Career pivots are becoming more common than ever. Whether you’re transitioning industries, changing functional roles or even moving across continents, executive education offers the skills, networks and confidence to make that leap successfully.
Making a career change is about more than just switching jobs. It’s about acquiring the right tools and mindset to succeed in new environments. Alessandra Wulf, an alumna of HEC Paris’s Executive MSc in Change Leadership, credits her executive program with equipping her to shift industries and even relocate from Australia to Edinburgh.
“Executive programs hold up a mirror so you can see where you are and where you want to be,” says Wulf. “They give you knowledge, applied experience and the encouragement of peers to push you forward. Usually, we’re only a few steps away from where we need to be; we just need the right people around us to help us get there."
An Increase in Self-Confidence
These programs don’t just teach you new skills, they also boost your self-assurance,according to former professional rugby player Irakli Mircxulava, who completed NEOMA’s Executive Manager program and is now taking the French business school’s MSc in Business Development.
“Executive education strengthens self-confidence and hones interpersonal skills,” he says. “These programs not only help you grow personally but also provide the technical and soft skills to stay adaptable in today’s changing economy.”
Not all courses are created equal, especially when you’re looking to pivot into a new industry or role. Wulf emphasizes the importance of systems thinking: “When you cross into a new sector, your best chance of success is to see the industry as a whole system at work, while also being aware of how you show up in that system.”
This holistic perspective helps professionals see the bigger picture, making it easier to understand the dynamics of a new field.
For Mircxulava at NEOMA, transitioning from sports to business management meant learning critical skills like business strategy, negotiation and team coordination — skills that directly transferred from his rugby experience.
“Anticipating opponents’ moves in rugby is similar to evaluating clients and competitors in business,” he explains. “Developing a business strategy or leading a team are just as crucial on the field as they are in the boardroom.”
When it comes to the right skills to switch careers, NEOMA’s director of executive education, Stéphane Dubreuille, highlights the growing importance of soft skills in leadership. “Managerial decisions now prioritize listening, meaning and collective efforts,” he says.
Learning to Adapt
As industries become more complex and interconnected, he says critical thinking, adaptability and emotional intelligence are now as valuable as technical expertise.
Crochenka McCarthy, associate head for executive education at ESCP Business School in Europe, highlights the need for resilience in a world that’s constantly changing.
“Leaders need to anticipate fragility, manage team anxiety and navigate complexity,” she explains.
Building a strong network is also key to any successful career pivot, and executive programs offer a unique opportunity to form lasting, meaningful connections. HEC’s Wulf says executive education networks provide “one of the humblest communities I’ve belonged to”, where peers share insights and learning freely.
“When we lean on our networks and they lean into us, credibility and connection follow,” she adds.
NEOMA’s Mircxulava adds that social media is an important tool for maintaining these connections.
“Platforms like LinkedIn help professionals stay connected with their networks post-program, keeping those relationships alive even after the course ends,” he says.
These online networks allow professionals to exchange advice, share insights and collaborate on future opportunities — all crucial for building credibility in a new field.
But executive education does more than just fill in gaps in your knowledge — it gives you the confidence to take the leap into something new.
Dubreuille of NEOMA points out that executive courses act as confidence boosters, especially during career transitions. “Professional retraining is at the heart of continuing education, and mixing different industries in classes encourages cross-fertilization and learning from each other,” he adds.
Mikołaj Jan Piskorski, dean of executive education at IMD Business School in Switzerland, says: “Executive education programs are designed to equip professionals with the tools to accelerate their careers, as well as providing the confidence and credentials to navigate career transitions across various functions, roles, industries and geographies.”
Ultimately, the real value of executive education is in its application. HEC’s Wulf sums it up well: “We’re often just two steps away from where we need to be. Executive programs don’t just provide the knowledge — they give us the courage and support to take those steps.”
Whether it’s gaining new skills, building a network or simply boosting confidence, executive courses are a springboard for professionals ready to make a career change.
