DRIVE: FAQ

Q: What is DRIVE, and how is it different from other programs?

A: DRIVE is an immersive, nine-month action-learning certificate from Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management. Unlike programs built around case studies or hypothetical exercises, DRIVE centers entirely on a real challenge from your own organization—equipping you to solve it now and to carry the same problem-solving discipline into every leadership challenge that follows. Every course, every framework, and every deliverable is applied directly to your work—so you graduate with a tested solution, not just new knowledge.

Q: Who is this program designed for?

A: DRIVE is designed for mid- to senior-level professionals, as well as high-potential professionals on a clear path to those roles—leaders who want to learn how to bring structure and rigor to the toughest challenges in front of them and produce innovative, defensible solutions. Participants come from across the healthcare ecosystem—clinical, administrative, operations, HR, IT, finance, quality, population health, and more. The strongest candidates enter with a real organizational challenge in mind and the leadership support to pursue it.

Q: What is the time commitment?

A: The program runs October 2026 through June 2027, approximately 200 hours total over nine months. Each of the eight courses includes 3 to 5 hours per week of self-paced online work over four weeks, a 3-hour in-person evening session, and a 10-hour in-person full-day session. In-person sessions are held at the Weatherhead School of Management on the Case Western Reserve University campus in Cleveland, Ohio.

Q: What is the Strategic Initiative?

A: Your Strategic Initiative is the center of gravity for everything you do in DRIVE. From the first day of the program to the final presentation, you advance a real challenge your organization needs to solve—building the evidence, designing the strategy, and developing the implementation pathway to take it forward. The program does not give you a project. You bring one. And you leave with something your organization can act on. The final deliverable is a professional executive brief and presentation suitable for C-suite or board-level review—along with the leadership and problem-solving capabilities you will carry into every initiative that follows.

Q: What does the program cost, and what is included?

A: The program fee is $28,000 per participant. This includes all course materials, access to the online learning platform, in-person evening networking events with healthcare executives, faculty and practitioner guidance throughout your Strategic Initiative, and a certificate upon successful completion. Corporate partnership pricing is available for organizations enrolling multiple participants.

Q: Is there a corporate or group enrollment option?

A: Yes. Weatherhead's corporate partnerships team works directly with healthcare organizations to align DRIVE enrollment with organizational talent development goals. If your organization is considering enrolling a team, contact corporatepartnerships@case.edu to discuss options and pricing.

Q: How do I get started? Is there a formal application?

A: There is no formal application process. The best first step is a conversation with our team. We will take the time to understand your goals, answer your questions, and help you determine whether DRIVE is the right fit. Cohort size is limited, so we encourage early outreach.

Q: When does the first cohort begin?

A: The inaugural cohort launches with a Program Kickoff on October 1 and 2, 2026. Enrollment is open now and closes two weeks before the program kickoff. Given the limited cohort size, we encourage interested leaders and organizations to reach out as early as possible.

Q: Where are in-person sessions held?

A: In-person sessions take place at the Weatherhead School of Management on the Case Western Reserve University campus in Cleveland, Ohio. Evening sessions also include networking and panel discussions with senior leaders from regional and national healthcare organizations.

Q: Do I need to have a specific project identified before enrolling?

A: Ideally, yes. The strongest candidates enter DRIVE with a real organizational challenge in mind—one with meaningful stakes and leadership support. That said, the first course is specifically designed to help you define and frame your Strategic Initiative, so candidates still scoping their work are encouraged to reach out and start a conversation.

Q: What makes a strong Strategic Initiative?

A: The strongest Strategic Initiatives share five qualities. They have an actionable scope—addressing a meaningful challenge that is realistic and manageable within the program timeframe. They are built with organizational access, including a designated contact person or team who provides participants entry to key stakeholders, relevant meetings, and operational insight. They start from clear context, so participants understand the specific healthcare environment, including setting, size, resources, and operational realities. They have data availability, with relevant background information, metrics, and operational data essential for informed analysis and solution development. And they offer a pathway for continuation, designed to move beyond the program with potential for implementation, pilot testing, or continued advancement afterward.