High Performance Boards - Essential Board Training Program

High Performance Boards - Essential Board Training Program
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High Performance Boards
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On campus program
High Performance Boards
Helping your board be its best
On campus program
High Performance Boards
Helping your board be its best
Location
Lausanne
Length
3 days
Fee
CHF 12,500
Next program starts
04 May 2026
Eligible for
IMD Board Director Diploma
Discover the best practices in board governance and enhance your board effectiveness
Board education is key to growing excellent
individuals into great value-adding board
members, and transforming a group of
individuals into a board that is a major
competitive advantage for a company.
High Performance Boards
is
IMD’s flagship
program for board directors
. It is inspired by
the latest research conducted by the
IMD Global Board Center
and the world’s best
boards. The program draws on nearly five
decades of board education experience at
IMD to offer you an in-depth exploration
of issues related to board
performance and effectiveness. You will
broaden your skills as you familiarize yourself
with the
latest tools and frameworks for
enhancing your board’s performance
as well
as your own.
Alongside
board members and prominent
chairpersons from around the world
, you
will learn about successes and failures and
explore governance best practices. You
will identify the strategies, structures, and
processes that make boards the driving force
behind corporate success, and build a solid
network of global peers.
This program can be taken as a standalone experience, or as a step toward the
IMD Board Director Diploma
– equipping you to navigate key board challenges and elevate your governance impact.
Optimize board performance
Identify best practices and gain the tools to implement them to maximize board effectiveness.
Foster a positive board culture
Cultivate a constructive and collaborative board environment for enhanced governance.
Ensure seamless succession
Strategically plan and manage leadership transitions for long-term success.
Manage risks, opportunities and crises
Evaluate risks and opportunities, and master
crisis management techniques
Elevate your board’s strategic capacity
Enhance the strategic capability of your board.
Discover the learning journey
Experience the program
The role of today’s boards is rapidly evolving, are you prepared? Learn how IMD’s High Performance Boards program has equipped board members, since 1977, with the skills and best practices to excel.
“A comprehensive leadership transformation.” – Francois Farjallah, Board Member, YPO Europe One
“Gain a new perspective.” – Laura Meyer, CEO, Hotelplan Group
“It went beyond my expectations.” – Roberto Eggs, Chief Business Strategy & Global Market Officer, Moncler
“Rich and intense. Elevates your capabilities.” – Andrea Stürmer, Former CEO Zurich, Insurance Austria
99%
“I gained fresh knowledge and insights.”
96%
“I successfully applied the new learnings.”
Real learning, real impact.
Here’s what recent participants stated after attending the program.
Find out more
You and your class
High Performance Boards is for board members and chairpersons from medium- to large-sized private or public enterprises, non-profit organizations, foundations, or governmental entities.
After the program, you will continue your learning journey by joining IMD’s vibrant board community.
Profile of recent cohorts (average data)
28
years of experience
52
average age
21
nationalities
13
INDUSTRIES
Check your fit for this program
Experience IMD for yourself
Join a complementary
masterclass
or
information session
and dive into topics such as leadership, AI, strategy, and more. You’ll discover more about how we teach and explore our
executive programs
along the way. See
all upcoming IMD events.
What participants say
Jason Moser
Non-Executive Director at Angels Den Funding (UK) & Senior Legal Counsel M&A and Corporate Ventures, Nestlé
Switzerland
A diverse network committed to enhancing governance
IMD’s high-paced program equipped me to be a more effective board member, identify pitfalls and better tailor my role to the ups and downs businesses face. It also connected me with a diverse network of faculty, executives, and fellow board members, all committed to enhancing governance.
Marguerite Soeteman-Reijnen
Non-Executive Director at Siemens and MN
Chairman Supervisory Board at Kelp Blue, The Netherlands
An incredible energizer
The High Performance Boards program allows you to reinvent and reinvigorate yourself while redefining your practice on your journey for growth, innovation and new horizons. It is an incredible energizer providing a practical framework to create best-in class governance. Next to real learning from an inspiring faculty, the IMD board community will support you creating real impact also post-program.
George Vadakkekara
Executive Chairman, Thejo Engineering Limited, India
Peer learning of the highest caliber
The program has increased my effectiveness as a Chairman, and taught me the importance of setting the agenda and addressing concerns, maximizing the board’s time. The peer learning is of the highest caliber, especially when combined with an impactful mix of theoretical learning and real-world practice.
Dr. Noura AlGhaithi
Undersecretary – Department of Health
Abu Dhabi
Deep insights into effective governance and leadership
The High Performance Boards program was transformative, offering deep insights into effective governance and leadership. It enhanced my confidence and ability to add strategic value in board discussions.
Christiane Kuehne
Non-Executive Board Member and Chair of the Sustainability & Ethics Committee at Stora Enso, Finland
It stressed the importance of good governance
The program gave clear guidance on the role of the board, what to ask, and what to watch out for when you start on a board. It also stressed the importance of good governance and why it is so critical. I was much better equipped and more confident after the program.
Maria Pejter
Head of HR, A.P. Møller Holding & Board Member at Maersk Tankers and ZeroNorth, Denmark
There’s value in every single minute
You have to bring your A-game and be totally present, because the pace and the quality of the participants is high. There’s value in every single minute. Getting that view of how great boards work, ensuring that I’m doing the right things and raising the bar has been invaluable to how I contribute going forward.
This program will give you a deep understanding of governance, how it drives the long-term performance of an organization, and what constitutes good governance.
Didier Cossin
Program Director, Chaired Professor of Governance and Finance, and Founder and Director of IMD Global Board Center
A valuable board community
On completion of this program, you will be part of IMD’s board community. This
network of board program alumni meets regularly
– face-to-face and virtually –
to exchange board experiences from different contexts and discuss the latest developments and trends in governance
. You will be able to count on this valuable community of peers for advice and support far into the future.
Next start & Fee
Length: 3-day program over 4 days, on campus
Dates
4 May – 7 May 2026
Location
Lausanne
Length
3 days
Price
CHF 12,500
Apply
Dates
15 Jun – 18 Jun 2026
Location
Lausanne
Length
3 days
Price
CHF 12,500
Apply
Dates
5 Oct – 8 Oct 2026
Location
Lausanne
Length
3 days
Price
CHF 12,500
Apply
Dates
23 Nov – 26 Nov 2026
Location
Lausanne
Length
3 days
Price
CHF 12,500
Apply
Dates
1 Mar – 4 Mar 2027
Location
Lausanne
Length
3 days
Price
CHF 12,500
Apply
Dates
10 May – 13 May 2027
Location
Lausanne
Length
3 days
Price
CHF 12,500
Apply
Dates
14 Jun – 17 Jun 2027
Location
Lausanne
Length
3 days
Price
CHF 12,500
Apply
Dates
4 Oct – 7 Oct 2027
Location
Lausanne
Length
3 days
Price
CHF 12,500
Apply
Dates
22 Nov – 25 Nov 2027
Location
Lausanne
Length
3 days
Price
CHF 12,500
Apply
See admission information
IMD board diplomas
Two pathways to board excellence
Make your mark in the boardroom with IMD’s board diplomas, for aspiring or seasoned board members.
IMD board diplomas
Two pathways to board excellence
Make your mark in the boardroom with IMD’s board diplomas, for aspiring or seasoned board members.
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