Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) Program
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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 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.
Equip yourself to craft and execute corporate strategies that drive organizational growth by mastering strategic thinking, customer centricity, operational excellence, and change leadership.
Sharpening Your Strategic Thinking
Creating a Customer-Centric Organization
Operations Strategy
Driving Dynamic Execution
Future-Proofing Your Organization: Scenario Planning
Strategic Budgeting and Resource Allocation
Lead through disruption by harnessing AI as a strategic lever, using data-driven insights in decision making, embedding ethical AI practices, and fostering a culture of innovation to drive a sustainable business impact.
Leveraging Emerging Technologies for Business Transformation
Leading Innovation
Go-to-Market Strategy
Introduction to Big Data and AI
Descriptive Analytics and Data Visualization for Business
The Future of Big Data and AI
Experimentation for Business
Develop the skills to drive sustainable global growth by gaining expertise in strategy execution, market expansion, and M&A and navigating the global business landscape.
Leading Growth Strategies
Mastering the Stages of Global Growth
Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)
Strategy in the Global Political Economy
Corporate Strategy: Sustainability and Growth
Growth Marketing Strategies
Strengthen your executive leadership capabilities by enhancing decision making, collaboration, influence, and resilience to lead organizations with vision and impact.
Your Leadership Style
Executive Presence
Effective Decision Making
Executive Team Dynamics: Unlocking Your Teams' Collective Intelligence
Cross-Functional Collaboration and Influence
Negotiation Skills
Fostering a Culture of Innovation and Inclusive Impact
Organizational Design for Competitive Advantage
Team Leadership in Times of Change
The Global Leadership Campus Immersion, held in the summer/fall at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley campus, brings together participants from multiple cohorts of the Berkeley Chief Strategy Officer Program for a two-day in-person networking event, live sessions with the faculty, keynote by guest speakers, and more. This event presents a significant opportunity for you to engage with peers, acquire knowledge, and conclude your program journey.
Live Online Series with the Faculty Director
As part of this executive program’s immersive learning journey, you will engage in interactive, faculty-led sessions that connect academic insights with real-world leadership practice. These sessions are designed to help you navigate disruption, execute growth strategies, and lead effectively in complex business environments. You will gain strategic insights through:
Session 1:
Examine how organizations can anticipate, navigate, and drive technological change. Learn to translate innovation frameworks into actionable digital transformation strategies that strengthen long-term competitiveness.
Session 2:
Explore the interplay between market forces and the broader political and economic landscape. Understand how global regulatory, social, and geopolitical dynamics shape corporate strategy, risk management, and scaling decisions.
Session 3:
Develop the judgment and influence required for executive-level decision-making. Delve into key leadership capabilities, including managing under uncertainty, shaping strategic direction, and driving alignment across senior teams.
Note: Session topics are subject to change.
AI Strategy and Innovation
Explore AI’s strategic role in business through expert guidance and practical tools, discovering its impact on business decision making and process optimization.
AI in Action
Deep dive into real-world examples that illustrate how strategy leaders like you assess, deploy and expand AI solutions.
Data-Driven Leadership
Use big data and machine learning to enhance decision making and generate tangible results.
AI Strategy in Practice
Establish approaches for integrating AI across diverse industries and stages of growth.
Human and AI Collaboration
Support teams through change while upholding ethical standards and fostering trust in technology.
Program Highlights
Flexible Learning Journey
Dedicate three to five hours weekly, balancing learning with work.
World-Renowned Faculty
Learn from the Berkeley Haas faculty and global thought leaders.
Peer Circles
Discuss business, leadership, and career challenges with peers.
Success Coach
Craft your learning journey in line with your career goals with a success coach assigned to your cohort.
Capstone Strategy Projects
Apply learnings to real-world business challenges, bridging theory and practice.
Interactive Live Sessions
Engage with faculty members, coaches, and industry leaders for cutting-edge insights.
Path to Alumni Benefits
Completion of this program fulfills 12 curriculum days toward the Berkeley Certificate of Business Excellence (COBE).
Expand Your Network
Connect with peers, industry leaders, and faculty members during the two-day campus event in California.
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 two-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.
Capstone Strategy Projects
Across the four core modules, you will apply 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.
Faculty Director | M.E.T. Program and Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurship Hub | Grimes M.E.T. Chancellor's Chair | Teaching Professor
Contributing Faculty
Affiliated Professor | Haas School of Business
Edward J. and Mollie Arnold Chair in Business Administration | Associate Professor
Senior Lecturer | Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Teaching Professor | Earl F. Cheit Faculty Fellow
Interim Dean | Paul J. Cortese Distinguished Professor of Management
Lecturer in Entrepreneurship | Senior Fellow
Professor | William D. Crawford Chair in Taxation and Accounting
George Break and Helen Schnacke Break Distinguished Professor of Economics and Business Administration
Continuing Professional Faculty | Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Continuing Lecturer | Business and Public Policy
Lecturer | Business and Public Policy
Professional Faculty | Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Lecturer | Founding Director, Center for Equity, Gender, and Leadership
Professor | Lorraine Tyson Mitchell Chair in Leadership and Communication
Associate Professor | Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Lecturer | Director, High Impact Teams and Research | Team@Haas
Continuing Professional Faculty | Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Associate Professor | Harold Furst Chair in Management Philosophy and Values
Professor | Ewald T. Grether Professor of Business Administration and Public Policy | Chair, Management of Organizations
Lecturer | Executive Director, Center for Responsible Business
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
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.
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
The Berkeley Chief Strategy Officer Program is a multimodular immersive learning journey that aims to provide participants with the tools and frameworks to lead strategic excellence and drive organizational change. You will learn about critical thinking, effective leadership, and digital integration to emerge as a dynamic strategy leader.
The Berkeley Chief Strategy Officer Program is designed for current and aspiring CSOs as well as executives who will take on a strategic leadership position in the next phase of their careers.
The program consists of four core modules delivered through online and live online sessions with faculty. It concludes with a two-day networking event at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley campus, where you will meet peers from multiple cohorts, faculty, and industry leaders.
UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, DBA Berkeley Executive Education, is a California nonprofit organization formed for the purpose of operating executive education programs in support of UC Berkeley and the Haas School of Business.
Upon completing the program, you will receive a verified digital certificate and earn a path to select Berkeley Haas alumni benefits.
Applications to the Berkeley Chief Strategy Officer Program are to be made online. Application fees vary by rounds. Applying earlier increases your chance of being accepted into the program.
Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.
For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.
Fees for Emeritus programs with Berkeley Executive Education may not be paid for with (a) funds from the GI Bill, the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Act of 2008, or similar types of military education funding benefits or (b) Title IV financial aid funds.
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 applications are encouraged. Admissions are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Flexible payment options are available.
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