Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) Program

Propel your growth strategy and drive sustained profitability

Duration:

9 to 10 Months

Modality:

Online + On Campus

Program Fee:

Application Fee: US$300

Eligibility:

A minimum of 10 years of work experience

Drive scalable and sustained revenue as a chief revenue officer

As organizations pivot from rapid expansion to sustainable profitability, the chief revenue officer (CRO) has emerged as a central force in unifying sales, marketing, pricing, and customer success. Today’s business environment demands CROs who can lead with data-driven clarity, navigate complexity, and dismantle functional silos to drive enterprise-wide impact.

The Wharton Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) Program equips senior executives to lead revenue strategy at the highest level, aligning cross-functional initiatives to accelerate growth and create a lasting competitive advantage.

Over 9 to 10 months, this multimodular program equips you to:

Leverage data and analytics to inform pricing and revenue decisions
Develop and lead strategies for sustained, profitable growth
Strengthen forecasting, scaling, and value creation capabilities
Build powerful revenue engines aligned with enterprise objectives
Drive innovation in product development and customer engagement

Acquire the strategic mindset, analytical tools, and global peer network to lead with clarity, drive top-line performance, and deliver enterprise-wide revenue impact.

Learning Journey

The Wharton CRO Program empowers senior executives to lead growth and profitability with strategic clarity and cross-functional influence. Spanning 19 weeks of core modules and 16 weeks of short courses, the curriculum integrates live online sessions, try-it activities, and a capstone project to drive measurable business impact. Designed for revenue-focused leaders, the experience culminates in an optional two-day on-campus immersion with Wharton faculty and peers, inspiring connections that extend well beyond the program.

Core modules (online and live online | 19 weeks)

Short courses (online | 16 weeks | required)

Recognition ceremony and networking event (on campus | two days)

Capstone project

Certificate

Earn a Wharton Executive Education digital certificate upon successful completion of the program. Participants of the program get exclusive access to a wide range of professionals, events, and networking opportunities. Furthermore, you can also benefit from additional tuition assistance upon enrolling in further online electives from Wharton Executive Education.

Note: After successful completion of the program, you will receive your verified digital certificate by email in the name you used when registering for the program. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of the Wharton School.

Please also note that participation in the CRO Program (a) will not result in a degree from, alumni status with, or earned credit at the University of Pennsylvania or the Wharton School (or, to Wharton’s knowledge, any other institution), (b) will not be recorded on a University of Pennsylvania or Wharton transcript, and (c) does not guarantee or suggest that a participant will receive admission to the University of Pennsylvania, the Wharton School, or to any other university or institution.

Establish valuable connections with your peers

The CRO Program presents an exceptional opportunity for executives to build a global network of industry leaders. Through meaningful engagement with peers, you can expand your professional connections, gain diverse perspectives, and establish long-term relationships that support ongoing leadership growth.

Build a global network of revenue leaders

Join a high-impact community of senior revenue professionals from around the world. The CRO Program facilitates meaningful peer engagement, allowing you to exchange insights, address shared challenges, and form enduring relationships that continue to support your leadership journey beyond the program.

Live, interactive online sessions

Participate in real-time conversations with your global cohort through scheduled live sessions. These interactive forums enhance learning, encourage collaborative problem-solving, and enable consistent peer-to-peer connections throughout the program.

On-campus networking opportunities

Attend an optional two-day on-campus event at the University of Pennsylvania to build deeper connections with peers, engage directly with Wharton faculty, and connect with industry experts. This immersive experience strengthens cross-cohort engagement and expands your professional network for long-term impact.

Pathway to earning Wharton alumni status

Join a legacy of leadership

For over 135 years, Wharton has shaped many of the world’s most influential business leaders. By completing the CRO Program and fulfilling additional criteria, you take the first step toward Wharton alumni status.

Advance through the General Management Program (GMP)

Graduates of the CRO Program are eligible to apply for Wharton’s General Management Program (GMP) — an advanced and flexible learning journey designed to expand your leadership capabilities and sharpen your strategic thinking.

Earn credit toward your alumni pathway

The CRO Program counts as one credit toward the six required to complete the GMP.

Unlock alumni privileges

Upon completing all six credits and meeting Wharton’s requirements, you may qualify to apply for alumni status and gain access to the global Wharton alumni network.

Alumni benefits

Once you attain Wharton alumni status, you’ll gain access to:

Membership opportunities with 77+ Wharton alumni clubs worldwide
Invitations to exclusive Wharton Global alumni forums
An official Wharton email address

To learn more about the GMP and its requirements, visit the Wharton Executive Education homepage.

About Wharton

In 1881, Joseph Wharton, the American industrialist and entrepreneur, founded the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, marking the establishment of the world’s first collegiate business school. A pioneer in its field, Wharton has long been at the forefront of innovation in business education. The school not only introduced the first MBA program in 1921 but also launched groundbreaking initiatives, including the nation’s first business school research center and, more recently, cutting-edge programs in alternative investments and neuroscience.

As it continues to evolve, Wharton remains committed to shaping future business leaders, fostering transformative ideas and setting new benchmarks in global business education. Its legacy is one of consistent adaptation to the changing needs of the business world, with an emphasis on equipping students with the skills to lead in an increasingly complex global economy.

Program faculty

Raghuram Iyengar, PhD

Academic Director for the CRO Program; Miers-Busch, W’1885 Professor; Professor of Marketing; Faculty Director of Innovation, Experiential Learning and Research Initiatives, Analytics at Wharton, The Wharton School

Gad Allon, PhD

Jeffrey A. Keswin Professor; Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions, The Wharton School; Director of the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology, The University of Pennsylvania

David Wessels, PhD

Adjunct Professor of Finance; Director of Executive Education, The Wharton School

Emilie R. Feldman, PhD

Michael L. Tarnopol Professor; Professor of Management, The Wharton School

Noah Gans, PhD

Anheuser-Busch Professor of Management Science; Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions, The Wharton School

Senthil Veeraraghavan, PhD

Panasonic Professor of Manufacturing and Logistics; Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions, The Wharton School

Karl Ulrich, PhD

CIBC Endowed Professor; Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions; Professor of Management; Dean’s Office Advisor on Asia Strategy, The Wharton School

Who is the program for?

The CRO Program is ideal for:

Experienced revenue heads, including current and aspiring CROs, looking to maximize the returns on investments
Business-function heads looking to take on broader, revenue-impacting capabilities and develop a toolkit of strategies and tactics
C-suite officers keen to develop the strategic skill set required to transition into the CRO role

Participants are required to have:

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

Past Participant Profiles

Work Experience

Top Roles

Top Industries

Accounting
Advertising/Marketing/PR
Aerospace/Aviation
Agriculture
Banking
Biotechnology/Pharmaceuticals
Construction
Consulting
Consumer Products/Retail

Participant Testimonials

"I learned so much from the pricing strategy modules. The professors teaching these modules were excellent. I loved Modules 1–6 as well. They felt like an MBA refresher, which I needed."

Gretchen Becker

V.P., Executive Relationship Management, UKG – Ultimate Kronos Group

“The best part of this program was the thoughtfully structured modules and the excellent professors who brought deep industry knowledge to each course. Their expertise made complex revenue strategies easy to understand and apply. The program’s focus on the learner’s experience as a CRO within their company ensured each module was directly relevant to real-world challenges. This hands-on approach made the lessons immediately actionable, supporting direct application in revenue growth, sales strategy, and cross-functional leadership.”

Ryan Peirce

Regional Manager, Peirce-Phelps LLC

"Learning all of the various formulas and mathematical methodology behind much of the data was interesting and good to be exposed to, but the more practical side of the program was particularly engaging. An outstanding investment overall. The networking was invaluable, including the feedback from many different industries, seeing the similarities in our challenges, even in completely different businesses, created a universality and kinship I deeply enjoyed."

Peter Lowenstein

Vice Presiden, NAPCO Security – Alarm Lock/MARKS USA

“The whole experience of interacting and engaging with the professors, guest speakers, and cohorts during the live sessions was the highlight of this program. It was valuable to gain insights and experiences from industries beyond my own.”

Prathap Valliyatil Achuthan

SVP, U.S. Operations, Aspire Systems Digital Transformation Inc.