Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) Program

Shape the future with strategic leadership
Total Work Experience

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What You Will Learn

This seven-month immersive learning journey will enable you to:

  • Think critically and strategically, considering long-term goals, market dynamics, and competitive positioning

  • Address the impact of technology on business models and operations, and leverage digital tools, AI and strategies for growth

  • Cultivate a culture of innovation by fostering creative thinking, experimentation, and a willingness to challenge the status quo

  • Strengthen your financial literacy and analytical skills to make informed decisions, strategically allocate resources, and drive sustainable growth

  • Enhance your leadership skills to adapt to changing environments, inspire teams, and drive organizational success

Curriculum

The Berkeley Chief Strategy Officer Program offers you a dynamic experience with online sessions, expert lectures, and practical activities. It combines a cutting-edge curriculum, case studies, and capstone projects to enhance your strategic acumen and leadership skills. You will also engage in live online sessions delivered by Berkeley Haas faculty and guest speakers.

As the landscape keeps shifting, continuously adapting the strategy becomes increasingly critical to ensure a sustained competitive advantage. The Berkeley Chief Strategy Officer Program equips leaders with the skills to develop and execute strategies, lead effectively, and drive business transformation — all critical to becoming a proactive, future-ready CSO.
Profile picture of program faculty Saikat Chaudhuri
Saikat Chaudhuri
Faculty Director

Program Highlights

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Flexible Learning Journey

Dedicate three to five hours weekly, balancing learning with work.

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World-Renowned Faculty

Learn from the Berkeley Haas faculty and global thought leaders.

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Peer Circles

Discuss business, leadership, and career challenges with peers.

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Success Coach

Craft your learning journey in line with your career goals with a success coach assigned to your cohort.

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Capstone Strategy Projects

Apply learnings to real-world business challenges, bridging theory and practice.

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Interactive Live Sessions

Engage with faculty members, coaches, and industry leaders for cutting-edge insights.

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Path to Alumni Benefits

Completion of this program fulfills 12 curriculum days toward the Berkeley Certificate of Business Excellence (COBE).

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Expand Your Network

Connect with peers, industry leaders, and faculty members during the three-day campus event in California.

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Silicon Valley Ecosystem

Become part of the unique Bay Area ecosystem, which is pivotal in shaping the future of technology and business.

Global Leadership Campus Immersion

The program concludes with a three-day on-campus immersive learning and networking event at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. The Global Leadership Campus Immersion will be an action-packed networking opportunity featuring in-person faculty-led sessions, master classes, guest lectures, and peer discussions. You will attend in-person sessions with cutting-edge disruptors, industry guest speakers, and thought leaders at the forefront of digital innovation and strategy. Scheduled networking breaks will allow you to interact with your peers and grow your professional community.

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Capstone Strategy Projects

Across the four core modules, you will apply classroom lessons to distinct projects, each addressing a critical aspect of the CSO’s role. These projects will tackle real-world challenges in areas such as strategic operations, complex project leadership, C-suite dynamics, and technology integration. Through these assignments, you will demonstrate your grasp of key concepts and your ability to drive strategic excellence and innovation in your organization.

Meet the Faculty

The Berkeley Chief Strategy Officer Program is developed and taught by a team of Berkeley Haas faculty who are renowned experts and skilled educators with a focus on the sociological and psychological processes within organizations. They bring to the classroom their deep research capabilities and rich experience from some of the world's most prominent enterprises.

Profile picture of program faculty Saikat Chaudhuri
Saikat Chaudhuri

Faculty Director | M.E.T. Program and Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurship Hub | Grimes M.E.T. Chancellor's Chair | Teaching Professor

Contributing Faculty

Profile picture of program faculty Ned Augenblick
Ned Augenblick

Edward J. and Mollie Arnold Chair in Business Administration | Associate Professor

Profile picture of program faculty Homa Bahrami
Homa Bahrami

Senior Lecturer, Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Profile picture of program faculty  Sara Beckman
Sara Beckman

Teaching Professor | Earl F. Cheit Faculty Fellow

Profile picture of program faculty Jennifer Chatman
Jennifer Chatman

Interim Dean | Paul J. Cortese Distinguished Professor of Management

Profile picture of program faculty Mark Coopersmith
Mark Coopersmith

Lecturer in Entrepreneurship | Senior Fellow

Profile picture of program faculty Sunil Dutta
Sunil Dutta

Professor | William D. Crawford Chair in Taxation and Accounting

Profile picture of program faculty Frederico Finan
Frederico Finan

George Break and Helen Schnacke Break Distinguished Professor of Economics and Business Administration

Profile picture of program faculty Kellie McElhaney
Kellie McElhaney

Lecturer | Founding Director, Center for Equity, Gender, and Leadership

Profile picture of program faculty Don Moore
Don Moore

Professor | Lorraine Tyson Mitchell Chair in Leadership and Communication

Profile picture of program faculty Abhishek Nagaraj
Abhishek Nagaraj

Associate Professor, Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Profile picture of program faculty Brandi Pearce
Brandi Pearce

Lecturer | Director, High Impact Teams and Research | Team@Haas

Profile picture of program faculty Juliana Schroeder
Juliana Schroeder

Associate Professor | Harold Furst Chair in Management Philosophy and Values

Profile picture of program faculty Sameer Srivastava
Sameer Srivastava

Professor | Ewald T. Grether Professor of Business Administration and Public Policy | Chair, Management of Organizations

Profile picture of program faculty Terry Taylor
Terry Taylor

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs | Milton W. Terrill Chaired Professor of Business Administration

Who Is It For?

The Berkeley Chief Strategy Officer Program is designed for accomplished professionals keen on advancing their strategic leadership capabilities.

The program is ideal for:

  • Current CSOs seeking to expand their strategic framework and drive change

  • New and aspiring CSOs looking to develop their strategic capabilities and lead organizational transformation

  • Senior professionals with over 15 years of experience aiming to advance into strategic leadership and C-suite roles

  • Business leaders, including country heads, business unit heads, and general managers, aiming to enhance their strategic thinking and drive change initiatives

  • Functional leaders in strategy, product, marketing, finance, and operations looking to elevate their leadership skills and strategic thinking

  • Senior management consultants keen on advising organizations on business transformation and competitive strategy

Path to Berkeley Certificate of Business Excellence

Completing the Berkeley Chief Strategy Officer Program fulfills 12 curriculum days toward the Berkeley Executive Education Certificate of Business Excellence (COBE). Participants have up to three years to complete additional Berkeley programs and earn their COBE. The benefits include:

Networking and Events
  • Join local alumni chapters or clubs in your region

  • Participate in the annual Berkeley Haas Alumni Conference

  • Attend select Berkeley Haas and Berkeley Executive Education networking events that are open to the COBE community

Exclusive Berkeley Resources
  • A discount of 15% on the list price of future eligible Berkeley Executive Education programs

  • A discount of 30% on the list price of future eligible programs after the completion of your COBE

  • A @haas.executivealumni.berkeley.edu email forwarding address

  • Public visitor access to select campus libraries and university database services

News and Communication
  • A one-year complimentary digital subscription to the California Management Review

  • Berkeley Haas Alumni Jobs newsletter featuring job postings from distinguished employers

  • Haas Insights offering the latest research and thought leadership

Note: All benefits are subject to change. The discounts mentioned may not be combined with other promotions or special offers.

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Certificate

Upon successful completion of the program, Berkeley Executive Education grants a verified digital certificate of completion. Participants must complete 80 percent of the required activities, including a capstone project (if any), to obtain the certificate of completion.

Successful completion of this program fulfills 12 curriculum days (minimum requirement of 17 curriculum days) toward the Berkeley Certificate of Business Excellence (COBE) under either the Leadership and Communication or Strategy and Management pillars.

Learn more about how it works.

Note: This program results in a digital certificate of completion and is not eligible for degree credit/CEUs. 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 Berkeley Executive Education.

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This program counts toward the Berkeley COBE

Curriculum days: 12 days

Pillars: Strategy and Management or Leadership and Communication

A Berkeley COBE gives individuals the opportunity to create a personal plan of study according to our four academic pillars. Participants will earn a mark of distinction with certification from a world-class university and enjoy the flexibility of completing the program in up to three years.

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 gain a deeper understanding of why the Berkeley Chief Strategy Officer Program is the right fit for you. Email: berkeley_cso@emeritus.org

Phone: +1 567 485 3613 (U.S.) / +44 1313 812082 (U.K.) / +971 80 0035703815 (U.A.E.) / +52 55682 69035 (LATAM)

Early registrations are encouraged. Seats fill up quickly!

Flexible payment options are available.

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