Commander in chief from 1993 to 2001, Bill Clinton has spent a lifetime navigating complex challenges and bridging deep divides. Now the 42nd president of the United States teaches you how to be an effective, empathetic leader. Learn how to assemble, inspire, and empower diverse teams, mediate conflict, manage criticism—and create a personal framework to guide you and your team toward a shared vision.

Syllabus

Meet Your Instructor

Reflecting on his time at the Oval Office, President Clinton welcomes you to his class, provides his personal definition of leadership, and outlines all the tools you’ll learn.

Developing a Framework for Leadership

To lead anyone from one place to another, one must first understand where they’re starting from. Learn how developing a framework can help you make sense of the world.

Decision-Making and Prioritization

Hear how President Clinton navigates tough decisions in uncertain situations—and how you can accomplish your goals and address crises as they arise.

Agreeing to Disagree

Any truly great undertaking is going to require changing some minds. Discover how to work with people you don’t agree with and hear how President Clinton once enlisted a very unlikely tool in a tense situation.

Mediating Conflict

President Clinton explains how he facilitates the peaceful resolution of conflict between bitterly opposed factions. He also explains how the tactics he uses can be applied in your daily life.

Negotiation

President Clinton reveals his approach to helping people see the value of your proposal, and he emphasizes the importance of knowing when to take a stand.

Case Study: Negotiating in North Korea

Hear the fascinating behind-the-scenes story of how President Clinton helped free two U.S. citizens from North Korea and learn the role that nuance plays in tense negotiations.

Public Speaking

Few people can inspire a crowd like President Bill Clinton. Discover the importance of delivery, how structure affects the way a speech is received, and how to tell stories that inspire action.

Facing Criticism

It doesn’t always have to be lonely at the top. Discover the mindset President Clinton developed to excel in one of the most scrutinized leadership positions in human history.

Assembling Teams

President Clinton shares tips for identifying the best people for the job and teaches you how to harness the power of diverse individuals and opinions.

Leading Teams

Finding the right talent is just the beginning. Learn how to earn the respect of the individuals you lead and how to unite them toward a common goal.

Emotional Intelligence

President Clinton reveals how a lesson he learned in his eighth-grade science class shaped his philosophy on leadership—and how that lesson can help you cultivate authentic relationships with those around you.

How to Measure Success

Leadership can be largely determined by how you keep score. Learn how to develop your own method of measuring success in your personal and professional life.

The Power of Optimism

President Clinton reveals how pragmatic optimism can help you overcome challenges and setbacks, and he shares a letter to a future president of the United States.