Emerging Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Program

The Emerging Chief Financial Officer (eCFO) Program from Wharton Executive Education is a 6- to 8-month program designed for experienced finance professionals and senior finance executives preparing for enterprise leadership roles. In today’s business environment, finance leaders are expected to go beyond technical expertise to act as strategic partners, shaping financial strategy, strengthening corporate finance, and guiding organizations toward sustainable growth.

Led by renowned Wharton faculty, the program covers financial leadership, corporate finance, and organizational dynamics with electives tailored to your goals. The program enables participants to build advanced leadership skills and global perspectives, and access the tools to communicate effectively with stakeholders, drive strategic financial decisions, cultivate influence across the enterprise, and prepare for broader CFO responsibilities.

Program Highlights

  • Cultivate future-ready leadership skills through personalized assessments and evidence-based exercises.
  • Create a detailed strategy to evolve your leadership abilities that leads you toward your objective of becoming a CFO.
  • Acquire rich, real-world insights into finance and social networking through the expertise of renowned Wharton faculty.
  • Expand your professional network through virtual meetups and an on-campus event with a global cohort of peers.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Duration: 6 months

Location:
Online + On Campus*

*Includes a two-day immersion on the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia, USA

The program fee is US$14,000 and covers teaching fees, all academic material, and access to online coursework. The fee does not include accommodation for the on-campus recognition ceremony and networking event, transport expenses (domestic, international, visa fee, and more), and other expenses not specifically mentioned in the fees.

What do the live sessions in the Emerging Chief Financial Officer Program cover?

The program includes live sessions on leadership development and financial leadership

Live Sessions on Leadership Development

Delivered through a series of interactive sessions, you will strengthen your ability to build meaningful relationships, lead through change, influence others, and leverage professional networks to drive impact. You will explore topics that include:

Creating High-Quality Connections
Explore how self-awareness, active listening, and authentic communication can build trust and strengthen professional relationships.

Innovative Leadership
Orchestrating Disruptive Change: Examine human-only, AI-only, and human-AI operating models for decision-making and collaboration, along with their associated risks.

Influencing and Inspiring Others
Explore how storytelling, inquiry, and deep listening can build trust, encourage participation, and strengthen influence.
Emotional Intelligence and Its Role in Leadership: Explore how emotional intelligence, social awareness, and psychological safety can support inclusive, high-performing teams.

Leveraging Network and Social Capital
Explore how professional networks, social capital, and peer coaching can support leadership effectiveness.

Disclaimer: Sessions and topics are subject to change.


Live Sessions on Financial Leadership

Led by Professor Itay Goldstein, the live sessions on specialized modules explore the expanding mandate of the modern CFO and the intersection of finance, strategy, and enterprise leadership.

Program Introduction
Explore the CFO’s role in strategy and value creation, including capital raising, investment allocation, shareholder value, ESG considerations, and the influence of technology and AI.

Macroeconomic Environment
Examine how economic growth, employment, inflation, monetary policy, and market trends influence corporate strategy, capital allocation, and long-term performance.

Midway Review
Review the cost of capital, capital structure, mergers and acquisitions, and real options in the context of strategic investment decisions.

Disclaimer: Sessions and topics are subject to change.

Networking Opportunities in the Emerging Chief Financial Officer Program

The Emerging Chief Financial Officer Program incorporates networking across its core and specialized modules, along with an on-campus event.

  • Connect across cohorts through group sessions, faculty-led discussions, and collaborative exchanges.
  • Participate in cross-cohort activities and program-specific interactions.
  • Connect with senior executives at the recognition and networking event.

Note: Networking opportunities includes cross-cohort participant interactions between the Emerging Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Program, Emerging Chief Operating Officer (COO) Program, Emerging Chief Product Officer (CPO) Program, and other programs to be announced in the future.

Program Format

The six-month learning journey includes 14 weeks of core leadership knowledge and two specialized phases that will help you develop the skills required for future C-level leadership. The program also offers an optional two-day networking event and recognition ceremony** on the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia, where you will have the opportunity to meet faculty and build connections with your peers.

Three core modules

(Fourteen weeks)

Foundations of Effective Leadership Leading Through Complexity
Leading for Long-Term Sustainability and Growth

Specialized CFO Modules

(Six weeks)

Upskilling Advancement

Specialized CFO Modules

(Four weeks)

Transformation Mindset

Two-day on-campus recognition ceremony and networking event

Who Should Attend

The Emerging Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Program will help experienced finance and accounting professionals enhance their strategic skills and build leadership competencies to advance in the realm of finance.

The program is ideal for:

  • Those working in corporate finance or financial planning and analysis who are looking to drive financial stability, capitalize on new growth opportunities, and enhance their leadership skills to inspire their teams
  • Those working in financial accounting who want to gain a broad understanding of corporate finance concepts for financial decision making and develop leadership traits that are essential to becoming a successful financial leader

Participants are required to have:

  • A minimum of 8 years of work experience
  • Fluency in written and spoken English

 

To learn more, please contact:

+1.315.847.4592

Learn More and Apply

Delivered in collaboration with program partner Emeritus:

Emeritus logo


Marissa King

Marissa King, PhDSee Faculty Bio

Alice Y. Hung President’s Distinguished Professor; Professor of Health Care Management; Professor of Management, The Wharton School


Itay Goldstein

Itay Goldstein, PhDSee Faculty Bio

Joel S. Ehrenkranz Family Professor; Professor of Finance; Professor of Economics; Chairperson, Finance Department, The Wharton School

Research Interests: Corporate finance, financial fragility and crises, financial markets


Chris Geczy

Christopher Geczy, PhDSee Faculty Bio

Adjunct Professor of Finance; Academic Director, Wharton Wealth Management Initiative; Academic Director, Jacobs Levy Equity Management Center for Quantitative Financial Research, The Wharton School


Anthony Landry, PhD

Anthony Landry, PhDSee Faculty Bio

Deputy Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, MBA Program; Adjunct Full Professor of Finance, The Wharton School

Research Interests: Macroeconomics, international finance, and international trade and investment


Lindsey D. Cameron

Lindsey D. Cameron, PhDSee Faculty Bio

Assistant Professor of Management; Dorinda and Mark Winkelman Distinguished Faculty Scholar, The Wharton School


Mauro Guillen

Mauro Guillén, PhDSee Faculty Bio

William H. Wurster Professor of Multinational Management, The Wharton School

Research Interests: Globalization, international political economy, multinational management


Witold Henisz

Witold Henisz, PhDSee Faculty Bio

Vice Dean and Faculty Director, Impact, Value, and Sustainable Business Initiative; Deloitte & Touche Professor of Management in Honor of Russell E. Palmer, former Managing Partner

Research Interests: Political and social risk management; project management; ESG integration; stakeholder engagement


Rahul Kapoor

Rahul Kapoor, PhDSee Faculty Bio

David W. Hauck Professor; Professor of Management, The Wharton School

Research Interests: Innovation, technology management and strategy, industry evolution, firm boundaries, business ecosystems


Harbir Singh

Harbir Singh, PhDSee Faculty Bio

Mack Professor; Professor of Management; Co-Director, Mack Institute for Innovation Management; Wharton School Faculty Director for the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business, The Wharton School

Research Interests: Corporate governance, corporate restructuring, management buyouts, strategies for corporate acquisitions


Kevin Kaiser

Kevin Kaiser, PhDSee Faculty Bio

Adjunct Professor of Finance; Senior Director, Harris Family Alternative Investments Program, The Wharton School

Research Interests: Corporate finance, managing for value, private equity, financial distress