Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Program

Orchestrate growth through technology

Total Work Experience

    Starts On:

    June 26, 2025

    Duration:

    9 to 12 Months

    Modality:

    Online + On Campus

    Program Fee:

    US$23,000US$21,500

    Application Fee: US$200

    Payment Plan:

    Eligibility:

    A minimum of 10 years of work experience

    Tuition Fee Benefit: US$1,500

    This benefit is only available to participants who apply on or before June 25, 2025 at 04:59 AM

    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.

    LearnCollaborateExploreAI Series Live Faculty-led Online Sessions
    (DEV)PLP - WH-CTO.SEPO - Learn - 9- to 12-month program journey - Icon
    9 to 12 month program journey

    Gain an in-depth understanding with a comprehensive approach: core modules, choice of electives, and an executive reflection journal that aligns with the CTO's leadership and technological focus.

    (DEV)PLP - WH-CTO.SEPO - Learn - Minimal time commitment - Icon
    Minimal time commitment

    Dedicate approximately three to five hours a week toward engaging in program materials, including videos, reading content, case studies, assignments, and live sessions that enhance your leadership in technology.

    (DEV)PLP - WH-CTO.SEPO - Learn - Online and on-campus learning - Icon
    Online and on-campus learning

    Experience a blend of flexible online learning and engaging on-campus events, enabling you to connect with peers, faculty, and industry leaders to discuss the latest technology strategies.

    (DEV)PLP - WH-CTO.SEPO - Learn - Electives - Icon
    Electives to tailor your learning journey

    Tailor your journey by selecting electives that align with your goals — from leadership and AI to digital transformation and data-driven strategies — ensuring a personalized learning experience.

    (DEV)PLP - WH-CTO.SEPO - Learn - Program playbook - Icon
    Program playbook

    Apply course concepts to real-world challenges in your organization through reflective activities, and record your insights and actionable strategies in a playbook to guide your leadership journey.

    (DEV)PLP - WH-CTO.SEPO - Learn - Capstone project - Icon
    Capstone project

    Develop a strategic plan and presentation for implementing cutting-edge technologies and driving innovation in your organization, using the knowledge and tools gained throughout the program.

    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.

    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

    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:

    1. Full access to become a member of more than 77 Wharton alumni clubs

    2. Invitation to attend future Wharton global alumni forums

    3. A Wharton email address

    (DEV)PLP - WH-CTO.SEPO - About School

    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
    WH-CTO - Faculty - Witold Henisz
    Witold Henisz, PhD
    Deloitte & Touche Professor of Management; Director, Wharton Political Risk Lab; Founder, Wharton ESG Analytics Lab, The Wharton School
    WH-CTO - Faculty - Exequiel Hernandez
    Exequiel Hernandez, PhD
    Max and Bernice Garchik Family Presidential Associate Professor of Management, The Wharton School
    WH-CTO - Faculty - Rahul Kapoor
    Rahul Kapoor, PhD
    Professor of Management, The Wharton School
    WH-CTO - Faculty - Harbir Singh
    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
    WH-CTO - Faculty - Prasanna Tambe
    Prasanna Tambe, PhD
    Associate Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions, The Wharton School
    WH - Faculty - Karl Ulrich
    Karl Ulrich, PhD
    CIBC Endowed Professor; Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions; Professor of Management, The Wharton School
    WH-CTO - Faculty - Kevin Werbach
    Kevin Werbach, JD
    Professor of Legal Studies & Business Ethics, The Wharton School

    Success coach

    WH-CTO - Success Coach - David Nicholson
    David Nicholson
    Field Chief Technology Officer, Infinidat
    Sue
    Sue Eppley
    Director, Center of Leadership in Professional Selling
    Microsite - WH-CTO - Faculty - Success Coach Varun Kaushal
    Varun Kaushal
    Former Executive Director Of Technology, Everspring
    Microsite - WH-CTO - Faculty - Success Coach Lauren Hartmann-Valencia
    Lauren Hartmann-Valencia
    Founder & CEO - Mariposa Executive Coaching & Development LLC
    Microsite - WH-CTO - Faculty - Success Coach Raquel Gonzalez-Dalmau
    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
    • bullet-iconConsulting
    • bullet-iconManufacturing
    • bullet-iconEngineering & IT
    • bullet-iconFinancial Services
    • bullet-iconConsumer Products / Retail
    • bullet-iconBanking & Insurance
    • bullet-iconEnergy / Utilities
    • bullet-iconHealth 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

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    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
    (DEV)PLP - WH-CTO.SEPO - Participant Testimonials - Anqi Zou
    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
    (DEV)PLP - WH-CTO.SEPO - Participant Testimonials - Surjya Misra
    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
    (DEV)PLP - WH-CTO.SEPO - Participant Testimonials - Prashant Pandey
    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

    Application Details

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    Program fee
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    Pay in Installments
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    Referral Benefits
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    Employer Sponsorship

    FAQs

    Early registrations are encouraged

    (DEV)PLP - WH-CTO.SEPO - Registration Step 1
    Download the brochure

    Provide your details and access the program brochure

    (DEV)PLP - WH-CTO.SEPO - Registration Step 2
    Connect with an advisor

    A learning advisor will connect with you to provide additional information.

    (DEV)PLP - WH-CTO.SEPO - Registration Step 3
    Apply for the program

    When you are ready, you can send in your application for the program.