Chief Executive Officer Program

Leadership in a Fast-Changing World

Download Brochure

Get Your Brochure

Course Dates

STARTS ON

December 17, 2024

Course Duration

DURATION

8 to 10 Months
Online and In Person

Course Fee

PROGRAM FEE

US$32,000 and get a referral benefit US$200 application fee

Course Information Flexible payment available

Early Registration Benefit

Apply now to secure your place at US$27,500 by . Connect with a learning advisor for more information.

Leadership in an Era of Change

In an era of constant change, ambitious executives aspiring to become chief executive officers (CEOs) must turn uncertainty into a pathway for personal and organizational growth. To successfully ascend to a CEO role, executives must be adaptable, constantly acquire cutting-edge skills, revise strategies, and lead with foresight. Inspiring teams, making critical decisions, and developing strategic vision are integral components that facilitate resilience and growth.

The Chief Executive Officer Program from Columbia Business School Executive Education is tailored to these ambitious executives, equipping them with the frameworks and strategies needed to navigate the volatile business world effectively. Over 8 to 10 months, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of strategy, leadership, and data and technology, enabling them to design a future-ready enterprise and positioning them for success in the highest C-suite role.

91%

of CEOs intend to invest in some form of artificial intelligence in the coming year.

Source: Deloitte CEO Survey

76%

of CEOs aim to reduce operating expenses amid the risk of inflation and economic downturn.

Source: McKinsey CEO Excellence Survey

What You Will Learn

The Chief Executive Officer Program will enable you to:

  • Apply the principles and tools of strategic leadership, steering complex organizations confidently amid the turbulence of today's swiftly evolving business landscape
  • Develop a global perspective on strategic leadership by analyzing macroeconomic trends and cultural nuances to make informed, impactful decisions
  • Evaluate and apply the principles of sustainability, environmental responsibility, and stakeholder management to build enduring value that goes beyond the bottom line
  • Demonstrate effective communication, negotiation, and influence skills to build strong relationships with stakeholders and foster an inclusive, productive, and efficient workplace culture
  • Analyze and leverage data and technology to drive innovation and improve decision making across your organization
  • Develop an executive mindset and enhance self-awareness, resilience, and adaptability to navigate complex challenges and opportunities

Designed for Success

The flexible format of the Chief Executive Officer Program enables participants to craft the program based on their career goals—with a world-class curriculum, experiential sessions, and the opportunity to meet with faculty and practitioners.

Experience an adaptive journey with the Chief Executive Officer Program

Adapt

Be the architect of your own learning journey. Experience an adaptive journey that enables flexible learning, personal interactions, and deeper immersion into key topics—all at your own pace.

Exchange insights with accomplished global peers in the Chief Executive Officer Program

Communicate

Exchange insights with accomplished peer executives from around the world, interact with industry practitioners to gain new insights, and learn from expert faculty to develop a holistic understanding.

Devise solutions to real-world challenges with the Chief Executive Officer Program

Transform

Acquire strong theoretical knowledge as well as hands-on experience, allowing you to devise solutions to real-world challenges with a strong emphasis on implementation.

Program Highlights

Flexible Learning Journey

Flexible Learning Journey

Balance learning with your busy work schedule by dedicating just three to five hours each week

Global Peer Learning

Global Peer Group

Interact with high-achieving peer executives from around the globe and build your network of leaders

Core Curriculum of the Chief Executive Officer Program

Core Curriculum

Kick-start your program journey with 24 weeks of core online learning, imparting new-age skills for the CEO role

Weekly Live Sessions in the Chief Executive Officer Program

Weekly Live Sessions

Experience live online sessions with the cohort success coach and faculty as well as periodic guest lectures from industry leaders

World-Renowned Faculty of the Chief Executive Officer Program

World-Renowned Faculty

Learn from preeminent Columbia faculty who are recognized leaders in their fields, thought leaders, and industry practitioners to gain in-depth insights

Capstone Project

Capstone Project

Work on a capstone project to refine your skills by applying program learnings to a challenge and drive immediate on-the-job impact in your organization

Success Coach

Success Coach

Craft your learning journey in line with your career goals with a success coach assigned to your cohort

Networking Event of the Chief Executive Officer Program

Networking Event

Interact with faculty members, peers, and global industry leaders at a two-day optional on-campus networking event

Certificate in Business Excellence Holder Benefits

CIBE Holder Benefits

Receive Certificate in Business Excellence benefits upon completion and become part of a distinguished global community

Chief Executive Officer Program Faculty William Duggan

"Leadership is not just a position but an ongoing journey of growth and impact. Cultivating the acumen required to steer your organization through an ever-evolving landscape is imperative. At Columbia Business School, we are empowering leaders to navigate the turbulence of modern business. The Chief Executive Officer Program melds cutting-edge insights with experiential learning to forge leaders adept in strategic thinking, innovation, and principled decision making. Our participants leave not only equipped to tackle today’s challenges, but also inspired to shape the future with vision and integrity."

—William Duggan
Senior Lecturer in Business, Management Division; Faculty Director, Chief Executive Officer Program

Comprehensive Curriculum

The Chief Executive Officer Program is a flexible learning journey designed for senior business leaders. You will learn through online and interactive sessions, fireside chats, and guest lectures led by Columbia Business School faculty and global industry leaders. Through a blend of cutting-edge curriculum, relevant case studies, capstone project, and try-it activities, the program will enable you to hone your business acumen, build new-age skills, and redefine your leadership potential.

    Strategy: Your Company in the Wider World​

    Unravel how external influences shape organizational direction and foster competitiveness, while gaining exposure to the complexities and potential of global business environments.

    Module topics:

    • Macro-Economics for Executives: Good Times and Bad​
    • Strategy in an Ever-Changing World​​
    • Mergers and Acquisitions: From Competition to Co-Optation​​
    • Corporate Sustainability: Shareholders vs. Stakeholders​​
    • Environment, Society, and Governance: Non-Market Forces ​​
    • A World View: Learning from Everywhere​​

    

    Organization: Inside Your Company​

    Delve into the internal workings of an organization, unraveling intricate relationships and roles that shape company dynamics and drive operational efficiency.

    Module topics:

    • The CEO’s Boss: The Role of a Board​
    • The CEO's Boss: Board Committees​
    • The CFO's Voice: Your #1 Strategic Partner​
    • Marketing: Value Innovation​
    • Marketing: Customer Experience Management​
    • Innovation from Below​

    

    Data and Technology​: The Leading Edge of Innovation​

    Understand the transformative impact of data and technology on businesses and explore strategies for leveraging innovation for competitive advantage.

    Module topics:

    • Business Analytics​
    • Frontiers of Innovation​
    • Segmentation and Targeting in a Data-Driven World​
    • Technology Strategy​
    •  Frontiers of Innovation: Privacy-Preserving AI
    • Creative Combination: The Insight Matrix​

    

    Leadership​: You and Your People​​

    Examine the impact of leadership on team dynamics, workplace culture, and organizational effectiveness while evolving your personal leadership style.

    Module topics:

    • The Future of Work​  ​
    • Alignment: Bridging Strategy and Performance
    • DEI, Ethics, and Leading with Integrity 
    • The Negotiator's Toolkit: Essentials for Claiming Value 
    • Beyond Zero-Sum: Creating Value and Win-Win Outcomes
    • The Executive Mind: Managing Yourself​​

    Note: Session topics are subject to change.

    Choose one program as an elective from a limited selection of Columbia Business School Executive Education’s open-enrollment programs.

    • Business and Climate
    • Leading in a Data-Driven World: Quantitative Intuition™
    • The Strategic Leader Program
    • Finance and Accounting for the Nonfinancial Executive
    • Future of Finance: Leveraging Fintech Innovation
    • Financial Analysis and Valuation
    • Leading Digital Transformation
    • Women in Leadership

    Note: While Columbia Business School Executive Education will attempt to accommodate participant preference selections, we cannot guarantee that all preferences will be granted due to the high demand for our open-enrollment programs. Electives are subject to change.

  • Meet your cohort peers and faculty in person on the Columbia Business School campus in New York City during an optional two-day networking event. This event provides you with an opportunity to network with your peers as well as professionals from other cohorts to create a lifelong community of global executives.

    Note: Session topics and networking event duration are subject to change.

Capstone Project

The capstone project is multifaceted and encapsulates key aspects of organizational leadership. It is organized into four segments.

Segment 1: Analyze how external factors pose opportunities and challenges for organizations.

Segment 2: Craft a strategy to engage and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

Segment 3: Develop a proposal for an innovative strategy designed to boost an organization's growth and competitiveness.

Segment 4: Engage in reflecting on your personal leadership style, identify areas of improvement, and formulate a plan to enhance your decision-making capabilities.

Meet the Faculty

The faculty members represent a dynamic blend of accomplished academicians and seasoned industry professionals, each bringing a unique perspective and wealth of experience to the table. Their diverse backgrounds and specializations encompass a wide range of disciplines, providing participants with a multifaceted and comprehensive learning experience.

Chief Executive Officer Program Faculty William Duggan

William Duggan ​

Senior Lecturer in Business, Management Division; Faculty Director, Chief Executive Officer Program

William Duggan is a senior lecturer in business at Columbia Business School and has been teaching there for over two decades. His areas of expertise are leadership and organizational behavior. He teaches innovation in Columbia Business School’s MBA and Executive MBA courses and Executive Education sessions. In 2014, he won the Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence.

Duggan has published six books on strategic intuition, including Strategic Intuition: The Creative Spark in Human Achievement (2007); Creative Strategy: A Guide for Innovation (2012), and The Seventh Sense: How Flashes of Insight Change Your Life (2015). He has given talks and workshops on innovation to thousands of executives from companies in countries around the world. ​

Prior to joining Columbia Business School, he was the internal innovation advisor at Ford Foundation and also consulted as an economist in Africa for the World Bank, USAID, the United Nations Development Program, and Winrock International. He has BA, MA, and PhD degrees from Columbia University and 20 years of experience as a strategy advisor and consultant.

Chief Executive Officer Program Faculty William Duggan

William Duggan ​

Senior Lecturer in Business, Management Division; Faculty Director, Chief Executive Officer Program

Contributing Faculty

Chief Executive Officer Program Contributing Faculty Vanessa Burbano​

Vanessa Burbano​

Sidney Taurel Associate Professor of Business, Management Division

Chief Executive Officer Program Contributing Faculty Paul Canetti​

Paul Canetti​

Adjunct Associate Professor of Business

Chief Executive Officer Program Contributing Faculty Ashli B. Carter

Ashli B. Carter

Lecturer in the Discipline of Management in the Faculty of Business

Chief Executive Officer Program Contributing Faculty Donna Hitscherich​

Donna Hitscherich​

Senior Lecturer in Discipline in Business

Chief Executive Officer Program Contributing Faculty Paul Ingram​

Paul Ingram​

Kravis Professor of Business

Chief Executive Officer Program Contributing Faculty Sheena Iyengar

Sheena Iyengar

S. T. Lee Professor of Business, Management Division

Chief Executive Officer Program Contributing Faculty Jerry Wonyong Kim​

Jerry Wonyong Kim​

Director, Arthur J. Samberg Institute for Teaching Excellence

Chief Executive Officer Program Contributing Faculty Malia F. Mason​

Malia F. Mason​

Courtney C. Brown Professor of Business

Chief Executive Officer Program Contributing Faculty Stephan Meier​

Stephan Meier​

James P. Gorman Professor of Business; Chair of Management Division

Chief Executive Officer Program Contributing Faculty Ciamac C. Moallemi ​

Ciamac C. Moallemi ​

William von Mueffling Professor of Business

Chief Executive Officer Program Contributing Faculty Oded Netzer​

Oded Netzer​

Vice Dean for Research, Dean's Office​; Arthur J. Samberg Professor of Business​

Chief Executive Officer Program Contributing Faculty Shivaram Rajgopal​

Shivaram Rajgopal​

Roy Bernard Kester and T.W. Byrnes Professor of Accounting and Auditing; Accounting Division Chair​

Chief Executive Officer Program Contributing Faculty Miklos Sarvary​

Miklos Sarvary​

Carson Family Professor of Business; Co-Faculty Director, Media and Technology Program

Chief Executive Officer Program Contributing Faculty Jeffrey L. Schwartz​

Jeffrey L. Schwartz​

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Business

Chief Executive Officer Program Contributing Faculty Pierre Yared​

Pierre Yared​

Vice Dean, Executive Education

Chief Executive Officer Program Contributing Faculty Assaf Zeevi​

Assaf Zeevi​

Kravis Professor of Business

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

Executive Peer Group and Networking Event

A key feature of the program is the executive peer group, which fosters intimate, confidential discussions among a select group of classmates. These conversations cover a range of pertinent topics—from business and leadership challenges to career opportunities. Throughout the program, participants form a cohesive learning community, gaining access to a robust global network of peers.

The enriching environment of the networking event provides participants with the invaluable opportunity to build a robust network with global executive 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. The networking event showcases the vibrant community that participants of the Chief Executive Officer Program become an invaluable part of.

Three images showing glimses of Columbia Business School Executive Education networking event
Three images showing glimses of Columbia Business School Executive Education networking event
Three images showing glimses of Columbia Business School Executive Education networking event

Who Is It For?

The Chief Executive Officer Program is ideal for:

  • Experienced C-suite executives poised for transition into the CEO role
  • Newly appointed CEOs from small to medium-sized entities intent on augmenting their leadership acumen
  • High-potential leaders on the trajectory toward C-suite roles seeking to enhance their readiness for impending executive responsibilities

Participants are required to have:

  • A minimum of 10 years of work experience
  • Fluency in written and spoken English
  • International exposure (preferred)

Certificate in Business Excellence

Chief Executive Officer Program Certificate

Certificate in Business Excellence

Upon completion of the Chief Executive 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.

Application Details

Round 1

Deadline: October 17, 2024
Application fee: US$200

Round 2

Deadline: November 14, 2024
Application fee: US$200

Round 3

Deadline: December 12, 2024
Application fee: US$200

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

FAQs

  • The Chief Executive Officer Program has been designed with your busy schedule in mind. You will be required to commit not more than three to five hours per week, enabling you to benefit from this transformative program while fulfilling your day-to-day work responsibilities. The impactful program offers a blend of self-paced modules and live interaction.

  • The 8- to 10-months learning journey includes live online and video online sessions with renowned faculty, industry experts, and global peers. You can take advantage of weekly live sessions and the Slack channel to ask questions and discuss ideas with your success coach and cohort participants. Real-world examples and a debrief of the program learnings are delivered through a combination of recorded video and live online lectures. The program concludes with an optional two-day on-campus networking event on the Columbia Business School campus in New York City.

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

  • You can pay the full program fee up front or pay in easy installments. If you apply well in advance of the program start date, you can receive a fee benefit. If you would like to approach your company with a sponsorship request for this program, here is a customizable template that you can use.

  • Yes. Closed-captioning and transcripts for all pre-recorded videos as well as closed-captioning for recordings of live sessions is available.

  • Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.

  • For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.

  • Program fees for Emeritus programs with Columbia Business School Executive Education may not be paid for with Title IV financial aid funds. Participants may be able to pay the program fee with funds from the GI Bill, the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Act of 2008, or similar types of military education funding benefits. Participants must contact the Columbia University’s Office of Military and Veterans Affairs to determine benefit eligibility.

Questions? Connect with a Program Advisor.

Email: columbia_ceo@emeritus.org

Phone: +1 567 587 1669 (U.S.) / +44 1156 471398 (U.K.) / +971 80 00321209 (U.A.E.) / +52 55930 20507 (LATAM)

Apply Now

Early registrations are encouraged. Seats fill up quickly!

Flexible payment options available. Learn more.