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MIT Sloan Executive Education Programs

William Attardi on January 18, 2026

From clear communication to critical thinking and problem solving to adopting new technology, the essential skills of leadership require constant renewal. That’s why successful executives understand that lifelong learning isn’t just a mindset, it’s a strategic advantage. Our 90+ courses are here to help you stretch your thinking and hone your skills. Join us for one (or more) of these upcoming offerings in 2026:

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Executive Education Programs | MIT Sloan

MIT Sloan Executive Education Programs

William Attardi on November 1, 2025

Our programs offer hands-on learning experiences and cutting-edge research to empower you to tackle today’s challenges and seize tomorrow’s opportunities.

  • Courses for Individuals – MIT Sloan Executive Education courses provide hands-on learning experiences, faculty research, and proven frameworks that have immediate applicability to careers and organizations.
  • Executive Certificates – Pursuing an Executive Certificate enables you to further your business knowledge and skills on a schedule of your own design.
  • Solutions for Organizations – Whether you’re launching a new product, entering a new market, or going global, you need to be absolutely sure your team is ready. That’s why our custom programs are tailored to your organization’s specific challenges and opportunities.

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The Statue of Liberty was made with copper but due to oxidation, it turned green.

When the “Lady in the Harbor” first arrived in New York in 1886, she didn’t look like the mint-green icon we know today. In fact, for the first twenty years of her life, she stood as a towering, metallic beacon of reddish-gold. Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and engineered by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the statue was a gift from France to America. To build her, Bartholdi chose copper for three practical reasons:

  • Malleability:It could be hammered into elaborate, thin sheets.
  • Weight:Copper is lighter than stone or bronze, making it easier to ship 350 individual pieces across the Atlantic.
  • Durability:It was strong enough to survive a 27-day ocean voyage and the harsh winds of the harbor.

When she was unveiled on October 28, 1886, her skin—made of 300 copper sheets roughly the thickness of two pennies—shone with a bright, metallic brown luster. The transformation from “penny-colored” to “patina-green” wasn’t planned. Bartholdi actually expected the statue to age into a deeper, darker red. However, the unique environment of New York Harbor—a mix of salt air, moisture, and industrial pollution—triggered a process called oxidation.

The Timeline of Change:

  1. 1886–1900:The bright copper dulled into a dark, muddy brown.
  2. 1903:The first hints of a light green crust, or “patina,” began to appear.
  3. 1906:The color change was so controversial that Congress nearly stepped in. They appropriated $62,000 to paint the statue back to its original color, but the public protested, calling the idea “sacrilege.”
  4. 1910–1920:The statue was a patchy mix of brown and green until 1920, when the oxidation was complete, leaving her entirely teal.

While we now view the green color as iconic, it actually serves a vital structural purpose. The layer of verdigris (the green patina) acts as a protective shield. It seals the copper underneath, preventing the metal from further corrosion and weathering.  By the time the color fully changed, a new generation of immigrants had arrived in America seeing a green statue.