Douglas J. Skinner
Sidney Davidson Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting
Douglas J. Skinner
Executive Finance Program
Navigate the future of corporate finance and capital markets.
Next Session
April 20-April 24, 2026
View All Dates
Location/Format
In-Person
Gleacher Center, Chicago
Investment Fee (in USD)
$12,500 USD
Questions? Connect with an enrollment advisor.
Next Session
April 20-April 24, 2026
View All Dates
Location/Format
In-Person
Gleacher Center, Chicago
Investment Fee (in USD)
$12,500 USD
Questions? Connect with an enrollment advisor.
The Executive Finance Program is designed for executives who seek improve financial corporate performance through stronger strategic and financial decision-making.
With online preparation completed in advance, this five-day program will deepen your understanding of corporate finance and examines how financial and business strategies intersect to drive value. Through Booth’s rigorous, research-based curriculum, you’ll not only strengthen strategic alignment and support long-term growth, but also gain hands-on fluency in the tools senior leaders use to make financial decisions.
By the end, you won’t just understand the numbers—you’ll know how to use them to drive performance, strengthen alignment, and lead with confidence in the boardroom.
This program serves as an elective to:
By attending, you'll strengthen your ability to:
Financial Statement Mastery:
- Understand how your organization’s economic outcomes are reflected in financial statements—and how those statements are interpreted by internal and external stakeholders.
- Analyze the financial statements of competitors and peers to uncover underlying economics and market position.
- Communicate financial insights more effectively with CFOs, executives, analysts, and investors.
Valuation & Capital Structure:
- Apply modern valuation techniques to evaluate projects, acquisitions, and leveraged buyouts.
- Assess how capital structure, liquidity, and leverage affect firm value and business performance.
Growth and Entrepreneurial Finance:
- Explore entrepreneurial finance, including private equity and venture capital, to sharpen growth strategy.
- Build strategic intuition to identify competitive advantages, scan for patterns, and make smarter investment decisions.
External Pressures and Real-World Insights:
- Anticipate and respond to external pressures from activist investors, short-sellers, and other stakeholders.
- Connect theory to practice through real-world insights from Booth faculty and distinguished guest speakers.
Who Should Attend
Mid- to senior-level executives with strategic financial responsibilities—whether in finance or other functions—who manage P&Ls, allocate resources, or shape outcomes.
Download the program brochure for in-depth insights into who should attend, participant profiles, and the ideal candidate.
Faculty
At Booth, our distinguished faculty exemplify dedication and expertise, bringing deep passion to their teaching. Their steadfast commitment extends beyond traditional instruction, focusing on empowering every Executive Education participant, across all programs and global campuses, to achieve their professional and leadership goals.
Scott F. Meadow
Kaplan McCormack Family Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship
Scott F. Meadow
Laura M. Born
Adjunct Professor of Finance
Laura M. Born
Gregory D. Bunch
Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship
Gregory D. BunchPractitioner Insights
Fireside Chat with Industry Leaders
One of the most engaging features of this program is a candid fireside chat with a distinguished guest speaker. This senior leader shares how they have navigated strategic challenges inside their organization, offering you practical lessons that complement Booth’s academic rigor. Past speakers have included senior executives such as:
- Senior finance leaders from multinational corporations and industry-shaping firms.
- Ray Young, ’86, Former Vice Chairman and Former Chief Financial Officer, Archer Daniels Midland Company.
Download the brochure for additional insights into how this program drives real-world impact.
Program Outline
- Learn key terminology.
- Review of financial statements and cash flows.
- Use DuPont analysis to understand drivers of profitability.
- Evaluate quality of earnings analysis.
- Understand free cash flow versus earnings.
- Evaluate projects using net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR).
- Calculate cost of capital: weighted average cost of capital (WACC).
- Understand valuation methods: DCF, APV, multiples.
- Apply valuation to M&A deals.
- Explore financing sources.
- Understand how capital structure decisions affect value.
- Assess financing instruments to implement a desired capital structure.
- Examine distressed debt.
- Understand entrepreneurial finance, private equity, venture capital, and leveraged buyouts.
- Explore new venture strategy.
- Gain different perspectives on corporate governance and the role of boards.
- Understand the difference between goals, strategy, and management.
- Identify the role of senior management in setting strategy.
- Explore the frameworks great strategists use.
- Analyze competitors and predict their actions.
- Evaluate which data is useful to build your strategy.
Start the Program with Confidence
This program incorporates a value-added pre-program preparation component that equips you with the core concepts and tools needed to maximize your learning experience. By completing this work in advance, you’ll arrive more confident, informed, and ready to apply new insights immediately.
Before stepping into the classroom, you’ll begin with an online learning experience that lays the groundwork for your classroom time at Booth.
- Gain a solid foundation through self-paced, professionally recorded digital learning modules from professor Haresh Sapra. These engaging, accessible sessions introduce critical principles that will support your in-class learning.
- Brief Survey: Complete a brief survey to assess your finance and Excel proficiency—allowing us to tailor the learning experience to your needs.
Online: 8—12 Hours of Preparation
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In-Person: 3 Days in the Classroom |
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Start your journey online—build your foundation through a series of interactive online modules. |
Transition to the classroom and be prepared to go further—applying frameworks and collaborating with peers. |
Past Participant Insights
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“The program was not only insightful but truly transformative. It reshaped the way I approach financial strategy and decision-making by giving me practical tools I can apply immediately in my role. What stood out most was the combination of world-class faculty, real-world case studies, and the opportunity to learn alongside other senior leaders from diverse industries. It was absolutely worth the financial and time investment, as the return has been clear in the way I now drive impact within my organization.”
—Tosin Okojie, Board / Founder, Hillside Ventures
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“As a scientist transitioning to financing of companies via venture capital, the concepts and more important business thought process and analysis taught during the course will be invaluable.”
—Juan Harrison, Vice President, Takeda Ventures Inc.
We recommend registering at least two weeks before the program start date to allow ample time for pre-program preparation. See Pre-Program Preparation for details.
Upcoming Sessions
Program dates are subject to change.
Download Brochure
Download the program brochure for in-depth insights on who should attend, a schedule preview, past participant profiles, location highlights, networking opportunities, and what to expect. When doing so, you’ll also receive an editable justification letter to help you make the case to your employer for your attendance.
All fields required.
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Frequently Asked Questions
In this section, you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions about Chicago Booth Executive Education programs.
Frequently Asked Questions