As the global financial landscape continues to evolve, chief investment officers (CIOs) and senior finance professionals today face the challenge of navigating economic fluctuations. These executives must inspire their teams, make informed decisions, and develop robust investment strategies to drive resilience and growth. Additionally, they need strong leadership skills to guide their teams in managing the investment portfolio effectively.

The Chief Investment Officer Program from Columbia Business School Executive Education is designed for leaders like you, offering the frameworks and strategies needed to navigate today’s complex investment environment effectively. Over nine months, you will gain an in-depth understanding of evolving financial technologies, asset allocation, and strategic leadership, equipping you to guide your organization toward long-term success.

Please contact our partners at Emeritus at columbia_cio@emeritus.org or +1 567-587-1669 for a personal conversation to learn more.

Delivered in collaboration with

is the estimated size of assets to be managed by outsourced CIOs in 16 years, growing from US$90 billion.: US$3 trillion

of CIOs say poor investment governance frameworks may result in a more than 1 percent negative impact on annual investment returns.: 68%

Source: KPMG (1)

Source: KPMG (2)

With the Chief Investment Officer Program, you will gain the necessary tools and frameworks to enhance your financial leadership, sharpen your portfolio management techniques, and lead transformation in your organization.

Some of the program highlights include:

Flexible Learning Journey
Balance learning with your busy work schedule by dedicating just three to five hours each week toward program sessions and learning activities
Comprehensive Curriculum
Kick-start your program journey with 18 weeks of core online learning, supplemented by live online workshops and an in-person open-enrollment elective
Live Sessions
Adapt to evolving industry trends with live online sessions led by faculty and industry leaders
World-Renowned Faculty
Learn from top Columbia Business School faculty via expert-led, case-based sessions offering practical insights and knowledge
Global Peer Group
Network with global peers to explore business challenges and career opportunities through structured engagement
Capstone Project
Work on a capstone project to refine your skills by applying program learnings to a challenge and drive immediate on-the-job impact in your organization
Success Coach
Craft your learning journey in line with your career goals with a success coach assigned to your cohort
Networking Event
Interact with faculty, peers, and global industry leaders at an optional two-day on-campus networking event
CIBE Holder Benefits
Receive Certificate in Business Excellence (CIBE) benefits upon completion and become part of a distinguished global community

Core Modules
On-Campus Networking Event | Two Days*

Comprehensive Curriculum

The Chief Investment Officer Program offers senior investment leaders a dynamic experience with online sessions, expert lectures, and practical activities. It combines a cutting-edge curriculum, case studies, and a capstone project to enhance investment acumen and leadership skills. It concludes with an optional two-day on-campus networking event in New York City, connecting you with Columbia Business School faculty and global peers.

Core Modules: Online | 18 Weeks

Phase 1: Investment Strategy (6 Weeks)

Develop a comprehensive understanding of active investing and capital markets, enhancing your foundational investment strategies and knowledge. Session topics include:

Defining Investment Objectives: Risk, Return, Liquidity, Time Horizons in Evolving Dynamics
Measuring and Evaluating Investment Risks
Evaluation of Investment Strategies
Evaluation of Internal and External Managers
Market Efficiency and Behavioral Finance
Market Forecasting and Harnessing Big Data, AI, and Predictive Analytics in Asset Management

Phase 2: Asset Allocation and Portfolio Management (6 Weeks)

Deepen your understanding of practical portfolio construction and diversification across asset classes. Session topics include:

Accounting Principles for Chief Investment Officers
Value Investing Framework
Portfolio Considerations
Practical Portfolio Construction
Alternative Asset Classes
Real Estate

Phase 3: Chief Investment Officer as a Strategic Leader (6 Weeks)
Enhance your leadership skills to drive strategic decisions, foster ethical environments, and achieve organizational impact. Session topics include:

Future-Oriented Leadership: Leadership in the Face of Disruption and Transformation
Principled Leadership: The Art of Influencing with Ethics
Situational Dynamics: Influencing with and without Authority
Organizational Dynamics: Leverage Organization Structure to Create a Culture of Belonging
Performance Excellence: Creating and Leading with High-Impact Teams
Strategic Executive: Connecting Vision to Strategy to Implementation for Impact

Live Online Sessions
You will take part in a series of live online workshops led by Columbia Business School Faculty, applying learnings from core modules. These sessions will enable you to stay updated with the latest industry trends and receive guidance from experienced faculty. Insights from guest speakers, including leading CFOs, CMOs, VCs, and PE professionals, will offer actionable strategies for career success. This approach blends theoretical knowledge with practical skills, preparing you for effective implementation in your roles.

Open-Enrollment Elective: In Person | Three, Four, or Five Days
You will choose one in-person open-enrollment elective to deepen your expertise in a specific area of interest, further unraveling the complexities of your chosen specialization. Held in New York City, the world's financial capital, the electives are designed to provide an immersive learning experience and enhance your understanding of diverse financial and strategic management areas. They will position you as an advanced strategist poised to thrive in an increasingly complex and volatile market environment and lead with confidence. Additionally, you will benefit from invaluable networking opportunities with your cohort peers.
A list of select current availabilities is below:

Advanced Value Investing
AI-Driven Marketing Strategy: Leveraging New Technologies to Cultivate Enduring Customer Relationships
Behavioral Science in Business: Understanding People to Drive Results
Business and Climate: The Journey to Net Zero
Growing and Managing Global Customers
High-Impact Leadership – Dubai
Leading in a Data-Driven World: Developing Quantitative Intuition™
M&A and Corporate Strategy
Strategy and Leadership in the Future of Work
The Business of AI: Shaping the Future of Business with Generative AI
The Strategic Leader Program: How to Excel as Your Responsibility Increases
Think Bigger: Start Choosing Innovative Solutions
Value Investing
Women in Leadership: Next Level Success

Note: While Columbia Business School Executive Education will attempt to accommodate participant preference selections, we cannot guarantee that all preferences will be granted due to the high demand for our open-enrollment programs. Electives are subject to change.

Capstone Project

The capstone project is an immersive, team-based exercise where participants create an investment policy statement (IPS) for an organization such as a pension fund or insurance company. This project mirrors real investment practices and consists of three interconnected parts, each building on the previous and fostering collaboration and practical application.

Section 1: Defining Objectives
Establish the foundational objectives and parameters to guide all portfolio decisions.

Section 2: Portfolio Implementation
Develop and apply a comprehensive investment strategy, including asset allocation and risk management.

Section 3: Governance and Leadership
Create governance frameworks and ethical standards to support effective team development and decision-making.

Note: Session topics, networking event duration, and electives are subject to change.

The Chief Investment Officer Program is ideal for:

Chief investment officers and senior institutional investors looking to formulate and communicate the investment strategy and manage the investment portfolio for their organization
Senior investment professionals seeking to enhance their understanding of investment management, asset allocation, risk management, and portfolio management

Participants are required to have:

A minimum of 10 years of work experience
Fluency in written and spoken English
International exposure (preferred)

The Chief Investment Officer Program will enable you to:

Lead innovative investment strategies by integrating behavioral finance principles with empirical market analysis
Evaluate advanced portfolio management techniques through quantitative analysis and investing frameworks
Combine big data analytics with traditional investment approaches to forecast trends and guide strategy
Analyze complex asset classes to optimize strategic portfolio management within diverse market scenarios
Apply artificial intelligence and machine learning insights to drive organizational decision making in asset management
Cultivate a forward-thinking leadership approach to influence organizational adaptation and investment foresight