CHIEF TECHNOLOGY

OFFICER PROGRAM
Orchestrate growth through technology
Manage Disruption and
Drive Technological Change

The rise of enterprise technology has accelerated in our post-pandemic

world, giving businesses a competitive edge as they embrace the latest
developments in their quest to leverage organizational change. As
technology’s importance increases, so too does that of the chief
technology officer (CTO), whose unique combination of technical and
institutional knowledge has only become more vital. Indeed, some experts
say there is no leadership without technology leadership. Moving forward
in today’s disruptive business environment, organizations need to embrace
a strategic vision that has technology at its very core.

To excel during this uncertainty, CTOs must prepare for a role that goes
beyond that of the technology expert to one with a solid understanding of
the many diverse functions in their organizations. At the same time, it is
vital that CTOs champion the benefits of today’s technological advances
to clients, vendors, and partners in clear, jargon-free communication.
While focusing on scalable technology solutions, CTOs also must be
cognizant of their company’s overriding business and technology
strategies.

Wharton Executive Education’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Program

will help senior technology professionals like you navigate an
unpredictable terrain with confidence and equip you with the
multifaceted knowledge you need to emerge as a leader who can
orchestrate technological change for your organization.
CHIEF TECHNOLOGY
OFFICER (CTO) PROGRAM
Over nine months, the program’s robust curriculum
will inform you through a mix of in-depth core
modules and electives, real-world case studies, polls,
77%
of executives state that
capstone projects, and lectures—providing you with technology architecture is
solutions to business challenges your organization becoming critical to the
confronts on a daily basis. The core modules will focus overall success of their
on three key areas: technology trends, mastering organization.
innovation, and technology strategy. As a program
participant, you will explore how to implement

86%
innovative technologies using appropriate tools and
techniques so that they can thrive throughout your
organization. You will also learn how to build and scale of executives agree their
a technology architecture for optimal deployment. organization must train its people
Through interactive sessions, you will learn how to to think like technologists.
apply relevant practices—gaining insights from
world-renowned faculty, knowledgeable practitioners, Source: Technology Vision 2021—Accenture
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.
Chief Technology Officer Program 3
Program Highlights
This impactful program offers a unique blend of components that provide the skill sets
and knowledge you need to help your organization invest for future growth. Along with
distinguished peers, you will participate in high-touch sessions with eminent faculty and share
insights with industry experts. During this comprehensive learning journey, you will acquire the
tools, techniques, and principles needed to drive technological change.

High touch Rigorous curriculum

Leverage interactive sessions Immerse in a nine-month learning
with faculty and networking journey that includes in-depth
sessions with peers. sessions in the latest technology
tools, trends, and strategies.

Flexible Real-world applications

Learn from real-world case
Learn at your own pace with studies and business challenges
online sessions and customize during the program, and apply
your learning journey with the learnings to your job
electives. immediately.

Capstone project World-renowned faculty

Through in-depth exploration
with faculty, coaches, and peers, Engage with and learn from
prepare a presentation that the same faculty who teach
addresses a real-world in Wharton's MBA program.
technology issue.

Practitioner insights Peer learning

Glean insights from global Interact with and learn from
industry experts with guest high-achieving peers from
lectures throughout the around the globe and build your
program. network.

Pathway to alumni
Success coach status
You will be assigned a success Following successful completion
coach, who will help craft of the CTO Program and
your learning journey through subsequent open-enrollment
regular check-in sessions. programs, subject to further
qualification criteria and
additional tuition, you have a
pathway to apply for
Wharton Alumni Status.

Chief Technology Officer Program 4

Comprehensive Curriculum

The program’s online core modules will

enable you to evaluate emerging technology
trends, explore how to address the role of the
CTO as a strategic partner, and determine the
most efficient ways to scale your company’s
technology infrastructure. Designed with your
demanding schedule in mind, this immersive
program comprises 18 weeks of core modules
and 18 weeks of your choice of online
electives. It concludes with a two-day
on-campus networking and graduation event.

Program starts
December 2021

Technology Strategy Technology Trends

Three core modules
(Eighteen weeks)
Mastering Innovation: Tools, Techniques, and Execution

Building a Unicorn:
Future of Technology
Lessons from Silicon Valley

Three online electives Technology Policy, Privacy, Managing and Implementing

(Six weeks each) and Security Complex Projects

Product Management Technology, Innovation,

and Strategy and Strategy

Choose any three from the six options. Final list of electives is subject to change.

Two-day on-campus networking and graduation event

Please click on the blocks above for more details

Chief Technology Officer Program 5

Who should attend?
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:

• A minimum of 10 years of work experience

• International exposure (preferred)
• Fluency in written and spoken English

Chief Technology Officer Program 6

Certificate
Earn a digital Wharton Executive Education
certificate upon successful completion of the
program.
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 Joseph Wharton
images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject
to change at the discretion of the Wharton School. Chief Technology Officer Program

Benefits offered to participants: Date

• Exclusive LinkedIn group

• Rich networking opportunities
• Additional discount to take further
online electives

Please 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.
Chief Technology Officer Program 7
Pathway to Wharton Alumni Status
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:
• Full access to become a member of 77+ Wharton Alumni Clubs
• Invitation to attend future Wharton Global Alumni Forums
• A Wharton email address

Chief Technology Officer Program 8

Online Learning Experience
Our programs are designed to meet the needs of individual learning styles, while also leveraging the power of peer
learning. This is achieved through a user-friendly learning platform that enables you to easily navigate the program
content to achieve learning objectives. In addition, the on-campus immersion will allow you to select an elective of your
choice to enhance any key skill set you are looking for. Experience the in-depth teaching methodology in person with
Wharton’s world-renowned faculty.

Chief Technology Officer Program

Keeping it real
Our pedagogical approach is designed to bring concepts
to life, including:
Chief
Technology Officer • Frameworks delivered via video lectures
Program
• Real-world examples delivered through a combination of
video and live online lectures
• Debrief of learnings delivered via video lectures

Keeping it impactful
The program has been designed to deliver maximum impact throughout the learning journey. Participants receive
access to relevant learning materials in a modular manner. New content is released weekly and includes a variety of
teaching instruments such as:
• Video lectures • Reflections
• In-class sessions/On-campus sessions • Opinion polls
• Discussions • Authentic, real-world activities
• Class materials (e.g., program notes, articles, case studies, and more)

Our industry-leading learning platform allows participants to create a profile, connect with faculty, collaborate and
network with peers, and interact with academic and industry experts.

Chief Technology Officer Program 9

Wharton Faculty
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.

Chief Technology Officer Program 10

 Faculty
Lori Rosenkopf, PhD
Academic Director for the CTO Program, Wharton Executive Education;
Simon and Midge Palley Professor; Professor of Management;
Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship, The Wharton School

Lori Rosenkopf has been appointed as the vice dean of entrepreneurship, responsible for leading the
“Venture Lab,” a resource for Penn students and alumni interested in entrepreneurship and innovation.
She is also the former vice dean and director of the Wharton undergraduate division responsible for
introducing the new Wharton undergraduate curriculum, evaluating alternative curricular and career
pathways, and growing diversity and inclusion initiatives. She received the Hauck Award for
distinguished teaching in the undergraduate program. Rosenkopf’s research examines technological
communities and social networks across several high-tech industries. Her research has been published
in leading journals including Administrative Science Quarterly, Academy of Management Journal, Academy
of Management Review, Management Science, Organization Science, and Strategic Management Journal.

Gad Allon, PhD Harbir Singh, PhD

Jeffrey A. Keswin Professor; Mack Professor; Professor of
Professor of Operations, Management; Co-Director,
Information and Decisions; Director, Mack Institute for Innovation
Jerome Fisher Program in Management Management; Wharton School
& Technology, The Wharton School Faculty Director for the Huntsman
Program in International Studies and
David Hsu, PhD Business, The Wharton School
Richard A. Sapp Professor;
Professor of Management, Prasanna Tambe, PhD
The Wharton School Associate Professor of Operations,
Information and Decisions,
Witold Henisz, PhD The Wharton School
Deloitte & Touche Professor of
Management; Director, Karl Ulrich, PhD
Wharton Political Risk Lab; Founder,
CIBC Endowed Professor;
Wharton ESG Analytics Lab,
Professor of Operations,
The Wharton School
Information and Decisions;
Professor of Management,
Zeke Hernandez, PhD The Wharton School
Max and Bernice Garchik Family
Presidential Associate Professor
Kevin Werbach, JD
of Management,
The Wharton School Professor of Legal Studies &
Business Ethics, The Wharton School
Rahul Kapoor, PhD
Professor of Management,
The Wharton School

Note: Faculty list is subject to change Chief Technology Officer Program 11

Overview of the Curriculum: Core Modules
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), 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.

Module 1—Technology Strategy

This module invites you to examine technology ecosystems as well as the business strategies employed by
technology-based industries. You will also explore concrete ways to position yourself as an integral partner to
other C-suite executives.
Address the role of the CTO as strategic partner and the need for strategic alignment
Define and establish key terms and frameworks for innovation and patterns of technological evolution
Explore perspectives on strategic adaptation and renewal for identifying new businesses and
technologies
Explore platform/technology ecosystem
Examine business strategies in technology-based industries

Module 2—Technology Trends

Today’s CTOs need to be on top of the latest technology trends and understand how they impact their
company’s long-term business strategy. In this module, you will delve into the competitive implications of
AI and machine learning (ML) as well as those of environment, social, and governance (ESGs), non-fungible
tokens (NFTs), and intellectual property rights.
Address technological, legal, and global trends and policies that impact technology strategy and its
implementation—AI, ML, blockchain and cryptocurrencies, geographic distributions of technological
competencies and talent, and ESG issues.
Explore talent and knowledge clusters, cross border immigration, and intellectual property rights

Module 3—Mastering Innovation: Tools, Techniques, and Execution

Assessing risk and uncertainty when managing disruption due to technological change are paramount
concerns of today’s CTOs. In this module, you will incorporate skill sets that address these issues while
examining concepts around design thinking, scaling, and growth, among others.
Address tools and techniques enabling effective implementation of technology strategy for growth:
The importance of performance metrics
Innovation tournaments, agile project management
Manage the threat of disruption due to technological change
Explore the effects of scaling, growth, and open innovation through the external
innovation ecosystem
Consider the application of design thinking
Assess risk and uncertainty in innovation
Balance external and internal modes of innovation

Chief Technology Officer Program 12

Overview of the Curriculum: Online Electives
As a participant in the CTO Program, you will select three online electives (of six weeks each).
Throughout 18 weeks, 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.

1. Building a Unicorn: Lessons from Silicon Valley

2. Future of Technology
3. Technology Policy, Privacy, and Security
4. Managing and Implementing Complex Projects
5. Product Management and Strategy
6. Technology, Innovation, and Strategy

Note: Final list of electives is subject to change Chief Technology Officer Program 13
Capstone Strategy Project
The capstone strategy project provides a deeper dive into lessons learned during the program.
While leveraging topics studied throughout the journey, it affords additional engagement with
faculty and peers as well as an opportunity for further reflection on the challenges you face
as a seasoned technology professional.

As part of the capstone project, you will tackle an issue currently confronting your organization and
develop a set of potential solutions to remedy the situation. You can take advantage of weekly office
hours and the Slack channel to ask questions and discuss ideas with your program leader or cohort
peers. Checkpoints along the way are designed to help you incorporate feedback and apply
strategies gleaned throughout the program into a final presentation. The presentation will be a
valuable asset when proposing initiatives to decision makers in your organization.

Please review the following checkpoint submissions and their related topics:

WEEK 1
Determine a technology 1
challenge or initiative
for your organization
WEEK 6
6 Develop strategies to
improve a technology
initiative

WEEK 12
Identify and implement 12
a technological
trend to improve
an initiative

18
WEEK 18
Determine the tools,
techniques, and execution
methods necessary to
implement an initiative
Finalize and submit
the presentation

All checkpoint submissions and the final presentation of the capstone project are required to complete this program.

Chief Technology Officer Program 14

Application Process
To apply to the program, please complete the online application form by clicking here.

Round Deadline Application fees

Round 1 September 23, 2021 US$300

Round 2 October 14, 2021 US$400

Round 3 November 04, 2021 US$500

Program fees US$20,000

Inclusions: Teaching fees, all academic material, and access to online coursework.
Exclusions: Accommodation for the on-campus elective, transport expenses (domestic, international,
visa fee, and more), and other expenses not specifically mentioned in the fees.
We strongly recommend that interested participants apply early. The on-campus module of the program takes place in the
United States. For those applicants who need a visa to travel to the United States, we recommend that you allow sufficient time
for your visa processing formalities.

Please also note that participation in the Chief Technology Officer Program (CTO) (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.

Chief Technology Officer Program 15

The Wharton Difference
Leadership and Business Acumen to Drive Performance

About Wharton
Founded in 1881 as the first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of
Pennsylvania is recognized globally for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every
major discipline of business education.

With a broad global community and one of the most published business school faculties, Wharton
creates economic and social value around the world. The School has 5,000 undergraduate, MBA,
executive MBA, and doctoral students; more than 13,000 participants in executive education
programs annually; and a powerful alumni network of 99,000 graduates.

Wharton is changing the way business is done. Our faculty, students, and alumni generate big ideas,
back them up with incisive analysis, and turn them into ingenious solutions that work. We educate,
inform, and inspire the leaders who are meeting the world’s complex challenges, advancing
business practice, and driving economic growth on a global scale.

Global Perspective
Wharton brings a diverse, global perspective to the classroom, unblocking the value and opportunity that
comes from examining issues across business, cultural, and geographic boundaries.

The Wharton Executive Education Impact

Each year, executives from more than 100 countries choose Wharton to advance their leadership at every
level and to make a greater impact in their organization.

Chief Technology Officer Program 16

 Manage Disruption and
Drive Technological Change
The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Program starts in September 2021.
Apply early to secure your spot.

Enrollment Partner

+1.215.898.1776 (worldwide)
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]
Phone: +1 646 713 0918 (US)
+65 6871 4030 (Singapore)
+971 44302011 (Dubai)
+91 9029007437 (India)

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