The Escalator course was developed by the Agri-Women's Development Trust formed last year by Eketahuna director and farmer Lindy Nelson following her participation in the Kellogg Rural Leadership programme.
This year's programme includes Maniototo farmer Dawn Sangster, Christine Angland, from Waipori Station, and Clydevale dairy farmer Andrea Shore.
Mrs Nelson said her work identified barriers facing rural women who wanted to advance their careers, and the trust was designed to help untap that potential.
"It's not about getting more women on boards, but about harnessing untapped potential and talent of rural woman and using this to address the challenges facing rural business, communities and people."
Eleven people have been chosen from throughout New Zealand for the inaugural year-long course which involves individual distance learning and six bi-monthly courses held in Wellington.
They will learn from industry mentors from organisations such as Dairy NZ, Landcorp Farming, meat companies and local government.
Mrs Nelson said the course would build on skills many of the participants already had and revive latent skills gained earlier in their lives.
This year's intake included women who had careers as vets, farm advisers, writers, nurses as well as degrees in languages, commerce, communication, education and food technology.
A second community-based course, First Steps, will be launched early next year.
It is a two-day workshop designed to give women greater confidence and insight into the potential of their skills.
The programme is supported by Beef and Lamb New Zealand, the Lottery Grants Board, AsureQuality and the Silver Fern Farms Burnside-Hart educational trust.