NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia University and the American Express Foundation recently sponsored Strengthening West Harlem Nonprofits, an executive education program that brought together 21 nonprofit leaders representing 18 organizations from Upper Manhattan to study core business practices that better address the community's needs.

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The two-day program offered formal training in nonprofit management for presidents, CEOs, and executive directors. The program was designed and coordinated by Columbia Business School Executive Education's Programs in Social Enterprise.

"We offered this program at no cost to the participants or their organizations," said Faculty Director, Raymond Horton, who oversees Programs in Social Enterprise at Columbia Business School Executive Education. "We strongly believe in giving back to our community. Our professors were eager to bring what they teach in the classrooms at Columbia Business School – the insight into foundational management skills that will enrich in helping guide, shape, and carry out their organization's mission – to these dedicated nonprofit leaders."

"We are proud to co-sponsor this program together with Columbia University and its Business School," said Richard Brown, Vice President of Philanthropy at the American Express. "It's great to see how dedicated these nonprofit leaders are to serving their communities, and we're thrilled to help their executives build the leadership and business skills needed to take their organizations to the next level."

Through lectures, simulations, small group work, and peer discussions, participants integrated leadership and management core principles with real-world applications. The program covered such topics as leading and facilitating cross-functional collaboration, managing conflict, and leveraging value-based leadership. To view a video snapshot of the Strengthening West Harlem Nonprofits Program, please visit: http://blip.tv/columbianews/strengthening-west-harlem-nonprofits-program-6430399.

About Columbia University
Founded in 1754 as King's College, Columbia University in the City of New York is the fifth oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and today is one of the world's leading academic and research institutions. Columbia has more than 3,000 faculty members and enrolls nearly 24,000 students, including more than 5,000 international students. The University spans three undergraduate schools, 13 graduate and professional schools, a school of continuing education, four affiliated institutions, a world-class medical center, 22 libraries, and more than 100 research centers and institutes. For more information, please visit www.columbia.edu.

About Columbia Business School 
Led by Dean Glenn Hubbard, the Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics, Columbia Business School seeks to provide a truly global business education that lasts and evolves over a lifetime, preparing students for strong leadership in any industry. The School's cutting-edge curriculum bridges pioneering academic theory with industry practice, imparting not only functional skills but the entrepreneurial mindset required to recognize and capture opportunity in a competitive business environment. Beyond academic rigor and teaching excellence, the School offers programs that are designed to give students practical experience making decisions in real-world environments. The strength of its ideas, the breadth and accessibility of its alumni network, and the extent of its connections to New York City combine to make Columbia Business School one of the most innovative and dynamic business communities in the world. The School offers MBA and Executive MBA (EMBA) degrees, as well as non-degree executive education programs. For more information, visit www.gsb.columbia.edu.

American Express: Developing New Leaders for Tomorrow
One of American Express' three platforms for its philanthropy is Developing New Leaders for Tomorrow. Under this giving initiative, which recognizes the significance of strong leadership in the nonprofit sector, American Express is making grants focused on training high potential emerging leaders to tackle important issues in the 21st century.

About American Express
American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at https://www.americanexpress.com/ and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, twitter.com/americanexpress and youtube.com/americanexpress.  Key links to products and services:  charge and credit cards, business credit cards, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, business travel, and corporate card.

SOURCE Columbia Business School