Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Program

Orchestrate growth through technology
Total Work Experience

    STARTS ON

    June 26, 2025

    DURATION

    9 to 12 Months

    Online + On Campus

    PROGRAM FEE

    US$23,000US$21,000

    get US$1,150 off with a referral

    ELIGIBILITY

    A minimum of 10 years of work experience

    Tuition Fee Benefit: US$2,000

    This benefit is only available to participants who apply on or before June 4, 2025 at 04:59 AM

    Manage disruption and drive technological change

    The rise of enterprise technology has accelerated, giving businesses a competitive edge as they embrace the latest developments in their quest to leverage organizational change. While focusing on scalable technology solutions, a chief technology officer (CTO) also must be cognizant of the company’s overriding business goals. As technology’s importance increases, so too does the CTO’s role. They must champion the benefits of emerging technologies to customers, vendors, and partners.

    The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Program has been designed by Wharton Executive Education’s prominent faculty and specialists in topics, including innovation management, information technology, strategy, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship. The core modules are organized into three phases: technology strategy; trends in technology; and the tools, techniques, and execution. The electives are designed to provide you with the opportunity to specialize in areas that aid your career growth.

    95% 

    of executives believe generative AI will induce their organizations to modernize their technology architecture
    SOURCE: Accenture Technology Vision 2024

    75%

    of successful digital transformations are influenced by CTO-led strategies
    SOURCE: The Digital Transformation Institute

    Wharton's Chief Technology Officer Program equips leaders with expertise in technology strategy, trends, and execution. The customized learning journey is tailored for senior executives to evaluate technology trends, hone strategic acumen, and determine the most efficient ways to address the role of a CTO.

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      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.

      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.

      Hear from our participants

      Who is it 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 a company

      • 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

      Program eligibility criteria include:

      • A minimum of 10 years of work experience

      • International exposure (preferred)

      • Fluency in written and spoken English

      What you will learn

      The multimodular program will enable you to:

      • Explore strategy, adaptation, and renewal in organizations

      • Investigate ideation and entry strategies for organizations and ecosystems

      • Examine implications of technology trends: blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and talent clusters and migration

      • Survey organizational privacy policies and environmental, social, and governance practices

      • Relate risk and uncertainty in innovation

      • Consider effective frameworks and metrics of an organization’s readiness to scale

      • Investigate new product domains, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships

      Learning Journey

      The CTO Program is designed with the needs of busy executives in mind. You will learn through online sessions, including fireside chats and guest lectures from leading researchers and global industry leaders. The flexible format of the CTO Program allows you to customize your learning journey for maximum career and business impact.

      LP - SEPO - WH-CTO - Learning Journey - content Reorder entry

      Note: A registration fee of US$250 is applicable for the on-campus event.

      Curriculum

      The CTO Program will enable forward-thinking executives like you to learn from a cutting-edge curriculum that reflects current industry trends. The program is organized into two components — 18 weeks of core modules followed by three online electives of six weeks each. The program’s core modules are divided into three over-arching pillars — Technology Strategy; Trends in Technology; and Tools, Techniques, and Execution. Led by esteemed Wharton faculty and industry experts who are at the cutting edge of innovation, this program prepares you to be a strategic CTO capable of bringing about transformative change.

      Live faculty-led online sessions

      Participate in case study discussions and explore real-world applications of cutting-edge research in live online sessions led by Academic Director Lori Rosenkopf. Gain valuable insights into industry challenges and opportunities, with a focus on emerging technologies, digital transformation, and innovation.

      • Case Study 1: Deloitte Pixel -

      Discuss ambidextrous organizations, disruption, and change management as key to unlocking technology's value. 

      • Case Study 2: Online Education in Elite Business Schools -

      Understand approach to buy, borrow, or build when it comes to entering new markets/implementing new technologies.

      • Research Applications Deep Dive -

      Explore the impact of networks, mobility, and influence in tech-driven industries.

      Integrated live webinars on AI and ML advancements

      In addition to the core curriculum, this program features a series of live webinars dedicated to the latest trends in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). With a special focus on emerging technologies like generative AI (genAI), these webinars provide cutting-edge insights and practical applications to help you leverage these technologies effectively in your organization.

      Join industry leaders and experienced faculty for in-depth discussions and thought-provoking lectures on how AI/genAI is enhancing productivity and customer experience and how ML is transforming industries by enabling strategic decision making, automating complex processes, fostering responsible innovation, and driving ethical governance.

      Stay ahead in the fast-evolving technological landscape and gain practical AI/ML skills by attending these live webinars.

      1

      How LLMs Took the World By Storm

      Explore how AI and ML can drive strategic decision making, optimize business processes, and unlock new opportunities for growth.

      2

      LLM Challenges in the Workplace

      Understand how professionals are leveraging emerging technologies like AI, genAI, and ML to reshape workforce dynamics, adapt to big data-driven processes, and foster innovation, redefining the human-AI collaboration frontier.
      3

      Frameworks for Accountable AI: AI Laws, Regulation, and Governance

      Dive into the evolving regulatory landscape of AI, discussing key laws, governance frameworks, and strategies for implementing responsible AI practices.

      Note: Topics and the schedule are subject to change.

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

      Meet your cohort peers and faculty in person on the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia at an optional two-day recognition ceremony and networking event*. This event takes place once every four cohorts. It gives you the opportunity to network with not just your peers but also professionals from other cohorts.
      *A registration fee of US$250 is applicable.

       Recognition ceremony and networking event

      Executive reflection

      Over the course of the program, you will work on a reflection journal by leveraging program insights and apply them to analyze challenges in your current or previous organization. For the executive reflection, you will select an issue currently confronting your organization and develop a set of potential solutions to remedy the situation. You can take advantage of weekly live sessions and the Slack channel to ask questions and discuss ideas with your success coach and cohort peers. At the end of the program, you will make a final presentation, which will be a valuable asset when proposing initiatives to decision makers in your organization.

      There are three reflection journal submissions in total — one at the end of each phase:

      Week 1: Initiate your project by determining a technology challenge or initiative for your organization.

      Week 6: Examine the experiences of implementing technology strategies to address the challenge at an organizational leadership level.

      Week 12: Examine the experiences of implementing technology trends to refine the chosen initiative or challenge.

      Week 18: Examine the tools, techniques, and methods for implementing the initiative and assess its deployment.

      All reflection journal submissions and the final presentation of the executive reflection are required to complete this program.

      Program faculty

      Wharton’s world-renowned faculty, along with acclaimed industry thought leaders, will prepare you to face a wide array of challenges. You will leverage their insights and domain expertise to better understand your business and industry and immediately apply the learnings to your organization.

      Program highlights

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      Customize your learning journey with a choice of electives in topics aligned with your career goals.

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      Learn at your own pace with a weekly commitment of three to five hours of sessions and activities.

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      Glean insights from renowned faculty and industry experts who are at the cutting edge of innovation.

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      Network with accomplished peers from around the globe and gain new approaches to leadership.

      Image to accompany text - Engage with your success coach

      Engage with your success coach to craft your learning journey through regular check-in sessions.

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      Benefit from experiential sessions combining theory with real-world case studies and apply learnings.

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      Meet peers from multiple cohorts, industry experts, and faculty during the optional two-day on-campus networking event.

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      Following successful completion of the program and subsequent open-enrollment programs, subject to further qualification criteria and additional tuition, you have a pathway to apply for Wharton alumni status.

      Pathway to 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 77+ Wharton alumni clubs

      • Invitation to attend future Wharton global alumni forums

      • A Wharton email address

      Certificate

      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 Chief Technology Officer (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.

      Application Details

      Save US$2,000

      Program Fee
      US$23,000US$21,000
      Pay by June 4, 2025 at 04:59 AM

      The program fee covers teaching fees, all academic material, and access to online coursework. The fee does not include the registration fee of US$250 for the optional two-day on-campus networking and recognition ceremony, accommodation expenses for the on-campus event, travel expenses (domestic and international, including visa fees), and any other expenses not specifically mentioned in the program fees.

      FAQs

      Connect with a program advisor for a 1:1 session

      Our program advisors have helped senior executives across the world choose the right program for their career goals. Schedule a 1:1 to get a deeper understanding on why the CTO Program is the right fit for you.

      Email: wharton_cto@emeritus.org

      Phone: +1 561 486 7448 (U.S.) / +44 1135 191350 (U.K.) / +971 80 0088601095 (U.A.E.) / +52 55970 90243 (LATAM)

      Early registrations are encouraged. Seats fill up quickly!

      Flexible payment options available.

      Starts On June 26, 2025