| Dates | Location | Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| - |
Philadelphia
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$55,000 |
| - |
Philadelphia
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$55,000 |
A Transformative Five Weeks
Today’s executives operate in an increasingly uncertain and complex business world. They learn from and lead by experience. Since 1988, senior executives have relied on the Wharton Advanced Management Program to amplify their leadership experience and their impact on the world.
Advanced Management Program Brochure
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AMP is an immersive five-week program based on real-time business dynamics, economic challenges and opportunities, global trends, and market shifts. AMP faculty – expert thought leaders in the world of business – go well beyond historical case studies to explore current conditions, the latest research, and best practice. The knowledge shared is reinforced and challenged through guided practice, simulation, reflection, team coaching, and peer mentoring.
AMP is exclusive and selective; only about 60 executives are accepted per session. The result is an optimal learning environment, with a globally diverse participant cohort for better peer learning and a lifelong network of professional colleagues, as both AMP and Wharton alumni.
Tuition for Philadelphia programs includes lodging and most meals. Prices are subject to change. Contact an AMP Program Consultant for more information on course specifics and to discuss how this program can meet your professional development needs. E-mail or by telephone at +1 215.898.1179. Plan your stay.
What to Expect
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Expect a fresh perspective. Expect to sharpen critical thinking skills. Expect a transformational experience that has immediate application for your business.
During your five-week AMP experience, expect...
- World-renowned faculty who are the sought-after, trusted advisors of corporations and governments worldwide
- Innovative and continually fine-tuned curriculum that weaves together lessons from business, arts, science, and the humanities
- Experiential learning that builds business acumen while drawing in both analytic and creative thinking skills
- New frameworks, models, and practices for managing the increasing speed of change in a volatile global environment
- Engaging dialogue among faculty and participants that adds dimension, insight, and new ways of thinking
- New business relationships within a powerful network of more than 88,000 Wharton alumni around the world
- An iPad tablet computer containing the entire AMP instructional package, including course materials and faculty publications, and the ability to make video calls to stay in touch back home
What sets AMP Apart
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Research shows that learning is accelerated and memory-retention enhanced through multiple learning pathways. Three key components set AMP apart from competitive programs.
- Peer mentoring: learning with and from other senior executives, forging an expanding network
- Real time context: going beyond historical case studies to explore conditions that can affect business today and into the future
- Guided practice and reflection: gaining multiple perspectives on a situation through intuitive and effective reflection, prompting both personal and professional growth
More than business acumen
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The Wharton AMP alumni become multidimensional assets to their organizations, able to drive business strategy in a complex and uncertain market. They gain knowledge for global impact, creating consequence in the world and in their careers.
The core curriculum — management, marketing, finance, strategy, and organizational dynamics — comes to life through experiential learning. Whether rowing on the Schuylkill River to learn about high performance teams, interpreting poetry to differentiate form from content, or painting murals in inner city neighborhoods to give back to the community, these experiences strengthen the bonds between multicultural peers, between ideas and implementation, and between Wharton and alumni from around the world.
Consider your time at AMP a career refresh, with a comprehensive curriculum and experiential approach that creates an invaluable, reflective pause from your daily routine. You will complete the program with a tremendous reserve of strategies, practices, and global and self awareness that can be put to immediate use and mobilized for virtually any contingency.
Reframe your future
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Many questions pressure the rising executive — and those who already have made it to the C-suite:
- Do I have what it takes to be, or to remain, a top leader, especially in light of disruptive changes in the market?
- How can I keep driving my performance?
- How do I deal with increased expectations?
- How do I build capability for tomorrow?
Top leadership requires more than an understanding of current business trends. That's why Wharton AMP was designed to address the whole person: character, tone, presence, and style. Executive wellness. And global citizenship, taking on the social responsibility that comes with being a leader. Participants become attuned to what works for them, and what no longer works, as they explore the potential pitfalls that may be putting them and their organizations at risk.
Candidate requirements
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Wharton AMP is exclusive and selective, with only about 60 executives admitted per program session. While participants come from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds, they share key qualities:
- Role: A senior executive within three reporting relationships of the CEO or managing director
- Experience: More than 20 years of management experience
- Reference: Nominated by the CEO, division president, or senior corporate human resources officer
- Language: High level of English proficiency to actively engage in group discussions and reading assignments [Scores for the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC), taken within the past two years, must be 800 or higher]*
*If you have less than one year's experience working in an English-speaking environment, or if you are unsure about your current level of English, please contact us immediately at execed@wharton.upenn.edu. We will schedule an appointment for you to speak with one of our language specialists about our business English language programs. The Admissions Committee may also require an interview by phone.
Past participants
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AMP participants come from around the world and a range of industries. Below is a partial list of companies that have recently entrusted their senior executives' business education to Wharton AMP.
- Banco Bradesco
- Boeing Company
- Citibank
- Credit Suisse
- Diamond Bank, Ltd.
- Fujitsu
- Komatsu Ltd.
- Mahindra & Mahindra
- Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
- Mitsubishi
- Northrop Grumman
- PETRONAS
- Royal Philips Electronics
- SK Telecom
- Saudi Aramco
- Siam Cement Co.
- UBS AG
- The Vanguard Group
Lifelong, global network
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Upon completing AMP, participants become Wharton alumni, part of one of the largest and most distinguished business school alumni organizations in the world. With more than 91,000 members who live and work in more than 130 nations, and supported by 77 U.S. and international clubs and regional representatives, the Wharton alumni network keeps members informed through annual forums around the world. AMP alumni also secure a lifelong Wharton email address and a full complement of print and online communications.
Knowledge for global impact
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Wharton AMP becomes a defining moment in one's career; our participants call it life changing.
More than just acquiring business acumen, it's about becoming a multidimensional asset to your organization, able to:
- Recognize useful patterns where others see distractions and hear noise
- Motivate by example, as authentic figures who inspire followers
- Make real the intangibles of integrity, presence, and insight
- Have the vision and strengths to navigate through uncertainty, staying grounded in purpose during disruptions in operations, markets, the global playing field
While every leader, and every organization, differs from the rest, those who excel at the highest levels share the ability to incorporate these many dimensions into their personal and professional lives.
AMP takes participants to the next level of achievement, as they gain knowledge for global impact, creating consequence in the world and in their careers.
Holistic approach: whole brain, whole person
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AMP was designed to engage the whole brain and the whole person. The importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and having supportive relationships are essential when facing triumph and defeat, uncertainty and opportunity, disruption and alliances in a chaotic world. Participants gain insights into their mental habits and pressure points, learning to manage their responses and communication styles in moments of crisis. Becoming more self-aware about what works and what doesn't develops more effective leaders and stronger business and personal relationships.
Upon completing AMP, participants are better prepared to:
- Authentically lead your organization to inspire them to achieve a higher level of performance
- Formulate a corporate vision and set a new direction for their organizations
- Acquire new ways to create shareholder value
- Reimagine customer and supplier relationships
- Replace binary thinking with more critically integrated design thinking
- Know when and how to fail productively
- Persuade, influence, and negotiate expertly
- Balance corporate social responsibility with fiduciary realities
Faculty: Core of Knowledge
With the interactive and intensive nature of AMP, participants get to work closely with some of the finest minds and thought leaders in the world of business. Following is a partial list of participating Wharton faculty. (Faculty for specific programs may differ.)
* Please note that these are core faculty and may not be in every program.
DAVID R. BELL, PhD
The Wharton School
His current research focuses on spatial diffusion of new products and services, customer profitability, and consumer response modeling. Articles on these topics have appeared in Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Retailing, Management Science, Marketing Science, California Management Review, and Sloan Management Review. Bell serves on the editorial boards of Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Retailing, and Marketing Science. He is Senior Editor for Manufacturing and Services Operations Management.
PETER CAPPELLI, DPhil
Director, Center for Human Resources
The Wharton School
RAM CHARAN
GEORGE S. DAY, PhD
Co-Director, Mack Center for Technological Innovation
Director, Emerging Technologies Management Research Program
The Wharton School
TOM DONALDSON, PhD
Professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics
The Wharton School
Tom Donaldson has written broadly in the area of business ethics, values, and leadership. His books include: Ethical Issues in Business, 8th Edition (Prentice-Hall Inc., 2007), with P. Werhane and Ethics in International Business (Oxford University Press, 1989).
PETER FADER, PhD
Professor of Marketing
Co-Director of the Wharton Customer Analytics Initiative
The Wharton School
ADAM M. GRANT, PhD
The Wharton School
Prof. Grant has received numerous awards for his research, which has been featured in bestselling books such as Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us and Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking. His research has also been featured in outlets like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, USA Today, CNN, the Financial Times, Harvard Business Review, and Freakonomics.
Prof. Grant received his PhD and MS from the University of Michigan in organizational psychology and his BA from Harvard University, magna cum laude with highest honors in psychology and Phi Beta Kappa honors.
WITOLD J. HENISZ, PhD
Professor Henisz has served as a consultant for the World Bank, The Inter-American Development Bank, The Conference Board, and Eurasia Group. He previously worked for The International Monetary Fund. He is currently a principal in the political risk management consultancy PRIMA LLC.
BARBARA KAHN, PhD
Professor of Marketing
Director, Jay H. Baker Retailing Center
The Wharton School
IAN C. MACMILLAN, DBA
Professor of Management
Director, Sol C. Snider Entrepreneurial Research Center
The Wharton School
RICHARD C. MARSTON, PhD
Professor of Economics
Director, Weiss Center for International Financial Research
The Wharton School
Dr. Marston regularly participates in the Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA) Program and the Advanced Management Program. He is also director of the Institute for Private Investors Program at Wharton.
Dr. Marston has given presentations in more than a dozen countries in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. He has also given presentations for a number of securities firms in the United States, including most recently Merrill Lynch, Lincoln Financial, and Smith Barney. His work has been widely cited in the press, including publications such as Barron's, the Financial Times, Newsweek, and The Wall Street Journal, and he has also appeared on television programs such as the Nightly Business Report and on CNBC.
G. RICHARD SHELL, JD
Professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics and Management
The Wharton School
Professor Shell is the academic director of Wharton's Executive Negotiation Workshop and Strategic Persuasion Workshop: The Art and Science of Selling Ideas. He teaches in a variety of open-enrollment and customized programs. A partial list of his consulting clients includes the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, General Electric, Johnson & Johnson, Hewlett-Packard, Merck & Co., Citibank, Bank of America, and several of the largest labor unions in the United States.
JEREMY SIEGEL, PhD
The Wharton School
MIKE USEEM, PhD
Professor of Management
The Wharton School
Mike works with the World Economic Forum on several initiatives to identify ways of preventing, mitigating, and responding to significant enterprise risks. He serves with the WEF Global Council on Catastrophic Risks.
DAVID WESSELS, PhD
The Wharton School
In addition to his teaching on campus, Professor Wessels serves on the executive development and training faculties at Coca-Cola, Home Depot, Lockheed Martin, McKinsey & Company, Merrill Lynch, Microsoft, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Siemens, and UPS.
Before joining Wharton, David served on finance faculty of the Goizueta Business School at Emory University. Prior to Emory, he was a management consultant with McKinsey & Company and a technology analyst for Boston-based Harbourvest Venture Partners. David holds a PhD in finance from the Anderson School at UCLA, a BS in economics and a BAS in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania.
Responses among participants in the Authentic Leadership sessions in AMP have been outstanding. The sessions have received some of the highest AMP program scores in participant evaluations. In the following testimonials, participants relate how the sessions have had a transformative effect not only upon their leadership development, but in aspects of their personal life as well.
"AMP 56 was one of the most profound experiences of my life. The experience was analogous with peeling away the layers of an onion. This forced deep introspection (something that I hadn't done for a very long time) which created an unbelievable level of renewed self awareness. For me the programme design helped surface the 'real me.' Whilst these onion layers were being peeled away I realized how outdated many of the tools that I used in business had become. Some needed replacing and others needed sharpening. Most importantly, in this exposed state, we developed meaningful friendships and an extended community that nurtured each of us, helping us rebuild ourselves. I left a far more complete and better human being than when I arrived."
—Doug Leather, REAP Consulting Ltd.
"My main experience has been as a commercial director for Heineken in the Congo for the last four years. The Congo is an extreme business environment. On the one side, you have to hit your numbers, you have to make your plans, you have to brief your agencies — you're just behaving as if you are running any other big fast-moving consumer operation. But you're in a bizarre business environment. The Congo — the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo) is rock-bottom from any perspective. If you take the United Nations Human Development Index, Congo is in the bottom five for poverty, and the top five for corruption. It is the worst place in the world to do business according to the IFC/World Bank. And being relatively young to the position in such an environment has been an incredible stretch for me. It has been an incredible learning and development experience whereby I learned more than how to drive business.
The most striking moments have been where I have had to make decisions that went further than business. These were literally about life and death. I've been in a situation where some people tried to hijack or arrest me, probably for ransom, and where I had to fight to get free, physically breaking loose to get away. Besides, I have been responsible for our people and brewery at a moment of great instability, when serious fighting erupted in the center of Kinshasa very close to the brewery. At such moments you are called upon to make very tough choices and decisions that normally would not be within the scope of a manager of a FMCG firm.
Through this Authentic Leadership (AL) experience, I realized that what I've been doing in the Congo is my real purpose — to lead with wisdom. That's something I realized thanks to the AL sessions. Somewhere deep down, you know your purpose. You feel it. But you're not able to articulate it. In these sessions, in a surprisingly short timeframe — within two days, with complete strangers, you are able to articulate your purpose. So, it has been a fantastic experience. And it's already helped me during the Advanced Management Program, and I'm sure it's going to help me by making me much more articulate and conscious about my purpose. It will help me in making the choices I make while in my current job, and in making choices about what kind of position I will strive for in the future and how I will perform in that new position."
—Dolf van den Brink, Bralima S.A.R.L. /Heineken N.V.
"My experience at the AMP program has been the best educational experience I have ever had. I would never have imagined the impact that Wharton has made in my life, company, and within the security industry. In these difficult economic times, my company business has been booming with new growth and I have no problems getting credit. I really believe that all of this has been because of Wharton. I put Wharton learning into action with my company, and that has been the key for me."
—Kent Moyer, CEO/President, The World Protection Group, Inc.
"Without doubt, the Advanced Management Program was the most stimulating educational experience I have had. It made me think deeply about the impact of global competition on my industry and how the lessons from other industries can be applied. The human dimension was particularly valuable and helped me reflect on my role and my future career. The whole experience was first-rate."
—Valerie Gooding, BUPA
"When I joined Unilever Turkey, I was the only foreigner on the board. Wharton's Advanced Management Program focused on how to manage a transnational organization in a fast-moving environment. I did things I probably wouldn't have done before, like taking the high ground and staying there as long as possible. From the program, I have a personal toolkit that I refer to quite often."
—Philippe Barthen, Unilever
Frequently Asked Questions... and Answers
How will I manage a five-week hiatus from my job?
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Research and experience indicate that five intense weeks (Monday through Saturday) provide the right level of rigor and immersion for a senior management audience. While this is a significant time commitment, successful leaders are able to convert this time away into an opportunity that extends beyond the AMP experience itself. They delegate their daily and monthly tasks to others in their organization, preparing them for greater responsibility. When participants return to the office, they often choose to maintain the new delegation of duties to gain more time to implement the new practices and ideas gained at AMP.
How is Wharton AMP different from executive education programs at other business schools?
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Wharton AMP is grounded in key components of peer mentoring, real time context, and guided practice and reflection. While case studies come into play, more of the learning comes from experiential and interactive sessions.
- Wharton AMP is exclusive and selective, with a maximum of about 60 participants. Other schools often have in excess of 100 participants per program session.
- Wharton AMP participants spend up to six hours daily with Wharton faculty. Elsewhere, faculty members spend much less time with participants, or the majority of primary program instructors are outside consultants and professionals who aren't standing faculty.
- Wharton AMP includes case studies as part of the curriculum, but they're not the main focus. Wharton faculty members bring real-time, up-to-date information and trends into the sessions in order to spark discussions about future goals and the possibilities of tomorrow. Other programs rely exclusively on historical case studies to educate and illustrate business practices.
- Wharton AMP provides participants with their own iPad tablet computer as part of the instructional package. All course material and faculty publications are preloaded onto the device, which makes it easy to review lessons during AMP and afterward, when participants return home. They can also use it to make video calls and stay in touch. AMP remains one of the few executive education programs to provide this technology to participants.
How much does it cost, and what forms of payment are accepted?
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The total AMP fee is $55,000. This includes private accommodations, most meals, and all program materials.
If you are accepted into AMP, we will issue your company an invoice. Payment in full – by check, wire transfer, or credit card – must be received before the program start date.
How do I pay for it?
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If you are accepted to AMP, we will issue your company an invoice. Payment in full (by check, wire transfer, or credit card) must be received before the program start date.
Where is the program held?
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Two program sessions are offered per year, in the summer and fall, in Philadelphia. Participants live and attend classes in the Steinberg Conference Center, which becomes a second home. Here they receive attentive service from an expert staff and such premium amenities as lavish guestrooms with personal computers and flat-screen TVs, five-star dining, a fitness center, dry cleaning, and concierge services. Coffee bars with espresso and fully stocked refreshment areas are available throughout the day's sessions, providing a taste of Philadelphia and specialties from around the world.
The Steinberg Conference Center is on the vibrant and historic campus of the University of Pennsylvania. It is surrounded by the culture, history, and vitality of the birthplace of the United States. The City of Philadelphia is renowned for its wealth of restaurants, theatre, sports venues, and entertainment.
Participants can explore Philadelphia by train, bus, taxi, bicycle, or on foot. A major transportation hub, 30th Street Station, is just blocks away, with access to Amtrak trains that travel the nation and Septa trains for local and regional stops. Philadelphia International Airport is nearby, accessible by train from 30th Street Station.
Can my spouse or family attend?
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During the last two days of each program, spouses, partners, or other guests are welcome to take part in the Partners' Program, which features selected AMP sessions and social activities. After more than four weeks of absence, participants welcome this shared experience and find it greatly enhances and eases their return to their home and work environments.
Will I become a Wharton alumnus/alumnae if I complete the program?
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Yes, completion of AMP confers alumni status. You will be joining one of the largest business school alumni organizations in the world. With more than 88,000 members who live and work in more than 130 nations, the Wharton alumni network helps you stay informed through annual forums around the world. In additional to a lifelong Wharton email address, AMP graduates receive a full complement of print and online communications.
I graduated from university several years ago. Do I need to brush up on my finance or business algorithms to attend?
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AMP participants come from different professional and educational backgrounds, so the program starts with a quick immersion into key business components. This helps to build a common language before rapidly advancing to a higher, more sophisticated level.
The entire five-weeks have been carefully crafted to address the overarching knowledge and leadership needs of top executives, not undergraduate business majors or recent MBA graduates. We are preparing these senior leaders for their next challenge within their organizations or beyond, and that means becoming "ambidextrous" in business — seeing all perspectives and being equipped with a new global network and framework to draw upon.
Is there an application deadline?
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Admissions are done on a rolling basis, so the earlier you submit your application the better.
TIP: It is best to apply at least three months in advance of the program date you wish to attend. This should ensure adequate timing for you to delegate your monthly tasks and provide an opportunity to guide and coach your colleagues before your departure. With sufficient time and planning, you will feel confident that everything will be in good hands during your absence.
I've been accepted to AMP but I'm unable to attend. What should I do?
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We are more than happy to reschedule your attendance for the next program date, or we can work with you to identify a more convenient session.
Please note these AMP transfer and cancellation policies:
Transfer of Registration:
- Transfer requests received within 45–14 days prior to the start of the program will incur a 30% transfer fee.
- Transfers received fewer than 14 days prior will incur a 50% transfer fee.
Cancellation of Registration:
- Cancellation requests received prior to 45 days in advance of the program start date will incur a charge of 35%.
- Cancellation requests received 45–14 days prior to the program start date will incur a charge of 50%.
- Cancellations received fewer than 14 days prior to the start of the program will forfeit the entire tuition amount.
English isn't my native language and I don't work in an English-language environment. Can I still attend?
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All AMP candidates must be fluent in English to complete reading assignments and to actively engage in group discussions and activities. AMP is an intense program, and being able to fully communicate in English with your executive peers and Wharton faculty is an integral part of the experience.
If you have taken the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) within the past two years, your score must be 800 or higher.
If you have less than one year's experience working in an English-speaking environment, or if you are unsure about your current level of English, please contact us immediately at execed@wharton.upenn.edu. We can better advise you then.
What other executive education programs does Wharton have for senior executives?
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We have many Executive Education programs that enable business leaders to harness and exploit the speed of change that's happening across their industries, markets, economies, and other related aspects, at home and abroad. All are based on real-time business dynamics, economic challenges and opportunities, global trends, and market shifts.
Additions and refinements to the curriculum are constantly considered. We fully expect half of the programs we will offer in five years to be ones that have yet to be developed.
To see our current list of programs, please visit the Senior Management Development Programs section.
How can I stay up-to-date on Wharton Executive Education events and programs?
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Subscribe to our free digital newsletter Wharton @Work. Just fill out the subscription form or visit our archive of past issues.
I have a question which isn't addressed here. Who can I contact?
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If you have any further questions about the AMP program, please email Ms. Robin Salaman, associate director of customer engagement.




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