Best Leadership Courses Online 2025

18 Best leadership courses. Learn to lead and inspire great teams.

Anybody looking for entrepreneurial or business success should possess a specialized leadership skillset to persuade and inspire people. Without it, it will become even more challenging to make one’s mark in today’s hyper-competitive world.

Unsurprisingly, many entrepreneurs and professionals resort to leadership training courses that can widen their thought processes in innovative ways. Below, we give you a tour of some of the best leadership courses online that help individuals transcend all psychological and social barriers by evolving into creative and impactful leaders.

Overview 

Leadership is predominantly defined as the ability to influence a group of people and, more importantly, guide them in ways that ensure success. Innovative and stimulating leadership is one of the most significant catalysts behind entrepreneurial achievements.

It is also essential to differentiate between leadership and team management. While there may be a tendency amongst some to use the two terms synonymously, there is a notable difference between them.

Simply put, leadership is about inspiring, while management revolves around planning. A manager’s primary task is to control value, while a leader creates value. The two require a substantially different set of skills, opening up other pathways. Of course, this doesn’t mean you cannot simultaneously be a successful leader and manager.

Contrary to traditional notions, leadership is more than an innate personality trait. And it is a skill that can be learned. If you want to become an inspiring entrepreneur, a successful business owner, or simply encourage a positive change in your company, you can certainly do so by enrolling in one of the many leadership courses online.

Best Leadership Courses Online 2025

Coursera	GetSmarter	MasterClass	edX
Strategic Leadership	Executive Leadership	Inclusive Leadership	Leadership Certification
University of Illinois	Oxford University	with Bill Clinton	Harvard University
$59/month	$2,800	$10/month	from $250
Visit Website	Visit Website	Visit Website	Visit Website

*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Read the full disclosure at the end of this post.

Note: Below is a list of online courses that teach learners how to become influential leaders in their field. It does not aim to cover all the classes available.

1. Oxford Executive Leadership Program – Oxford University

Oxford Executive Leadership Program (visit website) is an 8-week course for professionals and executives looking to contribute to their organization in valuable ways.

This course caters to the demands of most modern businesses in search of youth leaders who understand the needs of today’s fast-paced world. These leaders are tasked with navigating complex challenges and empowering their teams to succeed. This course aims to help instill this very set of skills in the learners.

Some key talents you will explore over eight weeks include power and influence, authenticity, motivation, change and adaptability, and diversity.

This program is not only for people aspiring for the C-suite and managerial posts, but they would make the perfect demographic. It is for anyone wishing to derive change through their leadership success and make some impact.

Provider: Oxford University, GetSmarter | Time: 8 weeks | Certificate: Yes.
Level: Managers | Price: $2,800 or £2,350 | Discount 15%: GS-AF-LEARN15
Info: Visit course website. Get free prospectus. Browse all online leadership courses.

2. Oxford Senior Leadership Executive Programme

The Oxford Senior Leadership Executive Programme (visit website) is an in-depth online leadership program designed to enhance leadership skills, align personal goals with strategic vision, and develop resilience in uncertain times. It is a course stack or career path consisting of 3 individual leadership courses on the GetSmarter platform.

Oxford’s Executive Leadership Program emphasizes (view) developing key leadership skills. Participants dive into effective decision-making, strategic planning, and team management topics. You will explore different leadership styles, learn how to adapt them to various situations and gain the ability to inspire and motivate your teams.

Oxford’s Enterprise Leadership Program (view) aligns individual goals with a company’s strategic vision. As a participant, you will learn how to drive organizational growth while maintaining a strong personal leadership identity. Understand the strategies for innovation, change management, and creating a culture of continuous improvement.

Oxford’s Organisational Resilience Programme (view) equips participants with the skills to navigate and lead through turbulent times. Learn how to identify disruptions and potential threats, develop contingency plans, and build resilient and future-proof organizations.

Spanning over 5 months, this CPD-certified leadership course stack requires 7-10 hours of weekly commitment, making it a manageable venture for busy professionals. Participants will receive a certificate from Saïd Business School, Oxford University. It is one of the best leadership courses online for those who want to take a senior role in their organization.

Provider: Oxford Saïd, GetSmarter | Time: 5 months | Certification: CPD.
For: Managers | Price: $7,420, £5,950 | Discount 15%: GS-AF-LEARN15
Info: Visit course website. Get free prospectus. Browse all online leadership courses.

3. Strategic Thinking for the CXO, Cambridge University, Emeritus

Leadership and business decision-making are the focus of Cambridge’s Strategic Thinking for the CXO course (visit website). Suppose you are a corporate leader with strategic thinking at the heart of your operations. In that case, this program promises to bestow advanced techniques for formulating, evaluating, and executing competitive strategies.

Split into 8 modules, the course starts by covering the principles and practices of strategy formulation, evaluation, and execution while introducing you to frameworks, models, and tools for creating breakthrough strategies. You’ll also analyze real-life business situations, using case studies from Honda and Lego, and learn to devise creative, strategic solutions.

What’s special about the course’s curriculum is its reflection on the fundamental changes precipitated in the corporate world by the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, the seventh module of this online course is all about learning to make strategic adjustments to survive in and make the most of external environments and emergent crises.

In addition to analyzing real-world case studies, you can develop templates and tip sheets to apply the strategic frameworks and models at your work and engage in discussion activities. Once you’ve successfully completed the course, you’ll get a digital certificate from Cambridge Judge Business School Executive Education.

Provider: Cambridge, Emeritus | Time: 8 weeks | Certificate: Yes.
For: CXOs, Executives, Strategy consultants  | Pace: Instructor-lead | Price: $1,840
Info: Visit course website. Get free brochure. Browse full course catalog on Emeritus.

4. Strategic Leadership and Management Specialization – University of Illinois, Coursera

Strategic Leadership and Management (visit website) is a popular specialization on Coursera and is authorized by the University of Illinois. Participants will learn fundamental business and leadership skills and practical strategies to become aspiring leaders.

This six-course leadership training program teaches you how to analyze complex business situations and effectively lead your team by developing the right mindset and tools.

Along the way, learners will also pick up on key concepts such as strategy making, human resources, organizational foundations, and ways to capture the value that can generate a competitive advantage for your business.

Students will finish the certified program with a capstone project and the chance to apply the skills learned and create a strategic management plan for a chosen business situation. One or more focal companies will be involved in giving you hands-on experience. This is among the best leadership courses online and on Coursera.

Provider: University of Illinois, Coursera
Pricing: Free trial. $59/month Coursera Plus. | Review: 4.8 ★★★★★
Info: View course. Browse: Search all related courses on Coursera.

5. Leading Sustainability: High Impact Leadership – University of Cambridge

Leading Sustainability: High Impact Leadership (visit website) by the University of Cambridge is a renowned 8-week leadership training program. The primary goal is to help develop leadership skills and learn how to unite teams for a cause. It will teach leadership aspirants to build their self-confidence and how to make an impact in any industry as well.

Participants learn to analyze their leadership styles and recognize the opportunities to manifest them in actual life situations. Leading Sustainability strongly focuses on showing individuals how to productively shape their selected business and work environment, particularly in times of permanent technological disruption.

This is among the best courses online to learn how to create and implement business strategies in the most sustainable and productive ways. During the 8-week leadership training, students will pick up those critical integral leadership-related skills. You will learn about the values and thought processes required for high-leadership impact.

Along the way, you will understand how to master the ability to communicate effectively, become more influential, create your action plans, and access the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) alumni network comprising around 9000 senior leaders and business practitioners. A free prospectus is available.

Provider: University of Cambridge, GetSmarter | Time: 8 weeks | Certificate: Yes
Level: Professionals | Price: approx. $2,800 | Discount 15%: GS-AF-LEARN15
Info: Visit course website. Get free prospectus. Browse all online leadership courses.

6. Ultimate Leadership with Keith Ferrazzi – Mindvalley

Ultimate Leadership (visit website) with Mindvalley’s Mogul Keth Ferrazzi teaches learners the ultimate technique of rising above challenges and securing the blueprint for leadership in the newly evolved post-pandemic business era. He has accumulated his decade-long experience working with executive and C-Suite leaders in this series of strategic frameworks that comprise his online leadership course.

Keth Ferrazzi emphasizes the importance of differentiating between the traditional notion of leadership that is proving increasingly inadequate and a revolutionary leadership mindset that keenly assesses the older strategies and discards anything that does not effectively serve the business purpose.

In this course, you will learn about the “eight dimensions of leadership.” These include candor, collaboration, teamwork, accountability, development, energy, relationships, outcomes, and removing the status quo.

In a series of 20 minutes/day, you will learn about a new dimension of effective leadership and build yourself into the kind of leader who can strategize, navigate through complex challenges, and motivate their team when needed. This is one of the best leadership courses on Mindvalley, and a subscription gives access to all other classes.

Instructor: Keith Ferrazzi Mindvalley | Training: 5 hours | Languages: 6
Price: $49/month or $399 annually. Access to all online courses.
Info: View course page. Membership: Visit website. Get a discount.

7. Bill Clinton Teaches Inclusive Leadership – MasterClass

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton (visit website) offers an excellent Masterclass to help learners with inclusivity while manifesting leadership-one of the key components of modern business culture. In this course, Bill Clinton draws upon his political career to teach the art of managing and mediating conflicts, handling criticism, and inspiring diverse teams.

The 42^nd president of the United States brings his lifetime experience of bridging divides and navigating complex and constantly evolving challenges to his masterclass. In fourteen short lectures, you will learn about some of the key drivers of sound leadership.

Some core skills taught in the masterclass include developing the right framework for leadership, decision-making, prioritization, negotiation, public speaking, facing criticism, assembling teams, emotional intelligence, and the power of optimism.

Most of the skills taught in this course are soft skills revolving around the importance of a high EQ alongside a good IQ. It’s one of the best courses online for anyone looking for an autobiography learning style.

Instructor: Bill Clinton MasterClass | Suitable for: All levels
Price: from $10/month. Access to all 180+ online courses.
Info: View course page. | View pricing info and plans.

8. The Transformational Leader – Mindvalley

Become a Transformational Leader (visit website) is suitable for those who want to learn leadership and business skills from visionary leader Monty Moran. The former CEO of Chipotle shares his journey and experience as a leader and offers inspiration, insights, strategies, and a blueprint of how to start leading instead of managing.

It also explores the systematic process that any leader can apply to transform their workplace and reap rewards at both work and in life. The highlights of this popular program include developing a magnetic presence, upholding visions, designing a healthy company culture, and cultivating a rich inner worldview.

Contrary to most other online leadership courses, this one is compact, with roughly four hours of training. Over the course of 14 days, students learn through bite-sized videos that lead them to the path towards transformation. A Mindvalley membership provides access to all classes on the platform and a great selection of business-related topics.

Platform: Mindvalley | Instructor: Nir Eyal | Training: 8.5 Hours
Price: $49/month or $399 annually. Access to all 60+ online courses.
Membership: Visit website. Get a discount. Try 15 days risk-free.

9. Leading People and Teams Specialization – University of Michigan, Coursera

Leading People and Teams (visit website) by the University of Michigan is a 4-week specialization on Coursera. It targets individuals looking to learn proven management techniques quickly and effectively. The key skills this program focuses on include vision alignment, talent management, goal setting, motivating employees, leadership development, commitment, and recruitment.

Your leadership-building journey will begin with the techniques that help you create a shared vision and understand the important drivers of performance across a diverse set of cultures. A course on managing talent will follow this, an essential pillar of modern business infrastructure.

Towards the end, you will dive deeply into the art of influencing people and leading teams. Here, the focus will be on influencing people without focusing on authority and improving network and collaboration. This is one of the best online leadership courses focusing on people management. Certification is available.

Provider: University of Michigan, Coursera
Pricing: Free trial. $59/month Coursera Plus. | Review: 4.8 ★★★★★
Info: View course. Browse: Search all related courses on Coursera.

10. Professional Certificate in Leadership and Communication, Harvard edX

The Professional Certificate in Leadership (visit website) by Harvard University is a 2 skill-building course. This online leadership training program revolves around building your network through effective and trustful communication and leadership techniques.

The first class, Exercising Leadership, focuses on tackling challenging problems and building the capacity to withstand the ever-changing business and social landscapes. Students will learn how to implement strategies for interpersonal relationships and collaboration.

The second class, Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking, is about gaining critical writing and public speaking skills. You will also be introduced to American political rhetoric as a reference for effective public speaking and positively inspiring the people around you. This is among the best leadership classes for those seeking certification from a renowned university.

Provider: Harvard University, edX | Type: Professional Certificate
Duration: 3 months. 2-3 hours/week | Pricing: from $250
Info: View course page. Browse: Search all leadership training programs on edX.

11. Women’s Leadership Program – Yale School of Management

Women’s Leadership Program (visit website) offered by Yale University is a 6-week course on changing the longstanding underrepresentation of women in the world of business and leadership. This course is for women who are in pursuit of high-stake designations. It will teach you how to navigate the external factors that hinder women’s growth and overcome the internal challenges that weaken their ability to take on influential roles.

This popular leadership training program will teach women ways to explore value-based leadership roles and the kind of self-mastery that boosts one’s self-esteem, increases self-confidence, improves emotional intelligence, and strengthens them as an individual.

By the end, you will have gained substantial insights into your unique traits and attributes, the modern and powerful tools leaders use to derive change, the idea of leveraging relationships and developing plans that align with your overall leadership goals.

Provider: Yale University, GetSmarter | Time: 6 weeks | Certificate: Yes.
Level: Professionals | Price: $2,800 | Discount 15%: GS-AF-LEARN15
Info: Visit course website. Get free prospectus. Browse all online leadership courses.

12. Leadership: Practical Leadership Skills – Udemy

Udemy’s best-selling leadership course (visit website) provides practical advice to learners to develop the leadership mindset needed for problem-solving. This course is for anyone holding high-stake designations and who needs to master the tools and techniques that will make them effective leaders without breaking much sweat.

Some of the key takeaways in this program deal with an effective delegation of power, leadership styles, and techniques, matching styles to situations, developing plans for the future, being a better boss for everybody, and running a highly effective team.

Learners also gain insight into the importance of maintaining a work-life balance and building tools to help them become respected leaders. It will allow them to secure the best from their employees by understanding how to get people involved sustainably. This is probably one of the best options if you wish to understand important core concepts without paying high tuition fees.

Platform: Udemy | Level: Beginners
Lectures: 43 | Video: 2.5 hours | User Rating: 4.6 ★★★★☆
Price: View course. From $11.99. Sale: Up to 95% Off. Browse full category.

Tip: Explore our lists of the best business courses, or entrepreneurship courses or project management courses, or business management courses, or blockchain courses, or real estate courses to expand your skills in the field of business.

13. Leading in an Exceptionally Changing World – MIT Sloan School of Management

Leading in an Exceptionally Changing World (visit website) by MIT is a 6-week course for people seeking to gain the communication skills needed to lead teams and reach company goals strategically. The certified program is an assessment of how the traditional leadership approach has become outdated.

Participants will learn why leadership in the 21^st century is a continuously evolving experience requiring adapting new technologies, reshaping the landscape, and understanding the changing customer expectations.

MIT’s leadership program will teach you about the 4-CAPS+ Leadership Framework, developed by Faculty Director Deborah Ancona and her colleagues at MIT. This framework will help learners examine the various leadership styles, leveraging them to meet their leadership goals and a foolproof approach to leading teams effectively.

Towards the end, you will be equipped with a professional certificate and the executive suite of leadership competencies to drive success. It is a compelling learning opportunity for those with ambitious career goals.

Provider: MIT Sloan, GetSmarter | Time: 6 weeks | Leadership Certificates: Yes
Level: Professionals | Price: $2,800 | Discount 15%: GS-AF-LEARN15
Info: Visit course website. Get free prospectus. Browse all leadership certifications.

14. Become a Leader – LinkedIn Learning

Become a Leader is a 10-course leadership training program to build the mindset, perspective, and communication skills required to become a leader that people want to follow. This course is for individuals pursuing managerial or executive posts and anyone who wishes to capitalize the most on their entrepreneurial mindset.

Your journey begins with several modules on the core concepts of leadership. It covers the mindset needed to transition from a manager to a leader, raise self-awareness, or design an authentic leadership philosophy. It also shows how to best invest time and energy in your organization and create a positive impact.

As you near the final classes in this program, there will be lessons on how to set your priorities, demonstrate credibility, stand out from the crowd, and lead to increased revenue while inspiring people. This class is a good option if you are a LinkedIn Learning subscriber.

Platform: LinkedIn Learning | Level: General | Path: 10 classes
Plans: From $26.99/month annually. Get a 1-Month free trial.

15. Leadership and Change – London School of Economics LSE

Leadership and Change (visit website) by The London School of Economics is a renowned program on transformational leadership created for current and prospective business leaders of the public and private sectors. Most of this course emphasizes technological disruption, which is an integral part of today’s landscape.

According to the London School of Economics, change and uncertainty are two of the most pressing threats faced by CEOs today. This course imparts practical knowledge and skills in handling today’s evolving and complex problems.

Participants will master the tools and gain leaders’ expertise to survive and grow. Students will gain valuable insight into managing shifting market conditions, organizational and technological disruptions, and unprecedented challenges.

You will also learn about the ethics in business and the psychology that business leaders must adhere to gain a competitive advantage. It is among the best leadership courses for those wanting to stay up-to-date in fast-paced business environments.

Provider: London School of Economics | Time: 8 weeks | Certificate: Yes
Level: Professionals | Price: $3,138 or £2,500 | Discount 15%: GS-AF-LEARN15
Info: Visit course website. Get free prospectus. Browse all leadership courses.

16. Modern Leadership: Give Honest Feedback At Work – Skillshare

One of the tricky parts of becoming a successful leader is giving and getting honest feedback. It is not easy to tell coworkers what they don’t want to hear without causing a rupture in your relations at the workplace.

However, Modern Leadership (visit website) focuses on this problem of managing criticism when you are at either end of its dispensation. Ultimately, mastering the art of precise communication and accurately uncovering crucial information, regardless of its implications, are the keys to becoming an effective leader today.

This class on Skillshare will tap into this very pain point for ambitious leaders and teach them how to create a healthy feedback loop, understand how to receive honest and constructive feedback even from the most introverted coworkers, and also ways to give honest feedback that can make a difference.

Platform: Skillshare | Level: Beginners | Time: 30 minutes
Info: View course. $15/month for all courses. Get 30% off annual plan.

17. Doris Kearns Goodwin Teaches U.S. Presidential History and Leadership

Pulitzer-Prize winner Doris K. Goodwin (view class) imparts practical information on the formidable qualities that have been part of American leaders. This online class combines close scrutiny of the US presidential history with the qualities of some of America’s most effective former leaders.

The class comprises a series of 15 lectures that touch on some crucial concepts explored in leadership studies. You will learn about the qualities that make a great leader and the role of a high EQ in leadership.

At the same time, the lessons will focus on the importance of forging a strong network and support group and relaxing and recharging before making key decisions and navigating a crisis. By the end, you will learn about delivering your message exactly how you intend to, create a leadership profile, and hone the power of storytelling.

Instructor: Doris Kearns Goodwin | Suitable for: All levels
Price: from $10/month. Access to all 200+ online courses.
Info: View course page. | View pricing info and plans.

18. Howard Schultz Teaches Business Leadership – MasterClass

Business Leadership (view class) with Howard Schultz – former Starbucks CEO – is a popular leadership course on MasterClass. He shares the lessons derived from 40 years of experience leading one of the top businesses in the world. For MasterClass students, this class combines well with the platform’s other courses on leadership.

Schultz’s story is inspiring, one of going from rags to riches. He has now documented his journey from public housing to revolutionizing the culture of coffee drinking around the globe. His 90-minute class will shed light on value-based leadership and the mindset needed to become a successful entrepreneur.

Participants will begin the journey by diving into how one must reconcile values and profits, why it’s better to disrupt than pioneer, and how to foster grit. In the latter half of the class, learn about finding the right investors, creating the right values-based team, and how you can lead instead of just managing.

Instructor: Howard Schultz | For: All levels
Price: from $10/month. Access to all 200+ online courses.
Info: View course page. | View pricing info and plans.

Tip: Courselounge curates eLearning courses and resources. Browse our reviews listing the best courses from GetSmarter, Masterclass, Coursera, Mindvalley or Udacity and edX.

How to Choose the Best Leadership Courses Online

The overwhelming number of online leadership courses available can be a double-edged sword. While we love having more options, too many can make choosing the best course a bit daunting.

You must begin by considering your resources before jumping onto the courses. You may ask yourself the following questions:

• How much time do you have to invest in the training process? Additionally, are you looking for instant results or planning long-term?
• What’s your financial position? How much can you invest in this soft skill?
• What kind of change do you wish to inspire? Are you seeking change for an impoverished group or hoping to see results for an organization, a business firm, or yourself?
• What are your career goals? What type of leadership position do you want?

Answering these questions will help you with choosing the best leadership online courses. As you start researching, narrow your options to the few that satisfy your financial needs and goals. Take a small leap of faith and start your leadership journey.

Leadership Courses Online 2025 – Summary

All the leadership training programs discussed above have trademark benefits and course specifications. While some are micro-courses spanning a few hours, others are extensive leadership development programs requiring months of investment.

The best leadership training programs from the list above will be the ones that impart the most practical and implementable knowledge and use the most approachable training tools and methodologies.

Popular Business Schools and Universities

• Leadership Training Program University of Pennsylvania, USA
• Harvard Leadership Program, Harvard Business School Business Degrees
• MIT Leadership Program,b MIT Sloan School of Management, USA
• Columbia Business School, USA
• Leadership Program, UC Berkeley Global, USA
• USC Marshall Business School, USA
• UC Davis Leadership Program, USA
• Kellogg School of Management Leadership Program
• UCL University Collge London, UK
• The University of Edinburgh, UK
• London School of Economics and Political Science, UK
• Cambridge Leadership Program University of Cambridge, UK
• Stanford Leadership Program, Stanford University, USA
• Oxford Leadership Programme, Oxford University, UK
• Henley Business School, UK
• Leadership Training University of Michigan, USA
• Northwestern University, USA
• Cornell University
• Coventry University, UK

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What are the best leadership courses online for 2025, in your opinion? Which leadership development programs have you taken? What have you learned? Please let us know in the comments below, or contact us via email for questions.

Sources: What is leadership? –1 | What is management? – 2 | What is strategy? – 3

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