Matteo Guidicelli completes another short course at Harvard—here’s how much it costs plus his tips for getting in
Matteo Guidicelli shared his experience of being a student at Harvard Business School after completing another short course there.
In an Instagram post, the actor posted some photos taken during his time at the prestigious university. "Met some amazing people from all over the world through the Harvard Business School Executive Education program," he captioned his post. "All smiles, all excitement. Let’s keep this going."
In an interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, the actor—who has a bachelor's degree in BSBA-Marketing Management from the University of San Jose-Recoletos—said he just finished an HBS marketing course on Creating Brand Value, where he learned about personal branding, celebrity branding, as well as how companies build and sustain brand value in competitive markets.
"It was powerful and highly relevant to today’s branding and business climate,” he said. "My classmates included CEOs, CMOs, brand leaders, and founders from industries like real estate, entertainment, energy, tech, and fashion.”
Late last year, Guidicelli completed a course called "Changing the Game: Negotiation and Competitive Decision-Making,” which focuses on the science and strategy of negotiation in business. "My classmates were mostly finance professionals, managers, and senior executives from all over the world. We tackled how to transform competitive negotiations into collaborative ones, and how to use strategic thinking to create value.”
According to him, the courses he took at Harvard Business School are part of its Executive Education program, which offers “short but extremely intensive courses” that ran for about a week. Each session from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily was complete with discussions, lectures, and collaborative activities.
Guidicelli told L!fe that Harvard makes use of the Case Study Method in its short courses. “This means that before even setting foot in the classroom, you’re expected to study all assigned cases. This is crucial,” he noted. "In class, you break down the case piece by piece and engage in open discussions with students from different countries and industries. It’s a very dynamic way of learning—you learn from professors and your classmates.”
How much do the courses cost and how can you increase your chances of getting in?
The Creating Brand Value course that Guidicelli took cost $11,750 (over P655,000), while the negotiation course cost $15,500 (over P865,000).
“But the fee is all in,” he said. “It includes tuition, materials, accommodations, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even snacks throughout the day. You’re taken care of completely so you can focus 100% on learning.”
For those who are hoping to get in, Guidicelli advises applying early as “slots fill up so fast.”
It’s also important to be clear with your goals in the application. “They want to know why you’re taking the course and how it will help your work or business,” he shared.
"You don’t need to be a Harvard alum or a corporate executive,” he continued. “If you have a compelling reason and a growth mindset, that’s more than enough.”
Guidicelli encourages people to pursue this kind of learning, noting that it’s worth every penny. "Yes, there are online options, but the face-to-face experience is on another level. You get to meet people, network globally, and engage in world-class discussions.”
"It’s not just about earning a certificate, it’s about expanding your worldview, understanding different leadership styles, and improving how you operate personally and professionally," he mused.
Harvard is accepting applications for Changing the Game: Negotiation and Competitive Decision-Making until July 10 this year. Applications are also open for Creating Brand Value until May 21, 2026.
You can know more about its other programs here or consult with the Program Advertising team personally via email at [email protected] to get recommendations on what course you should take. Each program has its own application link, though you can find a sample version here. As stated on its website, all ExEd programs under Harvard are developed and taught by top and widely renowned faculty at HBS—including skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors.
