Chief Product Officer Program

Step Up to Product Leadership

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Course Dates

STARTS ON

June 18, 2024

Course Duration

DURATION

12 Months
Online and In-Person/Live Virtual

Course Fee

PROGRAM FEE

US$30,000

US$300 application fee

Transform Your Product Strategy

In today's dynamic digital landscape, organizations need new strategies to deliver product experiences in line with their customers’ evolving expectations. Companies require modern product leaders who can refocus product offerings, leverage analytics, drive product innovation and lead business growth.

The Chief Product Officer Program by Executive Education at Kellogg School of Management equips participants for this increasingly influential role, providing essential skills and knowledge to drive product innovation alongside business growth. Over the immersive 12-month learning journey, you will explore how to use analytics to improve product portfolio performance and enhance growth strategies while fostering a customer-centric culture in your organization.

70%

of Fortune 1000 companies are predicted to have a chief product officer (CPO) by 2027.

Source: Products that Count, CPO Insights Report

30% 

of Fortune 1000 companies promoted a product leader to CPO in just one year. 

Source: Products that Count, CPO Insights Report

Customized Designed for Your Success

Evolving market dynamics demand the need for senior executives who can drive product vision alongside business growth. The Chief Product Officer Program curriculum has been designed to address the increased importance of this role.

Innovate

Stay one step ahead of global business trends, and achieve product-led growth with a cutting-edge curriculum and renowned Kellogg thought leadership.

Collaborate

Build strong connections and exchange perspectives with high-achieving peers, faculty, and industry experts through networking.

Transform

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the tools and frameworks to enhance your product strategy through four core modules and a choice of topical electives.

Learning Outcomes

Use customer data analytics to measure and improve the performance of the product portfolio

Create and articulate a strong vision and align product strategy with your company's business objectives

Present clear messaging about the value of the product to stakeholders

Hone your skills in financial analysis, talent development, and product leadership

Profile picture of professor Mohanbir Sawhney

”The program leverages Kellogg’s thought leadership in developing product leaders through cutting-edge thinking on strategic planning, customer centricity, 10X growth mindset, business acumen, and leadership skills needed at the C-suite level. The immersive program, with project work and applications, will enable participants to become effective CPOs, which is the need of the hour in this era of digital transformation.”

— Mohanbir Sawhney
Associate Dean, Digital Innovation | McCormick Foundation Chair of Technology | Clinical Professor of Marketing | Director of the Center for Research in Technology & Innovation

Key Program Features

Core Curriculum

Kick-start your journey with 16 weeks of in-depth sessions on product strategy and discovery, leadership, communication, and business acumen.

Image to accompany text - Choice of Electives

Choice of Electives

Choose two online electives and one in-person or live virtual elective that will enrich your knowledge and aid career growth.

Capstone Project

Participate in a simulation game requiring you to work in a group setting and apply program lessons to address a real-world business challenge.

Image to accompany text - Networking Event

Networking Event

Engage in three days of in-person networking with peers, faculty, and industry experts.

Success Coach

Maximize your learning journey with a success coach assigned to your cohort.

Scholar Benefits

Receive an Executive Scholar Certificate and gain select scholar benefits.

Guest Speakers

Hear from senior industry practitioners and gain firsthand insights into evolving product trends.

Expert Faculty

Learn from strategically focused, cross-disciplinary faculty who are experts in their fields.

Program Curriculum

  • Embark on a comprehensive online learning journey featuring core modules and electives followed by in-person interactions. The program's curriculum features 16 weeks of core content that will equip you with the tools and frameworks to drive product strategy and help your organization gain a competitive advantage. Organized into four overarching pillars, the curriculum includes:

    Product Vision and Strategy

    • The Chief Product Officer
    • Product Strategy and Portfolio Management
    • Strategic Foresight
    • Growth Strategies and 10X Thinking

    Product Discovery and Market Insights

    • Customer Centricity
    • Data-Driven Customer Insights
    • Design Thinking
    • Market Opportunity Analysis and Product Discovery

    Leadership and Communication Acumen

    • Building a Culture of Trust, Resilience, and Reliability
    • The Art of Communication: The Power of Listening and Cultivating EQ
    • Magnetic Communication: Storytelling and Design Vision
    • Influence Strategies and Executive Presence for Product Leaders

    Business Acumen

    • Financial Analysis for Product Leaders
    • Making Build, Buy, or Partner Decisions
    • Leading Execution Excellence
    • Capstone Simulation: Digital Services Strategy Game
    • AI Applications for Growth
    • Business Analytics: Decision Making with Data
    • Business Leadership in the Age of Disruption
    • Leading Growth Strategy: Drive Exponential Growth With a Proven Framework
    • Design Thinking: A Toolkit for Breakthrough Innovation
    • Omnichannel Marketing: Driving Customer Value & Business Growth
    • Data Strategy for Generative AI Platforms

    Note: Electives are subject to change.

    • Business Marketing Strategy
    • Competitive Strategy
    • Corporate Governance
    • Creating and Managing Strategic Alliances
    • Delivering Business Growth
    • Driving Organizational Change
    • Leading High-Impact Teams
    • Leading with Advanced Analytics and Artificial Intelligence
    • Master Negotiations
    • The Customer-Focused Organization
    • The Leader Within

    Note: Electives are subject to change.

  • The program culminates with a networking event giving you an opportunity to interact in person with peers, industry experts, and faculty.

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Participant Profile

The Chief Product Officer Program is:

  • Designed for senior and mid-career product leaders who are responsible for product management, design, engineering, or marketing
  • Suitable for product managers aspiring to or already serving in C-level roles who want to keep current on trends to accelerate growth
  • Ideal for executives looking to align product strategy with business strategy, understand the implications of technology on the product portfolio, and manage cross-functional teams in the organization

Participants are expected to have:

  • A minimum of 12 years of experience in a product leadership role
  • Fluency in written and spoken English
  • International exposure (preferred)
Image to accompany text - Capstone Project

Capstone Project

As you wrap up the program, you will engage in a capstone project in the form of a simulation, applying program lessons to address a real-world business challenge. The DigiStrat simulation game enables you to step into the role of a chief strategy officer for a subscription-based digital services provider. You will work in a group setting to ideate and make strategic decisions around pricing, infrastructure, and marketing while participating in a live auction to introduce a game-changing technology feature.

Industry Interaction

Throughout the program, you will have plenty of opportunities to interact with industry experts and gain firsthand insights into evolving product trends. The core modules will include guest lectures as well as networking sessions, where you can connect with and learn from senior industry practitioners. Additionally, a success coach assigned to your cohort will help you derive the most value from the program.

Testimonials

The Chief Product Officer Program has been a game-changer for my career as a seasoned product leader. It has provided me with invaluable insights, strategic frameworks, and enhanced leadership skills by elevating my product strategy and accelerating my career growth. Collaborating with diverse participants from various industries enriched my learning experience beyond the classroom. The comprehensive curriculum, practical approach, expert mentorship, and focus on leadership development make it unparalleled. The program has opened doors to exciting opportunities and positioned me as a sought-after product leader in the industry.

— Sudha Elavarti, VP of Product (Shipt, Inc)

Digistrat was definitely the highlight of the program. You learn so much about yourself and your ability to work with a team of strong leaders. You recognize the effectiveness of making the tasks and the jobs to be done your northern star. Also helps that it's quite fun and competitive!

— Dana Abu Dargham, Regional Sales Director MEA - Voice & Mobile, Arelion

The DigiStrat simulation allowed me to collaborate in a smaller group within my cohort. It was extremely gratifying to engage on a more real-time basis. The simulation did a nice job of integrating real-world scenarios that are relevant to today's digital economy. The goal was less about the topic but more in line with the process of learning quickly, adapting to changing situations, and leaning on team members who bring diversity of thought.

— Derek Shon, Director of Product Strategy, Ilitch Sports & Entertainment

Learning from the very best has helped me mature my product thinking and skills significantly. The core modules, elective options, and faculty were exceptional, providing us with invaluable insights and knowledge. The blend of virtual and in-person experiences was remarkable and enhanced our learning process. Interacting with the professors felt like a priceless experience; each class was worth a million dollars in terms of the knowledge and expertise they shared with us. These 12 months have undoubtedly been one of the best investments of my time.

— Bhanu Sistla, Product Manager, AR - Reality Labs, Meta

I was most impressed by the exceptional teaching team in all the modules. Each professor was not only an expert in their field but also had a passion for teaching. They dug into the details and nuances of material with us and democratized learning so that every professional, regardless of background or area of expertise, came away with learnings that they could apply directly to their businesses. The breadth and quality of complementary electives was another added bonus.

— Leona Teixeira, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI/ML) [Product] Consultant, Ex-CPO

Meet Your Success Coaches

Faculty Member Rich Frey

Rich Frey

Success Coach

Rich Frey started his career as a CPA with the accounting firm Arthur Anderson & Co. in Chicago. Following his time in public accounting, Frey decided to make a career change and moved to the consumer products industry at PepsiCo in a sales function. He was fortunate to spend 25 years at Pepsi, learning different areas of the business, growing within the organization, and overseeing domestic and international sales operations as the VP of worldwide sales operations. Frey’s most recent role was spending six years as the director of the University of Illinois’ Executive MBA program. He earned his bachelor’s in accounting from the Illinois State University and his MBA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Faculty Member Vamsi Krishna

Vamsi Krishna

Success Coach

Vamsi Krishna is a product executive turned entrepreneur, helping startups build, grow, and scale their digital products and businesses. He has over a decade of experience in building enterprise/mobile/web products for different marketplaces, fintech, consumer internet, and SCM/logistics across more than 25 markets globally. He has lived, worked, and built products in more than 20 countries and specialized in taking startups from 'Zero to one' and from 'one to ten', generating more than US$100 million in revenue.

Meet the Faculty

The Kellogg Executive Education Chief Product Officer Program, led by Professor Mohanbir Sawhney, is developed and taught by a team of strategically focused, cross-disciplinary faculty who are experts in their fields. They bring to the classroom their cutting-edge research, thought leadership, and rich experiences at some of the world’s most respected organizations.

Faculty Member SHANA CARROLL

SHANA CARROLL

Clinical Associate Professor of Management Communications, Faculty Director, Management Communications Program

NICHOLAS A. PEARCE

Clinical Professor of Management & Organizations

Faculty Member MOHANBIR SAWHNEY

MOHANBIR SAWHNEY

Associate Dean for Digital Innovation, McCormick Foundation Chair of Technology, Director of the Center for Research in Technology & Innovation

Faculty Member DAVID SCHONTHAL

DAVID SCHONTHAL

Clinical Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Faculty Director of Zell Fellows Program

Faculty Member SHANA CARROLL

SHANA CARROLL

Clinical Associate Professor of Management Communications, Faculty Director, Management Communications Program

NICHOLAS A. PEARCE

Clinical Professor of Management & Organizations

Faculty Member MOHANBIR SAWHNEY

MOHANBIR SAWHNEY

Associate Dean for Digital Innovation, McCormick Foundation Chair of Technology, Director of the Center for Research in Technology & Innovation

Faculty Member DAVID SCHONTHAL

DAVID SCHONTHAL

Clinical Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Faculty Director of Zell Fellows Program

Image to accompany text - Alumni Benefits

Scholar Benefits

Upon completing the program, you will receive an Executive Scholar Certificate and earn select Kellogg Executive Education scholar benefits, including:

  • A Certificate of Professional Achievement, including a digital certificate for your social media profile
  • A 15% discount on all Executive Education year-long Chief Officer Programs
  • A 30% discount on Kellogg Executive Education open enrollment programs
  • Membership in the global Kellogg alumni network and access to the online network
  • Opportunities to participate in alumni clubs and events
  • Access to cutting-edge research and thought leadership content from Kellogg faculty and leading practitioners
  • Access to digital copies of Kellogg magazine
  • A Kellogg-branded email account

Chief Product Officer Program Certificate

Example image of certificate that will be awarded after successful completion of this program

Chief Product Officer Program Certificate

Upon successful completion of this program, participants will receive a Kellogg Executive Scholar Certificate. Certificates are delivered electronically to your preferred email address after the program ends.

Download Brochure

After successful completion of this 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 Kellogg Executive Education.

Note: This program does not grant academic credit or a degree from Kellogg School of Management.

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