Emerging CPO Program

From product expertise to strategic leadership
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Learning journey

The six-month online learning journey includes 14 weeks of core leadership knowledge and two specialized modules to help you develop the skills required for future C-level leadership. The program also offers an optional two-day on-campus networking event and recognition ceremony* on the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia, where you will have the opportunity to build connections with your peers.

learning journey of the Wharton Emerging CPO Program

*Note: The last two weeks of the core executive modules will be held after the 10 weeks of specialized CPO modules.

** Note: A registration fee of US$250 is applicable.

Curriculum

The Emerging CPO Program is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to navigate the responsibilities of a future CPO. You will learn to lead with a strategic mindset while developing a powerful network of connections that will be a valuable resource on your journey to the C-suite.

What you will learn

The program will enable you to:

  • Implement a clear product strategy, and evaluate product portfolios that align with your organization’s vision and objectives, market demands, and global business challenges

  • Collaborate with diverse stakeholders to build trust, manage relationships, and communicate transparently while leveraging power, persuasion, and influence to drive change

  • Apply evidence-based frameworks to navigate disruption, and use lateral thinking and options thinking to anticipate global trends and navigate uncertainty

  • Drive cross-functional adoption of ethical decision-making best practices to inspire diverse teams toward transformative goals, and recommend strategies to improve team performance using the group-performance model

  • Analyze organizational politics and structures to build alliances and collaborations at the executive level, and develop a purpose-driven organizational strategy aligning vision with operational strategies and culture

  • Create a personalized action plan to evolve your leadership competencies and map out your journey to the C-suite

Faculty quote

Customer centricity now dominates the business landscape. To be competitive, businesses must constantly anticipate customer wants and needs, create innovative solutions, and deliver an unparalleled cu...
Wharton Emerging Chief Product Officer (CPO) Program Academic Co-Director Marissa King, PhD
Marissa King
Academic Co-Director of the Emerging CPO Program
One of the most powerful capabilities you can possess as a CPO is the strategic foresight to identify and capitalize on product opportunities. The Emerging CPO Program is unique in that it places equa...
Wharton Emerging Chief Product Officer (CPO) Program Academic Co-Director Karl Ulrich, ScD
Karl Ulrich
Academic Co-Director of the Emerging CPO Program

Who is this program for?

The Emerging CPO Program will help experienced product professionals enhance their leadership and management skills, enabling them to leverage product-development expertise, strategic thinking, and data-driven decision making to elevate their impact and continue on their path to becoming a CPO. 

The program is ideal for:

  • Vice presidents, directors, and heads of product seeking to develop the skills and mindset to lead enterprise-wide product strategy and accelerate their career growth

  • Product managers looking to leverage innovative frameworks and data-driven decision making to stay ahead of emerging trends and take on new leadership opportunities

Participants are required to have:

  • A minimum of 8 years of work experience

  • International exposure (preferred)

  • Fluency in written and spoken English

Note: This program is tailored for product professionals on the path to C-suite roles and is not intended for individuals currently serving as CPOs.

Program highlights

Comprehensive curriculum of the Wharton eCPO program
Comprehensive curriculum

Immerse yourself in a comprehensive curriculum that gives you the momentum to transition to a C-level role.

Individualized focus of the Wharton Emerging Chief Product Officer (CPO) Program
Individualized focus

Cultivate future-ready leadership skills through personalized assessments and evidence-based exercises, webinars, and career workshops.

Leadership-development action plan for theWharton Emerging Chief Prodcut Officer (CPO) Program
Leadership-development action plan

Create a detailed strategy to evolve your leadership abilities that propel you toward your objective of becoming a CPO.

Live sessions for the Wharton eCPO Program
Live sessions

Experience real-time learning in live sessions that give depth to key leadership concepts.

Expert insights on the Wharton eCPO program
Expert insights

Acquire rich real-world insights into product leadership and social networking through the expertise of world-renowned Wharton faculty.

Case studies and industry examples in the Wharton eCPO Program
Case studies and industry examples

Experience the power of modern product strategies and leadership practices as they come to life with real-world examples.

Case studies and industry examples in the Wharton eCPO Program
Industry Interviews

Gain valuable insights into product leadership from top industry experts through a series of exclusive interviews.

Executive development workshops at Wharton eCPO Program
Executive-development workshops

Venture deeper into key leadership tenets to gain hands-on skills and confidently tackle complex challenges as you take on the CPO role.

Peer-support circles at Wharton eCPO Program
Peer-support circles

Spark meaningful conversations and establish enduring connections within a smaller community of classmates.

on-campus networking at Wharton eCPO Program
Networking opportunities

Expand your professional network through virtual meet-ups, executive peer groups, and an on-campus event with a global cohort of peers.

success coach for Wharton Emerging eCPO Program
Success coach

Optimize your learning journey through weekly check-ins with a success coach assigned to your cohort.

Capstone project

The capstone project presents an opportunity for you to synthesize the knowledge and insights gained throughout the program and apply them to an extended case study. Through a systematic and strategic approach, you will leverage the program's learnings to develop a portfolio of product-management tasks for the product of your choice. This hands-on experience can help you to translate theory into practice and drive change.

Meet the faculty

Wharton Emerging Chief Product Officer (CPO) Program Academic Co-Director Karl Ulrich, ScD
Karl Ulrich, ScD

Academic Co-Director; CIBC Endowed Professor; Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions; Professor of Management; Dean's Office Advisor on Asia Strategy

Karl Ulrich’s research focuses on innovation, entrepreneurship, and product development. He is the recipient of many teaching awards, including the Anvil Award, the Miller-She...

Wharton Emerging Chief Product Officer (CPO) Program Academic Co-Director Marissa King, PhD
Marissa King, PhD

Academic Co-Director; Alice Y. Hung President’s Distinguished Professor; Professor of Health Care Management; Professor of Management

Marissa King’s research focuses on deciphering the complexities of human interactions within the context of health care organizations, teams, and broader social structures. He...

Note: The faculty list is subject to change.

Wharton Emerging Chief Product Officer (CPO) Program certificate

Certificate

Earn a Wharton Executive Education digital certificate upon successful completion of the program. Participants of this transformative program get exclusive access to a wide range of professionals, events, and networking opportunities.

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 Emerging CPO Program (a) will not result in a degree from, alumni status, 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 any other university or institution.

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 of why the Emerging CPO Program is the right fit for you.

Email: learner.success@emeritus.org

Phone: +1 315 847 4592 (U.S.) / +44 782 202 6595 (U.K.) / +65 3138 6189 (S.G.)

Early registrations are encouraged. Seats fill up quickly!

Flexible payment options available.

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