Orchestrate growth through technology
June 29, 2022
9 to 12 Months
Online + On Campus
US$19,500 US$500 application fee
Early Registration Benefit
US$500
We are offering an early registration benefit on the program fee exclusively for participants who apply by May 26, 2022.
The final fee will be US$19,500.
Throughout the learning journey of 9 to 12 months, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Program will inform you through a mix of in-depth core modules and electives, real-world case studies, polls, reflection journal, and lectures — providing you with solutions to business challenges your organization confronts on a daily basis. The core modules will focus on key areas such as technology trends, mastering innovation, and technology strategy. As a program participant, you will explore how to implement innovative technologies using appropriate tools and techniques so that they can thrive throughout your organization. You will also learn how to build and scale a technology architecture for optimal deployment. Through interactive sessions, you will learn how to apply relevant practices — gaining insights from world-renowned faculty, knowledgeable practitioners, and accomplished peers. Check-in sessions with a success coach will customize this learning journey to your professional needs while the flexible format will allow you to learn at your own pace and on your own schedule.
of executives state that technology architecture is becoming critical to the overall success of their organization.
of executives agree their organization must train its people to think like technologists.
Interactive sessions
Leverage interactive sessions with faculty, fireside chats with practitioners, and networking sessions with peers.
Flexible
Learn at your own pace with online sessions and customize your learning journey with electives.
Choice of electives
Select from relevant topical electives to gain skill sets specific to your career goals.
Expert faculty
Learn from world-renowned Wharton faculty and global industry experts.
Executive reflection
Through in-depth exploration with faculty, coaches, and peers, prepare a presentation that addresses a real-world technology issue.
Comprehensive curriculum
Immerse in a 9- to 12-month learning journey that includes in-depth sessions in the latest technology tools, trends, and strategies.
Real-world applications
Learn from real-world case studies and business challenges during the program, and apply the learnings to your job immediately.
Success coach
You will be assigned a success coach who will help craft your learning journey in line with your career goals.
Peer interaction
Interact with and learn from high-achieving peers from around the globe and build your network.
Pathway to alumni status
Following successful completion of 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.
Knowing how to manage the risks of disruption is critical in today’s technology-driven business world. As a participant in the CTO Program, you will emerge equipped with the tools to not only manage risk but also recognize and validate new opportunities for your organization. You will explore the concepts of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and more — and learn how these developments are driving growth on a global scale. You will also discuss how to use strategic processes to improve technology deployment, and discover optimal methods for executing an effective technology vision.
Note: Session topics are subject to change.
As a participant in the CTO Program, you will select three online electives (of six weeks each). During the elective period, you will dive deeper into how senior leaders can influence the impact of technology on the bottom line. This exploration will include discussions of real-world case studies and how to apply what you’ve learned upon returning to your workplace. While issues faced by CTOs are often similar in scope, insights discussed in these sessions can offer perspectives from different industries and solutions to universal challenges.
Note: Final list of electives is subject to change.
*This event will occur annually in Philadelphia upon the completion of every fourth cohort of this program.
Over the course of the program, you will work on a reflection journal that will help you leverage the insights gained from the program and apply them to analyze challenges in your previous or current organization. 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.
As part of the project, you will develop a reflection journal to relate Phase I, II, and III topics to your organizational experiences. For each reflection, you will choose six subtopics (one subtopic from each week) and write a cumulative 350- to 400-word reflection. You will also be presented with a series of questions that will help you to get started on your reflection. 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
Week 6
Week 12
Week 18
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:
Tapping into a rich reservoir of groundbreaking research and practical business acumen, Wharton’s elite faculty offer you an invaluable learning experience that carries beyond the classroom into the real world. Recognized for their extensive breadth and depth of knowledge in business, technology, and entrepreneurship, our esteemed thought leaders and exceptional industry experts work together to enlighten you about novel approaches to global business challenges, share unique perspectives about industry breakthroughs, and encourage you to experiment with new ways of confronting old problems. In the technology sphere, our acclaimed faculty investigate the impact of cutting-edge trends on global growth and how they might positively impact the implementation of your organization’s technology strategy.
At Wharton, we thrive in an environment that promotes collaboration, inclusiveness, and accessibility so that seasoned professionals like you are inspired to reach beyond your limits and broaden your leadership scope — both professionally and personally — for an educational opportunity that is unparalleled and transformational.
Academic Director for the CTO Program, Wharton Executive Education; Simon and Midge Palley Professor; Professor of Management; Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship, The Wharton School
Jeffrey A. Keswin Professor; Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions; Director, Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, The Wharton School
Richard A. Sapp Professor; Professor of Management, The Wharton School
Deloitte & Touche Professor of Management; Director, Wharton Political Risk Lab; Founder, Wharton ESG Analytics Lab, The Wharton School
Max and Bernice Garchik Family Presidential Associate Professor of Management, The Wharton School
Professor of Management, The Wharton School
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
Associate Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions, The Wharton School
CIBC Endowed Professor; Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions; Professor of Management, The Wharton School
Professor of Legal Studies & Business Ethics, The Wharton School
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.
Download BrochurePlease 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.
Whether you are tasked with developing your company’s strategy for enhancing technological improvements or identifying and implementing new technologies, you will benefit from this comprehensive program. CTOs, aspiring CTOs, and senior executives who aim to lead the technology strategy of a company — as well as VPs of engineering, software architects, or those responsible for evaluating and implementing new systems — will also benefit from this informative learning experience. You will emerge with a firm grasp and clear understanding of frameworks that ensure your organization excels in these evolving times.
Program eligibility criteria include: