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Chief Business Officer Program

Driving Profitability and Growth Through Business Leadership Excellence
Total Work Experience

Early Registration Benefit

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Lead Strategy and Drive Business Transformation

In today’s fast-changing business environment, leaders with P&L responsibility must align strategy with execution while also driving growth and profitability.

The Chief Business Officer Program from Columbia Business School Executive Education equips executives with the tools to manage P&L, scale businesses, and harness AI and digital innovation to create competitive advantage. Through a blend of in-person and online learning, you’ll gain the strategic, financial, and technological perspective to accelerate revenue, foster innovation, and build resilient organizations. This immersive experience empowers leaders to deliver measurable results and long-term shareholder value.

72%

of organizations are working toward long-term strategic goals, but many lack the tools and strategies to fully realize them.
SOURCE: BOARD GLOBAL PLANNING SURVEY 2024

71%

of CBOs believe they add value by exploiting in-depth knowledge of the market and competition.
SOURCE: HARVEY CAREERS

What You Will Learn

The Chief Business Officer Program will help you:

  • Develop the ability to formulate, communicate, and execute corporate growth strategies aligned with the organization’s vision and objectives

  • Acquire skills in identifying and evaluating business opportunities, strategic partnerships, and M&A activities to drive growth and expansion

  • Gain proficiency in financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting to ensure sustainable growth and profitability

  • Ensure that business management and operations align with strategic objectives

  • Learn methods for optimizing revenue streams, including pricing strategies, product/service innovation, and market segmentation

  • Identify and manage risks that could impact the organization’s strategic objectives

  • Leverage digital tools and data to improve operations, customer engagement, and overall business performance

  • Learn techniques for building high-performance teams, fostering a culture of innovation, and managing organizational change

Program Highlights

Expertly Developed Curriculum 

Gain advanced skills in leading cross-functional teams and driving organizational strategy. Develop a holistic understanding of finance and revenue, product management, and AI to create sustained value. 

On-Campus Immersion 

Engage in an intensive, hands-on learning experience at Columbia Business School's Manhattanville Campus in New York City, allowing direct interaction with world-renowned faculty, industry experts, and peers.

Ivy League Faculty 

Learn from Columbia Business Schools Ivy League faculty, who are world-renowned experts in their fields and have engaged with some of the largest organizations in the world.

Group Project 

Combine theory with practice by working on a group project and applying your learnings to real-world business challenges guided by a Columbia Business School faculty coach. 

Experienced Peer Group 

Engage with experienced and accomplished global participants across sectors who bring diverse experiences, cultures, and perspectives to the classroom. 

Select Alumni Benefits 

Receive select Columbia Business School alumni benefits upon completion of the program, and become part of a distinguished global community. 

Program Curriculum

The Chief Business Officer Program offers senior leaders a dynamic experience, with a blend of advanced business theory and hands-on, real-world application, tailored to address the evolving challenges of the global business landscape.

Participants engage in a five-day, in-person module in New York City, complemented by live interactive online sessions with Columbia Business School faculty. Throughout the program, leaders collaborate on a group project that challenges them to apply their learnings in P&L leadership, corporate growth strategy, market expansion, AI and digital innovation, and operational excellence, developing actionable solutions that can drive measurable impact within their organizations.

Note: Session topics are subject to change.

Program Timeline

This six-month program journey features one in-class immersion module, two live online modules, and two multi-week online modules.

Date

Location

Welcome Session

January 23, 2026

Live Online

Module 1

Part 1: February 2–6, 2026

Part 2: February 16–20, 2026 

Live Online | 10 days |

8-11 a.m. ET

Module 2: Future-Oriented Leadership

March 2–April 24, 2026

Online | 7 weeks |

3-5 Hours/Week

Module 3 

May 4–7, 2026 

Live Online | 4 days |

8-11 a.m. ET

Module 4: Product Management Methodologies

May 18–July 3, 2026

Online | 6 weeks |

3-5 Hours/Week

Module 5

July 27–31, 2026 

New York City | 5 days

In Person

Group Project

Group Project

A key aspect of the Chief Business Officer Program’s learning journey is the group project. Participants will engage in case studies, simulations, and collaborative projects that mirror complex organizational scenarios, allowing them to immediately apply what theyve learned to their own professional contexts. This hands-on approach ensures that executives not only grasp advanced business concepts but also develop actionable strategies that drive measurable impact in their organizations. 

  • Understand how your company creates unique value

  • Diagnose which operational functions require improvement to deliver this value

  • Design a growth strategy using artificial intelligence to enhance your company’s value proposition and gain a competitive advantage

Meet the Faculty Director

The faculty members represent a dynamic blend of accomplished academicians and seasoned business professionals, each bringing a unique perspective and wealth of experience to the program. Their diverse backgrounds and specializations provide you with a multifaceted and comprehensive learning experience.

Profile picture of program faculty JORGE GUZMAN, PHD
JORGE GUZMAN, PhD

Gantcher Associate Professor of Business, Columbia Business School

Contributing Faculty

Profile picture of program faculty Stephan Meier
Stephan Meier

James P. Gorman Professor of Business, Management Division

Profile picture of program faculty Moran Cerf
Moran Cerf

Adjunct Professor of Business, Marketing Division

Profile picture of program faculty Rita McGrath
Rita McGrath

Academic Director in Executive Education

Profile picture of program faculty Gernot Wagner
Gernot Wagner

Senior Lecturer in Discipline of Economics in the Faculty of Business, Economics Division

Profile picture of program faculty Kamel Jedidi
Kamel Jedidi

Jerome A. Chazen Professor of Global Business, Marketing Division

Profile picture of program faculty Robert Morais
Robert Morais

Lecturer in Business, Marketing Division

Note: Faculty are subject to change.

Who Is It For?

The Chief Business Officer Program is designed for senior executives and business leaders accountable for driving P&L performance, corporate growth, and strategic alignment within their organizations, including:

  • Executives with P&L responsibility for business units, divisions, or regional operations who are focused on scaling growth and profitability

  • C-suite leaders, senior executives, and functional heads (finance, operations, HR, marketing, IT, etc.) who want to expand their influence and transition into enterprise-wide leadership roles

  • Division heads and general managers who are seeking to accelerate business performance, market expansion, and operational excellence

  • High-potential leaders on the succession track to C-suite roles who want to sharpen their financial acumen, strategic mindset, and decision-making capabilities

Example image of certificate that will be awarded once you successfully complete the course

Certificate in Business Excellence

Upon completion of the Chief Business Officer Program, participants are awarded the Certificate in Business Excellence from Columbia Business School Executive Education. The certificate is a recognition of their achievement and the investment they and their organization have made in their education and development. 

As a Certificate in Business Excellence holder, you will receive a 25 percent tuition benefit for full-price Executive Education in-person programs lasting three and four days and all full-price online programs. Exclusions apply** 

Certificate holders will also be awarded select Columbia Business School Alumni benefits. 

Your digitally verified certificate will be issued in your legal name and emailed to you, at no additional cost, upon completion of the program, including all modules of the program (online, in person, or live online, inter-module). All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Columbia Business School Executive Education. 

CIBE Holder Benefits

  • Access to Columbia Business School Alumni Career Services resources, including unique career content, a job board, an online networking platform, the alumni directory, and more 

  • Invitations to alumni events and programs around the world 

  • Eligibility to join Columbia Business School alumni clubs 

  • Global networking opportunities 

  • Lifetime Columbia Business School forwarding email address 

  • Subscription to our alumni publication Columbia Business

On-Campus Immersion and Networking

The enriching environment of the in-person interaction provides participants with the invaluable opportunity to build a robust network with global executives who bring diverse experiences, cultures, and perspectives. Engaging in thoughtful discussions, they can exchange cutting-edge insights and knowledge that are integral in staying abreast of industry trends. This in-person immersion showcases the vibrant community that participants of the Chief Business Officer Program become an invaluable part of.

Decorative image relating to On-Campus Immersion and Networking
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Application Details

Round 1

Closed

Round 2

Closed

Round 3 

Deadline: October 01, 2025

Application fee: US$100

Round 4

Deadline: October 22, 2025

Application fee: US$100

 

Round 5

Deadline: November 12, 2025

Application fee: US$100

Round 6

Deadline: December 03, 2025

Application fee: US$100

Round 7

Deadline: December 24, 2025

Application fee: US$100

The program fee covers teaching fees, all academic material, and access to online coursework. The fee does not include accommodations for the in-person sessions, travel expenses (domestic, international, visa fee, and more), and other expenses not specifically mentioned in the program fee. 

FAQs

Questions? Connect with a Program Advisor

Email: cbo_columbia@emeritus.org

Phone: +1 567 587 1669 (U.S.) / +44 1156 471398 (U.K.) / +971 80 0035703759 (U.A.E.) / +52 55966 08595 (LATAM)

We encourage early application due to limited cohort capacity.

Flexible payment options available.

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