Systems Thinking

• Senior executives and C-suite leaders managing complexity across industries
• Program managers and mid-level leaders overseeing large-scale initiatives
• Strategy, risk, and transformation leaders driving organizational change
• Public sector professionals working in national security and public affairs
• Leaders navigating significant disruption, systemic change, or organizational uncertainty
• Consultants and strategy advisors guiding organizations through complex challenges

• Systems Thinking Certificate from Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy
• 72 Professional Development Hours (7.2 CEUs)

As organizations face increasingly complex, interconnected challenges, leaders who can see beyond linear cause-and-effect are in high demand. Whether managing cascading operational failures, navigating geopolitical risk, or designing resilient institutions, today's decision makers must understand how systems behave — and how to intervene effectively when they don't.

Throughout this certificate program, you will develop a rigorous foundation in systems thinking and advance to sophisticated strategies for diagnosing and reshaping complex systems in real-world contexts. You'll engage deeply with topics such as mapping system behaviors and compound risks, identifying the structural causes of persistent problems, and designing integrated strategies for adaptive organizations. Through detailed case studies — including COVID-19, maritime security scenarios, and the 2022 Southwest Airlines operational collapse — you will sharpen your ability to analyze interdependence, anticipate failure, and lead through uncertainty.

By completing this certificate program, you will be prepared to campaign for systemic resilience across your organization, making confident decisions in interconnected, rapidly changing environments where traditional linear thinking proves insufficient.

The courses in this certificate program are required to be completed in the order that they appear.

This program includes two years of free access to the Leadership and Project Management Symposiums!

These highly interactive virtual events span multiple days and explore today’s most pressing topics. Symposiums offer exclusive opportunities to engage in real-time discussions with your eCornell community, applying insights from your courses to real-world scenarios. Through reflections and small-group discussions, you’ll deepen your learning, broaden your perspective, and expand your professional network.

Symposium events are held throughout the year, providing ongoing opportunities to stay engaged, gain fresh perspectives, and strengthen your skills. Once enrolled, you’ll receive access to the Symposium networking sites and details about upcoming sessions. You can participate in as many as you’d like to make the most of your experience, though attendance is not required to complete your program.