The Harvard Leadership Program

Since 2004, the Council of Public Relations Firms and Harvard’s Dr. Ashish Nanda have collaborated to create a professional development program for agency executives that is peerless in our industry.

For two days each year, dozens of Council members become students in Dr. Nanda’s classroom, absorbing key learnings from Harvard Business School cases, arguing their points in vigorous Socratic debates. As one attendee put it: lessons are imparted in a way that “inspires, not intimidates.” Drawing on his vast experience with professional service organizations and how they work, Dr. Nanda brilliantly navigates the discussions and lectures to get to the crux of the most important management issues facing agency executives today. In his engaging, case-driven, style Dr. Nanda will help maximize your leadership skills, and challenge you to think about your firm’s business strategies in a new light.

Testimonials over the years

My expectations were high enough, but Dr. Nanda really blew us all away with his remarkable insights.Weare now armed with incredibly valuable lessons in how to manage strategy at our agencies to distinguish ourselves, and how that leads to success with clients, staff and ownership.
- John Seng, Founder and President of SPECTRUM

People in the marketing communications business have a tendency to think about “positioning” only in terms of external messaging to new business prospects.This seminar was a powerful reminder that positioning has as much to do with your recruitment and alignment around corporate strategy as it does with your marketing focus.
- Paul Jensen, General Manager/NY and Executive Vice President, Corporate Weber Shandwick Worldwide

This is the highlight of my year for executive development. Worth every penny.
- Abby Carr, Principal, Bliss PR

One of the most actionable professional development sessions I’ve attended in years.  Dr. Nanda cracks open your thinking by transporting you outside of the PR industry comfort zone, using case studies from the broader world of consulting to deliver new and meaningful insights to client service. Dr. Nanda engaged every member of our class – there wasn’t a moment in the two-day session you didn’t feel completely connected to the topic and its relationship to the agency business.
- Laura Tomasetti, Managing Director, 360 Public Relations

Dr. Nanda’s insights into the behaviors of executives and institutions and his keen appraisal of the paths that lead to success or failure are truly amazing.
- Steve F, Text 100 Public Relations

The Council of PR Firms Harvard Program was the most riveting, relevant and useful PR conference I have ever attended. It was absolutely worth the cross-country trip. Thank you!
- Manuel Camargo, The Rogers Group