divide a fixed resource, often leading to a win-lose outcome. This section covers techniques for claiming value, managing offers and counteroffers, and strategically maneuvering to secure the best possible deal. Participants will learn skill sets to identify and leverage their own and their counterpart’s interests to maximize gains.
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Focusing Outward—Integrating Collectively: Considering Situational Influences
This module teaches how to identify shared interests, brainstorm creative solutions, and use objective criteria to achieve collaborative results. Integrative negotiations emphasize value creation and fostering mutually beneficial agreements. Techniques for building trust and effectively communicating to uncover hidden opportunities are explored, with the goal of reaching outcomes that satisfy all parties involved.
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Managing Conflict—Communicating Effectively: Differentiating Interests, Rights, & Power
This section covers strategies and techniques for resolving disputes in a constructive manner. Participants will explore various methods, including mediation and arbitration, to manage conflicts and prevent escalation. The focus is on understanding the root causes of disputes, developing solutions that address the needs of all parties, and fostering a cooperative atmosphere leveraging emotional intelligence to facilitate long-term agreements.
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Leading Change—Negotiating Across Divides: Viewing Differences as Opportunities
Negotiating across divides involves handling complex negotiations that cross cultural, organizational, or ideological boundaries. This module addresses the challenges of differing values, communication styles, and expectations. Participants will learn to navigate cultural nuances and body language, manage diversity, and employ strategies to overcome barriers to agreement. Emphasis is placed on adaptability and the importance of cultural competence in achieving successful outcomes.
Sample Schedule
Arrival
Check-In Available
3:00pm
Welcome Dinner
6:00 - 8:00pm
Day 1
Breakfast
7:00 - 9:00am
Program Introduction
Reflecting Inward—Centering on Self: Getting What You Want
9:00am - 12:30pm
Lunch
12:30 - 1:30pm
Focusing Outward—Integrating Collectively: Considering Situational Influences
1:30 - 5:00pm
Dinner
6:00 - 8:00pm
Day 2
Breakfast
7:00 - 9:00am
Managing Conflict—Communicating Effectively: Differentiating Interests, Rights, & Power
9:00am - 12:30pm
Lunch
12:30 - 1:30pm
Understanding Diversity—Leveraging Best Practices and a Framework on Emotions, Offers, and Gender to Be a Better Negotiator
1:30 - 5:00pm
Optional Campus Tour
5:00 - 6:30pm
Dinner
6:00 - 8:00pm
Day 3
Breakfast
7:00 - 9:00am
Leading Change—Negotiating Across Divides: Viewing Differences as Opportunities
Program Review
9:00 - 11:30am
Program Close
11:30am - 12:00pm
Lunch
12:00 - 1:00pm
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Executive Insights
Discover thought-provoking insights and actionable strategies to enhance your leadership.
Faculty
Ashleigh Rosette
Ashleigh Shelby Rosette, PhD is the James L. Vincent Professor of Leadership at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. She is one of the foremost leading scholars on research that resides at the intersection of leadership, gender, and race and one of the most decorated teachers at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.
In her primary area of research on leadership and diversity, she studies how stereotypes and bias provide a framework to better understand the diversity shifts in present-day organizations, especially for top leaders. Her secondary area of research, negotiations, complements the diversity considerations as a basic premise of her work is that an in depth understanding of an array of negotiation skills must be understood and engaged to capitalize on the benefits of diverse experiences. Her research has been featured in Forbes, CNN, MSNBC, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, Business Week, the Financial Times, USAToday, Huffington Post and National Public Radio.
She was ranked as one of the Fifty Most Influential Business Professors by mbarankings.net, ranked as one of the Favorite Professors of the MBA Class of 2019 by Poet & Quants, received the 2019 PhD Project’s Trailblazer Award, is the recipient of the 2019 Bank of America Faculty Award (Fuqua’s highest faculty honor) and is one of the most decorated teachers in the history of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business having received the Teaching Excellence Award of the Year a record-breaking twelve times.
She provides consulting services on topics such as leadership, diversity, decision-making, and negotiations to an array of clients in varied industries, such as banking, consulting, auditing services, automobile manufacturing, medical services, and the social/non-profit sector.
Ashleigh Rosette is an Associate Professor of Management and Organizations and a Center of Leadership and Ethics scholar at Fuqua. Dr. Rosette studies negotiations and diversity in organizational settings. In her research, she examines the influence of affect and culture on the negotiation process and negotiated outcomes and explores social and contextual factors that influence diversity-related perceptions. Her research has been featured in media outlets such as Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, and Business Week.
How to Register
For more information about how to register, please see our detailed instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
For additional information about our Executive Education programming, please visit our FAQ page.
Optimize performance
The Duke Management Program is your gateway to becoming a more effective and influential leader. Tailored for managers and professionals on the rise, this program offers you the tools to sharpen your strategic thinking, enhance decision-making, and lead high-performing teams with confidence. Through immersive learning and expert guidance, you'll gain the insights needed to navigate complex challenges and drive meaningful change within your organization. Whether you're looking to refine your leadership style or prepare for greater responsibilities, this program will empower you to achieve your career goals and make a lasting impact.
"The program was an extraordinary experience. I have a new outlook on the way I look at things within our company, such how to present new ideas to my management team. I grew personally and professionally and acquired skills that will enable me to be more effective in my current leadership role."
—Becky Martin, IT Director, Mid Atlantic Broadband
ROI for Participants
Enhanced Decision-Making Capabilities: Improve your ability to make sound strategic decisions by learning to identify and avoid common decision-making pitfalls, leading to more effective and successful planning within your organization.
Increased Employee Motivation and Engagement: Apply advanced motivational strategies tailored to different employee needs, resulting in higher levels of engagement, productivity, and job satisfaction across your teams.
Strengthened Leadership Influence: Leverage your personal and positional power effectively to drive positive organizational change, optimizing resource allocation and achieving targeted business outcomes.
Improved Negotiation Outcomes: Master negotiation techniques that emphasize problem-solving and relationship-building, enabling you to secure better agreements that align with your interests and foster long-term partnerships.
Optimized Organizational Alignment: Gain the expertise to assess and align organizational structures, processes, and culture, leading to a more cohesive and efficient organization where employees can thrive and contribute to overall success.
Who Should Attend?
This program is designed for emerging leaders and mid-level managers seeking to enhance their leadership skills and strategic thinking. Ideal participants include those who are ready to take on greater responsibilities, lead teams, and drive organizational change.
More About the Program
Drawing insights from science to enhance practice, the program dives into multiple aspects of effective management informed by the latest research in behavioral economics, decision analysis, motivation, social networks, teams, negotiations, power and politics, and ethics.
Discussion Topics
- Advanced Decision-Making Techniques
- Identifying and avoiding decision traps
- Strategic planning and effective decision frameworks
- Employee Motivation and Engagement
- Analyzing motivators and demotivators
- Strategies for enhancing employee motivation
- The role of fairness in motivation and feedback
- Power and Influence in Leadership
- Understanding personal and hierarchical power dynamics
- Leveraging power for resource development and organizational success
- Effective Negotiation Strategies
- Problem-solving approaches in negotiations
- Building relationships through effective negotiation practices
- Team Dynamics and Management
- Fostering creativity and commitment within teams
- Implementing processes that support positive team dynamics
- Organizational Structure and Culture
- Viewing the organization as an interconnected system
- Aligning structures, procedures, and culture for employee and organizational success
At the conclusion of the program you’ll be able to:
- Evaluate Decision-Making Processes
Critically evaluate and refine decision-making processes by identifying and mitigating common decision traps, thereby enhancing strategic planning and organizational outcomes. - Analyze and Design Motivation Strategies
Analyze the underlying factors that influence employee motivation and demotivation, and design tailored strategies that effectively enhance motivation and performance across diverse teams. - Assess and Apply Fairness Principles
Assess the impact of fairness in motivation and feedback mechanisms, and apply these principles to create an equitable and motivating work environment. - Leverage Power for Organizational Success
Synthesize knowledge of personal and hierarchical power dynamics to strategically develop and allocate resources that drive productive outcomes within the organization. - Integrate Problem-Solving in Negotiations
Formulate and implement negotiation strategies that prioritize problem-solving, fostering both the achievement of organizational goals and the strengthening of professional relationships. - Facilitate Team Dynamics and Processes
Design and implement management practices that promote positive team dynamics, creativity, and commitment, ensuring successful project execution and organizational growth. - Systematically Align Organizational Elements
Critically assess the organization as an interconnected system of structures, procedures, and culture, and develop strategies to align these elements to support employee success and overall organizational effectiveness.
The in-person Duke Management Program offers a dynamic, immersive learning experience designed to transform your leadership skills. Conducted on Duke University's campus over 3 days, the program fosters deep engagement through case study, group discussions, and real-world simulations. Participants collaborate with peers and faculty, allowing for rich exchanges of ideas and perspectives. The format emphasizes hands-on learning, where you’ll tackle complex challenges, apply strategic frameworks, and receive personalized feedback. This face-to-face environment not only enhances your ability to absorb and apply new concepts but also helps you build lasting professional relationships with a network of fellow leaders.
Sample Schedule
Arrival
Check-in Available
3:00 PM
Welcome Dinner
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Day 1
Breakfast
7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Managing People & Performance
Designing Incentives & Fostering Motivation
9:00 AM -12:30 PM
Lunch
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Managing Choice:
Decision Traps & Decision Tools
1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Optional Cameron Indoor Stadium Tour
5:20 PM - 6:30 PM
Dinner
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Day 2
Breakfast
7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Managing Conflict:
Effective Teams I
9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Lunch
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Managing Power:
Design & Culture
1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Dinner
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Day 3
Breakfast
7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Managing Systems:
Effective Teams II
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Evaluations & Program Close
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Lunch
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Hotel Check-out: NOON
Certificate of Completion
Upon successful completion of the Duke Management Program, participants receive a verified Certificate of Completion and digital badge issued by Duke Executive Education.
This credential signals your achievement and can be easily added to your LinkedIn profile to highlight your new capabilities in leading teams and driving organizational change.
The certificate reflects:
- An expanded capacity to make smarter decisions, faster
- An enhanced ability to influence, motivate, and create a culture of high-performance
- A commitment to professional growth through Duke Executive Education
This program counts toward the Duke Certificate of Leadership and Management.
Already in the area...
Reduced pricing available if lodging accommodation is not needed.
Stay connected.
Duke Executive Education Program Calendar
Explore our upcoming program offerings.
Executive Insights
Discover thought-provoking insights and actionable strategies to enhance your leadership.
The Evolving Role of Managers in Today's Business Landscape
How To Motivate Teams: Leadership Strategies for Unlocking Peak Performance
Faculty
Aaron C. Kay
Aaron C. Kay is a Professor of Management at Fuqua, and a Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience at Duke University. His research focuses on the relation between motivation, implicit social cognition, and social issues and has received numerous awards. Professor Kay has been named a Fellow of the American Psychological Society as well as the Society of Experimental Social Psychology, and his research is widely covered in national and international news and media outlets.
Jack B. Soll
Jack B. Soll is the Gregory Mario & Jeremy Mario Distinguished Professor of Management and Organizations at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. Professor Soll’s research focuses on the psychology of judgment and decision making. His current research interests include group decision making, and also the implications of behavioral decision research for public policy. He has published in a number of scholarly journals, including Science, Management Science, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, and the Journal of Experimental Psychology.
How to Register
For more information about how to register, please see our detailed instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
For additional information about our Executive Education programming, please visit our FAQ page.