The Advanced Management Development Program (AMDP) stands as Harvard's premier leadership program for seasoned real estate professionals and executives, offering a unique opportunity to reshape perspectives on the evolving built environment. Tailored for high-level practitioners and firm leaders, the program spans just one year, with five weeks spent on Harvard's campus, culminating in the coveted title of Harvard alum. As one recent graduate aptly put it, "I would describe the program as a crash course in how to think differently and most importantly a chance to meet inspiring classmates who are looking to do the same thing."
A key highlight of the AMDP is its rich, global network. Participants hail from all corners of the world and represent a wide array of sectors within the built environment, each a seasoned leader in their respective fields. This dynamic, international cohort creates an unparalleled learning environment where diverse perspectives converge. Over the course of the year, participants dive deep into core real estate functions, discover cutting-edge strategies for leading change, and expand their horizons through a comprehensive curriculum that offers:
- a comprehensive understanding of core real estate functions;
- new approaches for leading change;
- a broader grasp of areas including strategy, leadership, planning & design, development, technology and finance.
During the three on-campus terms, the case study method is the primary form of instruction, and participants attend an average of fifteen 90-minute interactive sessions per week in leadership, development, finance, planning and design, technology, and strategy. Participants learn from world-class Harvard faculty and industry experts.
The program also features two intensive projects that bring the program's teaching to life: the Team Project and the Independent Project. The Team Project is an academic exercise employing professional experience and class learning. Participants are divided into teams and compete to solve complex development problems in real-world locales.
Problems for the Team Project are as diverse as the redevelopment of dying shopping malls in Denver and Los Angeles or brownfield sites on Staten Island to exploring possibilities for the city of Toronto or the East Boston waterfront. The project begins during Term 1 and culminates with an intensive design charrette, where teams present their proposals to a jury panel during Term 2.
The Independent Project is a unique opportunity for participants to integrate their new learning from the AMDP with their aspirations for themselves, their organizations, and their communities. The Independent Projects are individual, but the work will be developed, reviewed, and discussed with two coaches, who are available to provide advice and answer questions. The Independent Project work takes place between Term 2 and 3, culminating with individual presentations during Term 3 to classmates and faculty.
The AMDP also allows each participant to explore the subjects most relevant to them and their goals through electives. Topics range from designing more walkable cities to redesigning workplaces in a post-pandemic world, building decarbonization, and the impact of AI on the built environment.
Learn more about the Advanced Management Development Program at Harvard here.
