Corporate Certificate in Advanced Management

Here's How to Apply:

1. Manager approval is required to participate in this opportunity. After you gain approval, begin the process by filling out this form. 
2. Log in to the Babson Graduate Admissions Portal.
3. Select New User and click on Create New Application *must use Takeda email to apply*
4. Under Program Selection change selection to: Corporate CAM
5. Under Term of Enrollment select: Fall 2025
6. Under Special Population Code select: CP2503
7. Follow the prompts to complete the application. 
   

Application Documents Needed:

1. Updated resume including Takeda work experience at the top (PDF format with max file size of 4MB)
2. Brief essay responses to:
   • Please share why you are interested in applying to the Corporate Certificate in Advanced Management (CAM) (upload as a PDF, max 4MB)
   • What are the skillsets you are hoping to gain from the Corporate CAM and how will you apply this in your career? (submit in text field)
3. Transcript(s)
   • Needed from ALL institution(s) where you earned degree(s): Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, etc. in English
   • Unofficial transcripts are accepted to review your application, but we will need official transcript(s) prior to the program start date (details below).
     • Unofficial transcripts downloaded/scanned by you are accepted for application review ONLY
   • How to submit "official" transcripts in English prior to the start of the program: 
     • Transcripts are considered "official" only if emailed directly from the school to gradadmissions@babson.edu or delivered to us in a sealed envelope from the institution/applicant. We prefer electronic copies sent to gradadmissions@babson.edu. 
     • We can also accept mailed copies in a sealed envelope mailed to:
       • F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business Babson College
         Office of Graduate Admissions/Olin Hall, Suite 140
         231 Forest Street
         Wellesley, MA 02481
   • Tip: After creating your application, contact all institutions to request official transcripts are sent to gradadmissions@babson.edu 
4. Application fees have been waived and graduate test scores/recommendations are not required for this program.

• 4 MBA electives selected to grow innovation and speed breakthroughs, customized with Takeda content.
• Courses will be delivered in a hybrid learning format over 7-week semesters. 
  • 3 in-person sessions (4:00 - 7:00pm EST)
  • 4 Virtual Sessions (6:30pm - 9:30pm EST)
• Take advantage of fully covered tuition for full-time employees through your Takeda tuition reimbursement benefits* 
• Build business acumen and grow your network while earning a graduate credential; it rolls into the MBA program!
• Become a Babson alum, a network with over 46K in 128 countries

*Tuition is only covered if Takeda's Tuition Reimbursement Program requirements are met. For full details, please refer to the Takeda Reimbursement Program - U.S. Benefits (TRP.) 

Fall 2025 Courses

Spring 2026 Courses

• Upon completion of this program, colleagues will earn a graduate credential (Certificate in Advanced Management), and will have completed 12 MBA electives. Colleagues will also become Babson alumni and join our worldwide alumni network of more than 46,000.
• For those interested in an MBA, credits will roll into the Babson-Takeda MBA Program with a 3.0 gpa or higher.
• Convenient 7-week semesters and several breaks are built into the program to ensure minimal interruptions to work and life;
• A cohorted structure helps facilitate learning while enhancing participants’ skills and Takeda network, all within a Takeda context. Courses allow participants to apply what they learn directly to their work, often through work-related projects.
• Takeda employees receive a 20% reduced tuition rate and can defer 2/3rds of their tuition payment until 5 weeks after the end of the semester for ease in payment and reimbursement.

The following courses have been selected for employees by senior leadership at Takeda to develop skills that can be applied directly to their work. Courses will also incorporate Takeda business cases and scenarios to make content applicable and relevant to work situations.

• Experiment to Scale, OIM7503:  This course ties Strategy to Operations & Process Improvement to scale more quickly. Participants will examine their firms’ operations toward the goals of fine-tuning operations for faster scaling. Using techniques from operations management, including lean, agile, and enterprise systems transformation, students will:
  • Learn and apply several approaches to rapid experimentation (e.g, Kaizen events) to support scaling;  
  • Complete a value stream map including steps and operations metrics, of at least one major process within their organization, 
    Identify areas of opportunity (e.g., delays in process) from the value stream map and sketch a plan of action;
  • Discuss how those areas of opportunity may impact their scaling efforts if not addressed prior to scaling
  • Discuss the importance of leading through coaching and discussion of rapid experimentation in drug development 
    (3 credits, MBA elective)
    
    
• Finance and Accounting as Competitive Tools, ACC7577: This finance course bridges the gap between functional  business knowledge and practical financial information. By connecting company strategy to its financial implications, participants increase the value of their firm and become more effective business leaders. Topics covered include: understanding financial statements, using finance to improve decision-making, projecting cash flows, and assessing organizational performance. The curriculum focuses on universal business problems that are specific to company needs and teaches participants how to immediately apply that information in ways that are relevant to their jobs.
   (3 credits, MBA elective)
  
  
• Entrepreneurial Leadership & Innovation, MBA7507: Thinking becomes the corner stone of innovation projects and processes that help teams to become more effective and help executives to build an innovation culture. Today, even the most conservative of industries are being pushed to transform themselves towards digital excellence. We will see several examples of firms that have gone through this transformation. Strategy, Innovation, and Culture are inseparable and they are the three key weapons of every entrepreneurial leader confronting ever increasing VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) environments. This course provides the participants a set of strong principles and common language for leading their teams and their enterprises through uncharted terrains.
   (3 credits, MBA elective)
  
  
• Making & Implementing Strategic Decisions, STR7509: This strategy course explores the strategy behind good decision-making and provides a variety of concepts and tools to make intelligent decisions. Using business case examples, participants will explore the circumstances that limit the effectiveness of the techniques they have learned and help them understand the challenges they will face as members of leadership teams making complex choices throughout their careers. Participants will also learn about the factors involved in providing information for decision-making, and the roles that information technology plays in decision situations. (3 credits, MBA elective)

Why was this program developed?

• The program was designed to address the skills and capability gaps of middle management colleagues in, or aspiring to, strategic roles. Analysis of talent data and interviews reveal common development needs in the areas of strategic leadership, business and financial acumen, enterprise mindset, and innovation.

Why did we partner with Babson College?

• The F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College is internationally recognized for its graduate programs. We are confident in the academic rigor of their curricula. Given that this will be a Takeda-only cohort, we will collaborate with their professors to ensure they understand and incorporate Takeda’s values and working practices into their teaching. (e.g. Takeda-ism, PTRB, Takeda’s Change Management Model)

Why is the CAM limited to the US-MA geographic area?

• The CAM serves as a pilot in the most populated geographic region, creating a relationship with a highly accredited academic institution globally. Following the successful implementation of Cohort 1, this model and approach can be easily replicated in other geographic regions (e.g., Tokyo and Zurich)

• The CAM has an in-person attendance requirement. This aspect of the program is designed to provide greater interaction and networking benefits among students. After completing the program, we will assess whether a virtual cohort is feasible.

My colleague won’t be able to attend the in-person sessions. Can they make up the work outside of the classroom?

• No. In-person attendance is mandatory. Three of the seven sessions will be taught in person. The remaining four sessions will be taught virtually.

• Missing two sessions will result in a failing grade for the course; Tuition Reimbursement would be forfeited, and the colleague would be responsible for the full cost of the course.

My colleague has critical business meetings that conflict with this program and will cause them to miss sessions. Will those absences be excused?

• No. Attendance is critical to learning and an expectation of the program. Full participation should be prioritized. If a colleague knows they will not be able to attend multiple sessions, they should not enroll in the program.

• Missing two sessions will result in a failing grade for the course. In that instance, Tuition Reimbursement would be forfeited, and the colleague would need to assume the full cost of the course as a personal expense.

Can someone attend the first two courses and then defer completion until the following year?

• No. The program is run as a cohort. Colleagues who enroll are expected to complete all four courses with their cohort.

What if someone resigns or is terminated before completing the program?

• Colleagues who leave Takeda are subject to the terms of the Tuition Reimbursement program.

Is participation nomination-based or self-selection?

• Participation is optional, and colleagues may self-select to enroll in the program. If colleagues plan to use Tuition Reimbursement to cover the costs of the program, their Manager must approve their participation prior to enrolling in the program.

• Business leaders are recommended to identify team members who could benefit from this learning and actively encourage their enrollment.

Is there a minimum and maximum enrollment?

• Yes. For the CAM cohort to launch, a minimum of 25 participants is required. The maximum enrollment for the CAM is 35 people. NOTE: Enrollment is first-come, first-served.

What are the requirements to enroll in the CAM?

• A completed undergraduate degree is required to enroll in the CAM program. Concurrent enrollment in an undergraduate program is not permitted.

• There is no requirement to complete an entrance exam (e.g., GRE or GMAT).

I already hold an advanced degree (e.g., MSc, MD, PhD, MBA, etc.). Is this program a fit for me?

• The benefits gained from participation will vary for each individual. Engaging in a Quality Conversation with your manager to explore the purpose and value of the program is the most effective method to determine whether participation is suitable for you.

• Babson observes that approximately one-third of CAM enrollees from other pharmaceutical companies hold a PhD in a scientific discipline. The CAM provides them with an opportunity to transition and advance their careers into the corporate sector of the industry.

• For colleagues who already hold an MBA, it is essential to assess whether participation in the CAM program would offer distinct advantages.

The Tuition Reimbursement policy states it will not cover certificate programs. Will reimbursement submissions be approved?

• Because the Takeda-Babson CAM offers graduate-level courses that can be applied toward an MBA, the Benefits team has approved this program for Tuition Reimbursement.

• Takeda’s U.S. Tuition Reimbursement plan applies to the CAM and must be followed as specified in the policy for any reimbursement to be approved.