Executive Governance, Strategy & Leadership Program
Aligned with GTCS, OECD, ISO, IFC, COSO, ANSI & EN Standards

Program Overview

The Certified General Manager (CGM®) / Certified Chief Executive Officer (CEO®) certification is a premier executive-level credential designed to validate advanced competence in strategic leadership, corporate governance, enterprise risk, compliance, sustainability, and organizational performance.

The program is built on Global Technical Competence Standards (GTCS) and integrates leading international governance and management frameworks, including: OECD Principles of Corporate Governance, ISO Standards, COSO Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Framework, IFC Corporate Governance Methodology and Human-Centric Organizations as well as ANSI & EN leadership and management standards.

This certification prepares senior executives to lead responsibly, ethically, and effectively in complex global environments.

Strategic Rationale

Today’s General Managers and CEOs are expected to:

• Ensure effective governance and board alignment
• Integrate risk, compliance, and strategy
• Deliver sustainable value creation
• Meet regulatory, ethical, and stakeholder expectations
• Build resilient, transparent, and accountable organizations

The CGM® / CEO® certification formalizes executive capability against globally accepted governance and leadership standards, positioning certified leaders as trusted stewards of organizational success.

Best for Executives

This program is designed for:

• General Managers and Managing Directors
• Chief Executive Officers and Deputy CEOs
• Board members and executive committee leaders
• Senior executives preparing for C-suite roles
• Business owners and enterprise leaders
• Public-sector and NGO executive leaders

Executive Domains

The certification assesses competence across integrated executive domains, aligned with OECD, ISO, COSO, and IFC frameworks:

1. Corporate Governance & Board Effectiveness

2. Strategic Leadership & Organizational Direction

3. Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)

4. Compliance, Ethics & Integrity Management

5. Sustainability & Social Responsibility

6. Operational Excellence & Quality Leadership

7. Financial Stewardship & Value Creation

8. Stakeholder Engagement & Transparency

9. Human-Centric Leadership & Culture

10. Resilience, Continuity & Crisis Leadership

CERTIFICATION PREPARATION 

If you are studying in order to prepare for the CGM^® / CEO^® exam; the GUST provides candidates with training sessions and also provide thorough training for the exam modules using its learning system through HRMI authorized training providers and prometric centers worldwide.

Program Architecture – 5 Integrated Executive Modules

Module 1: Corporate Governance, Ethics & Executive Accountability

This module establishes the governance foundation of executive leadership, focusing on accountability, integrity, and board–management alignment.

Coverage Includes:

• OECD Principles of Corporate Governance
• Roles and responsibilities of shareholders, boards, and executive management
• Board effectiveness, executive accountability, and governance maturity (IFC models)
• Transparency, disclosure, and fiduciary duties
• Compliance Management Systems (ISO 37301)
• Anti-bribery and corruption prevention (ISO 37001)
• Ethical leadership, codes of conduct, and integrity systems
• Regulatory intelligence and executive legal exposure

Outcome:
Executives develop the competence to govern organizations ethically, legally, and transparently, with strong board credibility.

Module 2: Strategy, Performance & Value Creation

This module integrates strategy formulation, execution, and performance governance, linking purpose to measurable value creation.

Coverage Includes:

• Strategic direction and organizational purpose
• Environmental and competitive analysis (macro & industry analysis)
• Strategy development, execution, and strategic agility
• Balanced Scorecard, KPI governance, and performance dashboards
• Productivity, innovation, and continuous improvement
• Linking governance, strategy, and long-term value creation
• Change management and agile project management
• Time, stress, and executive decision-making under pressure

Outcome:
Participants gain mastery in turning strategy into sustained performance and shareholder value.

Module 3: Enterprise Risk, Resilience & Economic Intelligence

This module equips executives with risk-based leadership capabilities in volatile and uncertain environments.

Coverage Includes:

• Enterprise Risk Management frameworks (ISO 31000 & COSO ERM)
• Risk appetite, tolerance, and governance
• Strategic, operational, financial, ESG, and reputational risks
• Risk-based decision-making at executive and board level
• Crisis leadership and uncertainty management
• Business continuity and organizational resilience (ISO 22301)
• Macroeconomic and microeconomic analysis for executives
• Interest rates, inflation, exchange rates, and hedging strategies

Outcome:
Executives become risk-intelligent leaders, capable of safeguarding value and ensuring organizational resilience.

Module 4: Financial, Resource & Operational Stewardship

This module focuses on executive stewardship of financial, operational, and physical resources.

Coverage Includes:

• Reading, analyzing, and governing financial statements
• Cost structures, budgeting, forecasting, and financial control
• Capital allocation, investment appraisal, and capital structure optimization
• Internal controls and financial risk management (COSO)
• Fiduciary responsibility and financial transparency
• Managing people, materials, equipment, and assets (ISO 55001)
• Quality leadership and process governance (ISO 9001)
• Digital transformation and operational excellence

Outcome:
Executives gain confidence in financial oversight, operational discipline, and resource optimization.

Module 5: Human-Centric Leadership, Markets & Sustainable Growth

This module integrates leadership culture, talent strategy, sustainability, and market growth.

Coverage Includes:

• Human-centric leadership and organizational behavior (ISO 27500)
• Talent strategy, succession planning, and executive development
• Ethical culture, employee engagement, and DEI
• Stakeholder-centric governance and ESG leadership
• Sustainability strategy and SDG alignment (ISO 26000)
• Responsible investment and impact measurement
• Strategic marketing and business development
• Customer value, brand governance, and growth strategies

Outcome:
Executives develop the ability to lead people, markets, and society toward sustainable growth.

Integrated Competency Outcomes

Graduates of the CGM® / CEO® program demonstrate executive competence in:

• Corporate governance & board-level leadership
• Strategy execution & performance governance
• Enterprise risk & crisis management
• Financial and operational stewardship
• Ethical leadership, compliance & sustainability
• Human-centric and market-driven growth

Certification Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Minimum 10–15 years professional experience
• At least 5 years in senior or executive leadership roles
• Demonstrated responsibility for strategic, financial, or governance decisions
• Commitment to HRMI Code of Ethics

Assessment & Certification Process

Certification is awarded based on:

• Executive-level competency examination
• Strategic governance and leadership case studies
• Executive portfolio aligned with ISO, OECD, COSO, and IFC standards
• Panel review focusing on judgment, ethics, and leadership maturity

🏅🎓AWARD OF DUAL INRERNATIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

Upon successful completion of the program, the Participants will be conferred the Certified General Manager (CGM) / Certified Chief Executive Officer (CEO) by the HR Management Institute (HRMI) as well as Senior Executive Management Diploma from Global University of Science & Technology (GUST)