Chief Operating Officer (COO) Program

Inspire operational excellence

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Course Dates

STARTS ON

December 12, 2023

Course Duration

DURATION

9 to 12 Months
Online and Live Online

Course Fee

PROGRAM FEE

US$20,000 US$19,000 and get US$1,000 off with a referral US$200 application fee

Course Information Flexible payment available

Tuition Fee Benefit

US$1,000

We are offering an early registration benefit of US$1,000 off the program fee and a complimentary 1-year Wall Street Journal subscription if you apply on or before .

Drive Operational Efficiency

In today’s uncertain business landscape, organizations face dynamic challenges — from employee retention and digital transformation to environmental, social, and governance issues — all of which fall under the wide-ranging role of the modern chief operating officer (COO). The COO is responsible for addressing these challenges while functioning as a strategic C-suite partner who can translate the chief executive officer’s (CEO's) vision into practical business solutions.

MIT xPRO’s 9- to 12-month Chief Operating Officer (COO) Program has been designed with the evolving role of the COO in mind, equipping participants with the strategic skill set that positions them to excel as an operations leader. If you have recently taken on a COO role or are looking to advance into the C-suite, this expertly developed program will help you quickly assess and align day-to-day operations while driving innovation to lead performance and growth.

Designed for Success

The program has been structured with the needs of busy executives in mind. You will learn through online sessions, including faculty lectures and guest lectures from leading industry practitioners. You also have the flexibility to customize your learning journey for maximum career and business impact.

Define

Manage your schedule with a flexible program that includes online and recorded sessions, peer interaction, and a manageable weekly commitment of just three to five hours.

Interact

Engage with accomplished peers from across the world, and gain new perspectives while you learn cutting-edge insights from renowned faculty and industry experts.

Align

Advance your career through a holistic curriculum that enables you to choose electives in line with your career goals and apply what you have learned in the program immediately in your organization.

“In an uncertain business environment, organizations are looking for operational leadership to translate their vision into growth-led strategies. MIT xPRO’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Program equips you to think holistically about your organization’s needs and adopt a data-driven approach to business transformation. The focus of the program is to future-proof the organization through technology-enabled strategies that deliver sustained growth and competitive value.”

— David Niño
Faculty Director
Senior Lecturer and Senior Program Manager, Daniel J. Riccio Graduate Program in Engineering Leadership

Learning Outcomes

The program will equip you with the critical leadership framework needed to:

  • Assess your organization’s current business strategy and priorities to identify opportunities and threats and plan for organizational growth
  • Manage organizational change to align and execute initiatives that support your organization’s goals
  • Build a supportive organizational culture that fosters high-performing, cross-functional teams
  • Champion business transformation by adopting a data-driven approach to assessing and implementing tools, systems, and processes
  • Lead innovation and future-proof the business by leveraging emerging technologies

    Key Program Features

    Core Curriculum

    Kick-start your journey with 19 weeks of in-depth sessions on strategy, business transformation, and leadership.

    Expert Faculty

    Gain insights from world-renowned faculty who are experts in organizational strategy, leadership, and technology.

    Executive Reflection

    Curate your program insights to develop over-arching executive reflections that will serve as a resource for application in your organization.

    Flexible Learning Journey

    Customize the learning journey with a choice of topical electives to gain skills specific to career goals.

    Success Coach

    Craft your learning journey in line with your career goals with a success coach assigned to your cohort.

    Self-Paced Learning

    Access recorded faculty sessions that provide the flexibility to learn at your own pace and convenience.

    Networking Event

    Connect with high-achieving peers from around the globe at a two-day in-person networking event.

    Curriculum

    The comprehensive curriculum will equip you to think holistically about your organization’s business needs and develop strategies to drive growth and create value. The expertly developed curriculum is structured around three core pillars focused on strategy, business transformation, and leadership. You will learn through a mix of online sessions, video lectures, guest speaker sessions, and weekly assignments.

    • COO as a Strategic Partner

      Organizational and Product Strategy

      System Thinking, Emergence, and Success

      Supply Chain and Computational Approaches to System Thinking

      Radical Innovation

      Urgency and Spirit of Radical Innovation 

      Leading With Innovation

      Realities of Technical Projects: Uncertainty, Complexity, and Risk 

      Business Transformation

      Introduction to Future Technologies

      • Robotics
      • Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
      • Digital Transformation in Supply Chain
      • Internet of Things (IoT)
      • Connective Technologies

      Financial Acumen

      COO as a Leader 

      Leading High-Performance Teams

      Negotiation

      Influence and Power

      Culture

      Networks

      Change Management and Simulation


      Note: Session topics are subject to change.

      Designing and Building AI Products and Services

      Robotics Essentials

      Designing and Building IoT Products and Services

      Rapid Prototyping in Product Design and Manufacturing

      Digital Transformation in Supply Chain

      VR and Augmented Reality

      *Electives are subject to change.

    • The program concludes with an optional two-day in-person networking event on the MIT campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.


    Executive Reflection

    You will have the opportunity to apply program insights to your organization’s challenges and develop potential solutions. There are three reflections in the program, placed at the end of each phase of the core module journey — and they are essential for program completion. The reflections are designed to help you take all you have learned in the program curriculum, interaction with the success coach, and discussions with peers to strategize for your organization’s unique global challenges.

    Meet the Faculty

    The program is designed and delivered by renowned faculty who bring their cutting-edge expertise on key technology accelerators, combined with principles of organizational strategy and leadership. The cross-functional faculty are drawn from MIT’s Mechanical Engineering Department, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, and AeroAstro Department, as well as the MIT School of Management. You will also participate in sessions, where you will have the opportunity to engage with guest speakers, the success coach and visiting faculty who are subject matter experts.

    Note: Faculty list is subject to change.

    Faculty Member David Niño

    David Niño

    COO Program Faculty Director; Senior Lecturer and Senior Program Manager, Daniel J. Riccio Graduate Program in Engineering Leadership

    Faculty Member Deborah L. Ancona

    Deborah L. Ancona

    Seley Distinguished Professor of Management at the MIT School of Management

    Hamsa Balakrishnan

    William E. Leonhard (1940) Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT

    Faculty Member Edward F. Crawley

    Edward F. Crawley

    Ford Professor of Engineering at MIT

    Faculty Member D. Fox Harrell

    D. Fox Harrell

    Professor of Digital Media and Artificial Intelligence at MIT

    Faculty Member John Van Maanen

    John Van Maanen

    Erwin H. Schell Professor of Management Emeritus Professor, Organization Studies

    Faculty Member Bryan R. Moser

    Bryan R. Moser

    Academic Director and Sr. Lecturer, System Design and Management(SDM). Associate Director, Engineering Systems Lab

    Faculty Member Ray Reagans

    Ray Reagans

    Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Management. Professor, Work and Organization Studies. Associate Deanfor Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Faculty Member Alberto Rodriguez

    Alberto Rodriguez

    Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT; Class of 1957 Career Development Professor

    Faculty Member Daniela Rus

    Daniela Rus

    Andrew (1956) and Erna Viterbi Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

    Faculty Member Maria Jesus Saenz

    Maria Jesus Saenz

    Director, MIT Digital Supply Chain Transformation Lab Executive Director, MIT SCM Master's Program

    Sanjay Sarma

    Fred Fort Flowers (1941) and Daniel Fort Flowers (1941) Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT

    Julie Shah

    Associate Professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT

    Faculty Member Lawrence Susskind

    Lawrence Susskind

    Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning at MIT

    Faculty Member David Niño

    David Niño

    COO Program Faculty Director; Senior Lecturer and Senior Program Manager, Daniel J. Riccio Graduate Program in Engineering Leadership

    Faculty Member Deborah L. Ancona

    Deborah L. Ancona

    Seley Distinguished Professor of Management at the MIT School of Management

    Hamsa Balakrishnan

    William E. Leonhard (1940) Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT

    Faculty Member Edward F. Crawley

    Edward F. Crawley

    Ford Professor of Engineering at MIT

    Faculty Member D. Fox Harrell

    D. Fox Harrell

    Professor of Digital Media and Artificial Intelligence at MIT

    Faculty Member John Van Maanen

    John Van Maanen

    Erwin H. Schell Professor of Management Emeritus Professor, Organization Studies

    Faculty Member Bryan R. Moser

    Bryan R. Moser

    Academic Director and Sr. Lecturer, System Design and Management(SDM). Associate Director, Engineering Systems Lab

    Faculty Member Ray Reagans

    Ray Reagans

    Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Management. Professor, Work and Organization Studies. Associate Deanfor Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Faculty Member Alberto Rodriguez

    Alberto Rodriguez

    Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT; Class of 1957 Career Development Professor

    Faculty Member Daniela Rus

    Daniela Rus

    Andrew (1956) and Erna Viterbi Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

    Faculty Member Maria Jesus Saenz

    Maria Jesus Saenz

    Director, MIT Digital Supply Chain Transformation Lab Executive Director, MIT SCM Master's Program

    Sanjay Sarma

    Fred Fort Flowers (1941) and Daniel Fort Flowers (1941) Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT

    Julie Shah

    Associate Professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT

    Faculty Member Lawrence Susskind

    Lawrence Susskind

    Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning at MIT

    Who Is It For?

    The COO Program is ideal for:

    • Newly appointed COOs at mid-to-large organizations who are tasked with implementing new processes and initiatives that optimize current business operations
    • Heads of operations, vice presidents, and other senior executives looking to gain executive leadership skills and advance into C-level positions

    Participants are required to have:

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

    Certificate

    Certificate

    Upon successful completion of this program, MIT xPRO grants a verified certificate of completion to participants.

    Application Details

    program fee

    US$20,000 US$19,000

    The fee amount is available till ,, and does not include the application fee of US$200
    Download Brochure


    The program fee covers all program materials. The fee does not include accommodations for the optional two-day in-person networking event, travel expenses (domestic, international, visa fee, and more), and other expenses not specifically mentioned in the fees.

    Connect With a Learning Advisor for a 1:1 Session

    Our learning advisors have helped senior executives across the world choose the right program for their career goals. Schedule a one-on-one to get a deeper understanding on why the COO Program is the right fit for you.

    Email: mit_coo@emeritus.org

    Phone: +1 646 713 0918 (U.S.) / +44 1156 471388 (U.K.) / +971 80 00321209 (U.A.E.) / +52 55930 20507 (LATAM)

    Apply Now

    Early registrations are encouraged. Seats fill up quickly!

    Flexible payment options available. Learn more.