Leaders as Learners
In an ever-changing business environment, AI and other emerging technologies are reshaping the workplace, making continuous learning increasingly important, including senior corporate executives.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai's Women's Executive Network (WEN) is launching Leaders as Learners, a pilot leadership exchange program designed to foster cross-industry learning among senior corporate executives.
The program offers participants practical exposure to different industries, business functions, and operational environments through structured immersion experiences at participating companies. By stepping outside their own industries, participants can gain fresh perspectives on business models, operational practices, leadership approaches, and industry challenges—and bring valuable insights back to their own organizations.
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Program Overview
Leaders as Learners is an executive-level experiential learning initiative that enables senior leaders to broaden their perspectives through structured, cross-company immersion experiences.
Through the program, participants will have the opportunity to:
- Understand a different industry's value chain and business model
- Gain firsthand exposure to operational and leadership challenges
- Observe alternative management and decision-making approaches
- Identify transferable practices and innovative ideas
- Develop insights applicable to their own organizations
Program Structure
To balance meaningful learning with the host company's day-to-day operations, the program is designed around the following format:
Duration: Three weeks, spanning December 2026 and January 2027
Format: One session per week, with each session lasting approximately six to eight hours
Minimum participation: Three sessions
The detailed schedule will be available once the host companies are confirmed and the program agenda is finalized.
Target Participants
Senior executives from member companies of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai who are interested in broadening their leadership perspectives through cross-industry learning.
How to Apply
Interested executives are invited to click "Register" to complete the online application form. As this is a pilot program with limited capacity, applicants will be selected through a structured review process.
Selection Process
To ensure a fair and transparent selection process, applications will be assessed against established eligibility requirements and selection criteria.
The assessment will consider applicants:
- Learning objectives and motivation
- Leadership experience, alignment with available host-company opportunities
- Commitment to participation and potential contribution to peer learning.
Final selections will also take into account the suitability of participant–host company matches and the overall diversity of the cohort, with the aim of creating a meaningful and valuable cross-industry learning experience.
Confidentiality
All participants will be required to sign confidentiality agreements before the program begins. Host companies will retain full discretion over the scope of information shared and determine whether sensitive business discussions, materials, or operational activities may be included in the immersion experience.
For companies interested in becoming a host company for the Leaders as Learners program, please contact Jessica Wu at jessica.wu@amcham-shanghai.org. We would be happy to answer any questions and discuss how your company could participate in this pilot program.
Application Deadline: November 20, 2026
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The Leaders as Learners Program is supported by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai's Women's Executive Network Committee Leaders Committee.
For additional questions, please email Ms. Jessica Wu (jessica.wu@amcham-shanghai.org) or call at (021) 6169 3028.
