Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Program

Orchestrate growth through technology

Duration: 9 to 12 Months
Modality: Online + On Campus
Application Fee: US$300

Manage disruption and drive technological change

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, organizations face unprecedented challenges in navigating disruptive technology, adapting to emerging trends, and sustaining innovation. The demand for visionary CTOs who can lead this transformation has never been greater.

Wharton Executive Education's CTO Program leverages the expertise of renowned faculty and industry specialists in key areas including innovation management, information technology, strategy, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship. The program is structured around three core phases: technology strategy; trends in technology; and the tools, techniques, and execution. To further refine their expertise, participants can choose from a range of electives that align with their professional growth and aspirations. The program equips current and aspiring CTOs with advanced leadership skills and the practical knowledge needed to shape their organization’s future and stay at the forefront of technological evolution.

Insights from the Academic Director

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CTO Program: a transformative learning journey

The CTO Program is designed to equip forward-thinking executives with the knowledge and skills to drive organizational innovation and technology leadership. The program combines a structured format with flexibility to ensure maximum learning and business impact.

The curriculum is divided into two main components — a foundational 18-week core module phase followed by three online electives of six weeks each. Participants will have the opportunity to attend an optional on-campus event for experiential learning and networking engagements.

Core modules | Phase 1 | Technology Strategy | 6 Weeks

Core modules | Phase 2 | Trends in Technology | 6 Weeks

Core modules | Phase 3 | Tools, Techniques, and Execution | 6 Weeks

Online electives (online | 6 weeks each | choose any three)

Recognition ceremony and networking event (2 days | on campus)

Explore cutting-edge AI and ML through live webinars

Live faculty-led online sessions

Executive reflection: transform insights into action

Certificate

Earn a Wharton Executive Education digital certificate upon successful completion of the program. As an alumnus of this transformative program, you 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, your verified digital certificate will be emailed to you 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 CTO 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 be admitted to the University of Pennsylvania, the Wharton School, or to any other university or institution

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Establish valuable connections with your peers

Live online interactions

Throughout the program, live online sessions foster real-time engagement with a global cohort, allowing for in-depth discussions that broaden your perspective. These interactive sessions enhance learning and ensure that you remain connected with industry peers worldwide.

Networking

The on-campus event provides a unique platform for networking across cohorts. It offers the opportunity to exchange experiences, build connections, and strengthen relationships with peers, creating a robust network that extends beyond the program.

Pathway to earning Wharton alumni status

For more than 135 years, Wharton has been the place where visionaries, inventors, and trailblazers get their start. After completing the CTO Program and subsequent open-enrollment programs, subject to further qualification criteria and additional tuition, you have a pathway to apply for Wharton alumni status.

Executives who successfully complete the CTO Program have the option of applying to the General Management Program (GMP). The GMP provides further opportunity to enhance your leadership skills and business acumen with a flexible curriculum. The CTO Program provides one credit towards the six required to complete the GMP and earn alumni status. More details on the GMP are available at Wharton Executive Education. Upon qualifying for Wharton alumni status, you will be eligible to receive:

Full access to become a member of more than 77 Wharton alumni clubs
Invitation to attend future Wharton global alumni forums
A Wharton email address

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

Microsite - Wh - Core Faculty - Lori Rosenkopf

Lori Rosenkopf, PhD

Simon and Midge Palley Professor; Professor of Management; Academic Director of the CTO Program, Wharton Executive Education; Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship, The Wharton School

Microsite - Wh - Core Faculty - Gad Allon

Gad Allon, PhD

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

Microsite - Wh - Core Faculty - David Hsu

David Hsu, PhD

Richard A. Sapp Professor; Professor of Management, The Wharton School

Witold Henisz, PhD

Deloitte & Touche Professor of Management; Director, Wharton Political Risk Lab; Founder, Wharton ESG Analytics Lab, The Wharton School

Exequiel Hernandez, PhD

Max and Bernice Garchik Family Presidential Associate Professor of Management, The Wharton School

Rahul Kapoor, PhD

Professor of Management, The Wharton School

Harbir Singh, PhD

Mack Professor; Professor of Management; Co-Director, Mack Institute for Innovation Management; Wharton School Faculty Director for the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business, The Wharton School

Prasanna Tambe, PhD

Associate Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions, The Wharton School

Karl Ulrich, PhD

CIBC Endowed Professor; Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions; Professor of Management, The Wharton School

Kevin Werbach, JD

Professor of Legal Studies & Business Ethics, The Wharton School

Success coach

David Nicholson

Field Chief Technology Officer, Infinidat

Sue Eppley

Director, Center of Leadership in Professional Selling

Varun Kaushal

Former Executive Director Of Technology, Everspring

Lauren Hartmann-Valencia

Founder & CEO - Mariposa Executive Coaching & Development LLC

Raquel Gonzalez-Dalmau

Executive Educator and Coach

Who is the program for?

The CTO Program is ideal for:

CTOs, aspiring CTOs, and senior executives with experience in technology management who aim to lead the technology strategy of an organization
VPs of engineering, software architects, or those responsible for evaluating and implementing new systems
Senior technology executives tasked with developing strategy or identifying and implementing new technologies

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

The CTO Program attracts individuals who have diverse backgrounds, come from different industries, and bring unique experiences. The inclusive nature of the cohort ensures that you engage with like-minded peers and gain valuable insights to address the challenges faced by your organization.

The CTO Program has 1,500+ past participants till date.

Work Experience

Top Roles

Top Industries

Consulting
Manufacturing
Engineering & IT
Financial Services
Consumer Products / Retail
Banking & Insurance
Energy / Utilities
Health Care / Services

Where past participants come from

Disclaimer: All product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Use of product and company names does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by the holders.

The list of companies is only indicative and not exhaustive.

Participant Testimonials

The knowledge I’m gaining from the CTO Program allows me to influence how we run our business. As I look at the next two to five years of my career, I know I will be able to immediately apply some of the topics included in the curriculum.

Anqi Zou

Finance leader

Wharton Executive Education’s CTO Program helped me learn the significance of VUCA frameworks and how they can be applied as a foundation to realize innovative technological changes effectively.

Surjya Misra

Technology transformation leader

Wharton nailed the opportunity to build the world’s best CTO Program. It equips you with the mindset to generate innovative ideas and strategies to validate business models. “Scale” is one word that I take from this program. After all, it’s not about sense and solve; it’s about scaling with technology.

Prashant Pandey

Technology leader

I really enjoyed the overall core, some topics were a refresher and others were new and interesting along with good insight into specific information on how to look at and accomplish projects differently.

John Kulakowski

Information technology leader

I liked the real-life examples, the business cases, and the professor's overview of the real-life cases. It made the concepts presented in the core modules much easier to follow.

Sandra Tocto

Technology Leader

The professors brought energy and expertise to their subjects. The frameworks provide a common reference point and a shared language that can be used to engage many challenges for CTOs.

Sam Schreiber

Engineering Leader