Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Program

Enhance your impact as a technology strategy leader

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Course Dates

STARTS ON

TBD

Course Duration

DURATION

12 Months
Live Online, Online and On Campus

Course Fee

PROGRAM FEE

and get US$1,000 off with a referral application fee

Program Overview

As technological transformation drives changes in business models across industries, technology leaders need to shift their way of thinking. The Berkeley Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Program is designed for professionals with experience in the technology function who want to step into senior management roles. It offers a unique blend of theory, practical applications, and interactions with industry experts to deliver the hands-on experience and skills necessary to make that transition.

The comprehensive curriculum will enable you to take on a more strategic view of your organization’s technology architecture and business landscape and develop initiatives to lead technology transformation towards organizational success. The program’s immersive, 12-month learning journey covers three core modules and two asynchronous short courses (one course on Business Analytics for Leaders and another on Future of Technology). The core modules are delivered primarily through The Forum — Berkeley's state-of-the-art virtual platform that simulates an interactive classroom environment allowing you to engage in real-time with your faculty and classmates. This highly transformative learning journey concludes with an in-person networking and graduation event on the UC Berkeley campus when safety and travel guidelines allow.

Upon completing the program, you will receive a Certificate of Excellence in Technology Strategy and earn select Berkeley Haas Alumni benefits.

93%

of all CEOs assert that technology is key to driving product and service innovation.

Source: 2020 Deloitte and WSJ Intelligence Global Survey

84%

of all CEOs say the ideal technology leader must have experience in leading change and transformation.

Source: 2020 Deloitte and WSJ Intelligence Global Survey

40%

of all CEOs see technology leaders as the key drivers of business strategy.

Source: 2020 Deloitte and WSJ Intelligence Global Survey

Program Highlights

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Core Curriculum

Kickstart your program journey with 21 weeks of in-depth core sessions in technology strategy and digital transformation.

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The Forum

Theater-style virtual classroom brings the world-class Berkeley experience to you, wherever you are.

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World-Renowned Faculty

Learn from subject matter experts and technology leaders.

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Asynchronous Short Courses

Engage in two online courses, Future of Technology and Business Analytics for Leaders, featuring weekly faculty videos, real-world case studies and assignments, a learning facilitator, and four live sessions with faculty.

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Peer Learning

Learn from high-achieving peers from around the globe and build your network.

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Capstone Strategy Project

Develop a technology and digital transformation road map guided by facilitator-led coaching sessions.

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Learn Implementation Methodologies

Reduce the complexity involved in large projects by restructuring development and management procedures.

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Alumni Benefits

Earn select Berkeley Haas alumni benefits upon completion of the program.

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Interactive Sessions

Take advantage of over 150+ hours of live interactive learning with faculty, industry experts, and an accomplished peer group.

Curriculum

The Berkeley CTO Program delivers learning that will take your technology career to the next level. You will learn through lectures by faculty experts and specialists, case studies, group and individual exercises, and panel discussions with global leaders. The curriculum includes three core modules. Each of the three core modules will also feature up to two guest speaker sessions from industry experts. Additionally, you will engage in two short courses on Future of Technology and Business Analytics for Leaders, in line with your learning and career goals. The program culminates with a capstone strategy project in which you will develop a road map for your organization’s technology strategy as part of a team.
  • Enterprise Technology Strategy

    • Digital Transformation: Data to Insights to Strategy
    • Data Science Pipeline: Core Principles for Exploiting Data
    • Agency: Innovating for Artificial Intelligence (AI)
    • Enabling Technologies with Data
    • Robotics
    • Machine Learning, Neural Networks, and Applications
    • Creating Value
    • Jobs-To-Be-Done
    • Business Model Canvas
    • Innovation Portfolio Management
    • Agile Mindset

    Leading Digital Transformation: Management of Organizations

    • Leading Enterprise-Wide Digital Change
    • Leading Digital Strategy: Organizational Change (Simulation)
    • Leading Digital Strategy: Social Networks
    • Leaderless Group Exercise
    • Influence and Conflict: Persuasion Principles
    • Digital Strategy: Embedding Cultural Change
    • Future of Work: People and Cultural Analytics
    • Leading Digital Change: Decision Making in Teams
    • Leading Digital Change: Negotiating in Teams

    Digital Operations, Measurement and Policy, Privacy, and Security: CTO and the C-Suite

    • Enterprise Agile: Product Architecture and Organizational Alignment
    • Product Architecture — Startup Partners
    • CTO/CFO
    • CTO/CVC
    • Go to Market
    • Capturing Value
    • Measurement Experimentation
    • Marketing Analytics
    • Humans and AI
    • Algorithmic Bias
    • Privacy and Business Strategy
    • Cybersecurity

    Note: Topics and sessions are subject to change.

    Future of Technology

    Learn to harness and make sense of new technologies and technology trends, frameworks to design effective technology strategies, and solutions to transform your business.

    Business Analytics for Leaders

    The topic provides business professionals with a high-level understanding of the real-world applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The topic focuses on applying analytics techniques to drive business impact, resulting in more efficiency, better decision making, and strategic advantages for organizations.

  • The Global Leadership Conference is held annually on the Berkeley campus in the spring/summer time frame (before the end of June) to bring participants from multiple cohorts of the CTO Program together. The networking conference and graduation event gives you the opportunity to interact with peers from your cohort, participants from other cohorts, faculty, and industry leaders.

    The three-day event will include an immersion into the Berkeley ecosystem, networking opportunities, guest speaker sessions, and other activities to make this a memorable, insightful, and meaningful program culmination experience.

Interaction with Industry Experts

UC Berkeley’s location takes full advantage of its proximity to Silicon Valley’s cutting-edge innovators and industry disruptors. Through guest lectures and real-world examples, learn from leading experts who work at the intersection of technology, innovation, and business. Attend discussions with thought leaders, and gain valuable insights on leading technology transformation at your organization.

Past speakers include:

Note: All products and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.

Capstone Strategy Project

Across the CTO Program experience, participants will complete a capstone strategy project. The project asks participants to take the next steps in their organization’s technology strategy. Group coaching sessions will be led by an industry expert serving in a learning facilitator role and include high-touch discussions. Participants submit a presentation that covers the following:

  • Summarize the opportunity
  • List prioritization criteria for the opportunity. Include data alignment, cultural alignment, and success metrics
  • Submit data inventory
  • Use experimental techniques to test your technology strategy
  • Assess the strategy implementation and propose next steps
  • Present your project outcomes

At the end of the core modules, select projects will be highlighted during a showcase with faculty.

Hear from Our Participants

Profile Image for Daniel Bennett

The greatest benefit is the network of executives that you meet and interact with throughout the program journey. Everyone enrolled is a professional who brings lots of experience to the table.

— Daniel Bennett, Associate Chief Technology Officer

Profile Image for Darshana Navagare

An important value proposition of the Berkeley CTO Program is that you meet like-minded people who are on the same journey as you. So, networking is the biggest aspect of the program. You also learn from industry leaders. You get the help and guidance to build your vision as a CTO in your organization.

— Darshana Navagare, Co-Founder and CTO, Kyro Digital Corp.

Professor Zsolt Katona is brilliant. He has great know-how, inspiring energy, and superb teaching skills. The module on digital transformation was most beneficial for me.

— René Raeber, Country Engineering Lead (U.K.)

As CTOs, you have to be aware of all aspects of technology that can impact business. And I don't think there is any program that gives a complete curriculum of the required skill set as the Berkeley CTO Program does.

— Manjula Mahajan, Head of IT, Model N

Faculty

Learn from the best minds in the business

At Berkeley, you will learn from the best and the brightest in the industry. The faculty consists of renowned experts and leaders who have led the development of groundbreaking technology strategies at some of the world’s most prominent institutions. Additionally, you will be able to hear influential guest speakers from the Silicon Valley innovation ecosystem — including startups, labs, enterprise firms, and companies that are changing the way the business world makes use of technology.

Faculty Member Zsolt Katona

Zsolt Katona

Cheryl and Christian Valentine Professor, Marketing

Profile picture of professor Thomas Lee

Thomas Lee

Research Scientist and Associate Adjunct Professor, Operations and IT Management

Profile picture of professor Sameer Shrivastava

Sameer Srivastava

Ewald T. Grether Professor of Business Administration and Public Policy

Alumni Benefits

Networking and Events

  • Ability to join local alumni chapters or clubs in your region
  • Access to a private network of distinguished Berkeley Haas alumni
  • Invitation to the annual Berkeley Haas Alumni Conference
  • Opportunity to attend select Berkeley Haas and Berkeley Executive Education networking events

Berkeley Resources

  • Access to Haas Amplified — Latest research and thought leadership from industry speakers and faculty
  • 30% discount on the list price of eligible future programs after completion of the Chief Technology Officer Program and earning your Certificate of Excellence in Technology Strategy
  • An @haas.executivealumni.berkeley.edu email forwarding address
  • Public visitor access to select campus libraries and university database services. (Remote and onsite access available for select services)

News and Communication

  • One-year complimentary digital subscription to the California Management Review
  • Berkeley Haas Alumni newsletter
  • Subscription to the Berkeley Haas alumni jobs e-newsletter with latest job postings from distinguished employers

Note: All benefits subject to change.

Participant Profile

The Berkeley CTO Program is ideal for professionals in functional, technology solution-focused IT roles who are looking to advance their career — with the goal of moving on and up into a company-wide leadership role.

If you are seeking a program that grows your career, builds future technical skills, sharpens your transformation skills, and allows you to engage with a diverse group of global peers, this is the program for you.

The program provides experienced participants who are already in established decision-making IT roles with the hands-on knowledge and experience necessary to step up in their careers. The program delivers business strategy, cutting-edge technology knowledge, leadership skills, and enterprise architecture acumen necessary for professionals to move into a senior management role.

Requirements

  • Serve or have served in a senior-level technology executive role
  • Have 10+ years of experience
  • Have the responsibility of building and deploying technology to serve their enterprises
Apply Now

Early registrations are encouraged. Seats fill up quickly!