Global CEO Program

In this era of uncertainty and constant disruption, CEOs who want to drive growth and outpace the competition must embrace new ways of thinking, develop future-focused skills, and redefine their companies’ values. They need demand-driven strategies for growth and foresight to seize opportunities in times of uncertainty. By integrating crisis-tested methodologies, CEOs can lead with resilience and tenacity, working with their executive teams to achieve sustained success.

Chicago Booth’s Global CEO Program is designed to help current and aspiring CEOs strengthen their decision-making, refine their leadership, and drive value for themselves and their organizations.

Throughout the program, renowned Booth faculty and industry leaders will provide you with proven frameworks and practical examples to help you evolve into a next-generation CEO.

• Craft and execute a strategic vision to drive growth in dynamic markets through innovative, demand-based approaches.
• Develop a resilient, agile organization that embraces challenges and leverages opportunities created by change and disruption.
• Communicate with clarity and confidence—especially in times of crisis and recovery.
• Cultivate a company culture and CEO legacy that drives lasting, positive change.
• Engage effectively with your executive team, board of directors, and key stakeholders.
• Build a professional network that supports your long-term success.
• Hone and strengthen collaboration across different audiences to ensure values alignment and strategic impact.

This program will benefit executives who are:

• Sitting CEOs of small, medium, or large businesses eager to gain insights
• Closely associated executive roles, including COOs, CFOs, and board members
• Sales-driven roles such as CMOs, CCOs, or CROs seeking new growth opportunities
• Other ambitious C-suite executives and senior leaders who are ready to step into a CEO role

Participants are required to have:

• Seven years of relevant work experience in managerial positions
• Experience in international markets is appreciated

Please note that guest speakers and instructors are representative and subject to change.

Course 1: Growth Strategy and TSR for CEOs

The program’s first course invites you to explore the essential qualities of a CEO before shifting focus to growth opportunities by redefining your leadership vision. Over four weeks, you will analyze organization, culture, and team dynamics, applying consumer demand-driven insights to scale market share and increase total shareholder return (TSR). By the end of this course, you will gain transferable insights to develop a values-based, high-performance culture using both organic and inorganic growth frameworks.

Course 2: Thriving through Innovation and Disruption

The program begins by engaging with one of the most critical priorities for CEOs: driving and sustaining growth. This course equips senior executives with a structured approach to driving long-term growth, grounded in Total Shareholder Return (TSR) as a unifying performance metric. Drawing on case studies, strategic frameworks, and peer discussion, you will learn to build a demand-based strategy for growth. You will also learn how to assess and seize on non-organic growth opportunities, such as mergers and acquisitions. Finally, you will learn how to build organizational capabilities and culture that will enable sustained growth for your organization.

Course 3: Creating Your Legacy as CEO

The third course examines the CEO’s trajectory—from day one through their lasting impact beyond transition. You will be empowered to shape your personal legacy using strategic, guiding leadership. By the end of this course, you will gain the tools to ensure that your organization is resilient and successful long after your tenure.

Course 4: Leading a Values-Driven Company

The fourth course empowers you to shape a values-driven organization—honoring established principles while integrating new ideals that strengthen your company’s foundation. As a CEO, you will explore how to redefine values in collaboration with your workforce and stakeholders—enhancing performance, purpose, and organizational cohesion at every level.

Course 5: Crisis Leadership for CEOs

This course addresses the role of the CEO as a leader and communicator during crisis. They learn how to lead and communicate effectively and confidently through different kinds of crisis, such as litigation, local and global crises, and corporate activism, in relation to different kinds of audience, such as their shareholders, boards of directors, employees, and the public.

Course 6: The Resilient CEO: Turning Adversity into Advantage

Recognizing the multifaceted demands of a CEO, this course explores your capacity for personal resilience. You will examine the motivations that drive influential leadership while identifying support mechanisms that enable you to balance personal well-being with professional excellence. A key takeaway is transforming recovery into growth opportunities—developing a framework for success that strengthens both your leadership and organizational impact.

Course 7: Leading in the C-Suite

The program’s final course focuses on the professional skills essential for reaching the C-suite. You will explore how CEOs cultivate strong relationships with fellow CXOs to drive strategic alignment and executive collaboration. The course culminates in a substantive project, equipping you with crucial insights to elevate your career trajectory while reinforcing your leadership credibility and CEO desirability.