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Maximize ROI by Promoting From Within

Internal hires cost 18–20% less1 than external ones, and individual contributors promoted to managerial roles tend to stay 33% longer1 than those in defined pathway or individual contributor positions. With an estimated 10.1 million hidden candidates1 ready for first-time manager roles, the future leaders of your company are already at your organization. The Darden Core program can help you cultivate this potential by providing your employees with essential managerial skills through highly customized learning.

Maximize ROI by Promoting From Within

Internal hires cost 18–20% less than external ones, and individual contributors promoted to managerial roles tend to stay 33% longer than those in defined pathway or individual contributor positions. With an estimated 10.1 million hidden candidates ready for first-time manager roles, the future leaders of your company are already at your organization. The Darden Core program can help you cultivate this potential by providing your employees with essential managerial skills through highly customized learning.

Program Highlights

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100% Digital Experience

Your employees complete coursework virtually, eliminating the need for travel and minimizing disruptions to their schedules.

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Four Courses Addressing Key Managerial Competencies

Courses cover essential leadership topics that empower employees to excel in management and meet the needs of your organization.

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1–3 Weekly Hours Required From Employees

Your employees can balance their learning and work responsibilities through a manageable time commitment.

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Certificate Completion in 3–4 Months

We help you quickly upskill your workforce, allowing employees to earn their certificates and apply new insights in a matter of months.

Tailored Learning: Choose the Right Level of Engagement for Your Organization

Foundational Support

Access essential services with basic integration and focus on streamlining efficiency.

Services can include:

  • Live orientation
  • Co-branded learning experience
  • Basic learning analytics

Enhanced Collaboration 

Build deeper engagement with personalized and interactive elements.

Services can include:

  • Learning simulations
  • Faculty office hours
  • Capstone assignments

Comprehensive Partnership

Provide a highly integrated, customized learning experience with extensive support.

Services can include:

  • On-site faculty instruction
  • Custom learning activities and assignments
  • Mentor matching

Building Foundational Leadership Skills

Over three to four months, employees complete key managerial competencies. 

Communications

Leadership and Initiative

Business Operations

Data Analytics


Each content area can include one or more live sessions to deepen learning and foster collaboration with peers and faculty. Employees also have access to expert coaching support. 

Our Legacy of Leadership Development

As a trailblazer in leadership education, the Darden School of Business is uniquely qualified to help your employees hone their leadership potential. Our program transcends traditional management training by focusing on foundational leadership skills required for effective communications, business operations and data analytics that empower individuals to create a continuous impact in the workplace. Grounded in insightful research, our curriculum blends theory with real-world practice to advance both knowledge and application. Participants acquire the discerning judgment and decisive action skills needed to excel as managers.

Integration Drives Performance 

The Darden Core program seamlessly integrates with your company’s learning and communication systems, maximizing employee engagement while minimizing employer oversight. Through actionable insights and coordinated employee communication management, we deliver an efficient and impactful learning experience.

What To Expect

Customized programming aligned with your business needs

Our curriculum can support your organization’s unique goals, ensuring your employees’ learning experience is relevant and impactful.

Direct integration with your organization’s learning and communication systems

Our program seamlessly integrates with your systems, enabling your employees to focus on gaining valuable skills without facing technical barriers.

Program management and governance

We oversee the program to ensure efficiency, working closely with your organization to maintain quality and ensure that your goals are met.

Progress reporting for supervisors

We keep you informed with regular updates on employee development, allowing you to track progress and identify growth opportunities.

Outreach, enrollment, registration and other employee communication

We handle all aspects of employee communication, partnering with you to ensure employees receive timely and straightforward information at every stage, from start to finish.

Comprehensive employee support

We provide dedicated support resources, including technical guidance and learning aids, helping your employees stay on track.

Program Fees 

Our cutting-edge program empowers you to maximize ROI by cultivating your organizationʼs talent, starting at an affordable tuition rate of $3,000 per employee. This allows you to invest in your human capital and build essential skills while keeping costs low. Add-on customizations and support services are also available.

Discover the Darden Advantage

Are You Ready To Strengthen Your Leadership Team? 

Request Information

1 “Managing Up: Management Education as a Ladder to Mobility,” The Burning Glass Institute, 2024