Digital Business Leadership Program

Innovate and create value in the digital age

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Course Dates

STARTS ON

TBD

Course Duration

DURATION

7 Months
Online and In Person

Course Fee

PROGRAM FEE

and get US$1,600 off with a referral

Synergizing Business and Technology

New digital technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), are transforming every industry. In order to succeed amid these disruptive threats, organizations need leaders who can harness each wave of digital change. It requires strategic thinking, a clear understanding of AI and its transformative implications, the deployment of innovative digital strategies, and the ability to seize new opportunities for growth.

The Digital Business Leadership Program from Columbia Business School Executive Education is a comprehensive program that readies global executives to meet these demands. It equips them with the knowledge and skills to create new strategic digital models, utilize real-world applications of AI, and guide their organizations toward success in the digital age.

Designed for Your Success

The Digital Business Leadership Program is designed with the needs of busy executives in mind. The program offers a blended learning format, including online and in-person faculty sessions, guest lectures, and case studies for maximum career and business impact.

Learn

Draw upon the cutting-edge research and groundbreaking thought leadership of Ivy League faculty and some of the top business minds from the world’s global business hub.

Engage

Exchange insights with accomplished peers, industry practitioners, and expert faculty during immersive in-person modules on Columbia Business School Executive Education's Manhattanville campus in New York City.

Implement

Devise solutions to real-world challenges, with a strong emphasis on implementation, using the theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience you have acquired.

What You Will Learn

This immersive learning experience will enable you to:

  • Master the skills, tools, and frameworks necessary to provide digital leadership and drive transformation in your organization
  • Understand the principles of digital business models, rapid innovation, and organizational change
  • Gain the strategic leadership skills needed to navigate an era of technological shifts and disruptive business models
  • Develop a roadmap for organizational change in your own or a client's organization
  • Apply principles of iterative innovation to a real-world digital product

Key Program Features

Expertly Developed Curriculum

Grow your skills for the digital age in the areas of strategy, innovation, data, new business models, and transformation leadership

Ivy League Faculty

Learn from world-renowned Columbia Business School Executive Education faculty who bring deep research and industry experience to the program

Two Capstone Projects

Work individually and as part of a team on capstone projects that bring together the learnings on digital transformation and innovation

Peer Interaction

Engage with accomplished fellow participants from across sectors who contribute diverse experiences, cultures, and perspectives

Eminent Speakers

Hear from leaders in the startup ecosystem, investors, and innovation hubs and gain new insights

Elite Alumni Network

Join a distinguished network of over 47,000 alumni worldwide, and receive select Columbia Business School Executive Education alumni benefits

Immersive Learning

Engage with peers, industry experts, and faculty during in-person modules held on the Columbia Business School Executive Education campus in New York City

Curriculum

The Digital Business Leadership Program is a flexible learning journey designed for senior business leaders. This program will enable you to hone your business acumen, build cutting-edge skills in AI, and redefine your leadership potential.

The curriculum is highly integrated and designed to maximize linkages across three key themes related to digital transformation and innovation leadership.

    • The five domains of digital strategies
    • Employing data as a strategic asset
    • Platforms and multi-sided business models
    • Leveraging AI for competitive advantage
    • Adapting your value proposition
    • Customer networks and the new path to purchase
    • The challenge of corporate innovation
    • Lean startup: the customer development method
    • The four stages of business model validation
    • Innovating through experimentation: a/b tests, mvps, and failing smart
    • Innovation at enterprise scale: structures, boards, and teams
    • Managing the three paths to growth
    • The digital transformation road map
    • Defining a shared vision for digital change
    • Picking the problems that matter most
    • Managing growth and innovation at scale
    • Digital capabilities: technology, talent, and culture
    • Digital leadership and the bottom-up organization

Capstone Projects

The program’s two capstone projects are a crucial part of the learning journey. One is to be completed individually and the other as part of a group.

  • Develop a roadmap for organizational change in your own or a client's organization
  • Apply principles of iterative innovation to a real-world digital product in your team project

Meet the Faculty

David Rogers is the world’s leading expert on digital transformation and the author of five books. His landmark bestseller, The Digital Transformation Playbook, was the first book on digital transformation and put the topic on the map. He has helped organizations around the world transform their businesses for the digital age and regularly delivers keynotes at conferences on six continents. His recent research focuses on new business models, innovation through experimentation, governance for growth, and barriers to change in digital transformation.

—DAVID ROGERS
Academic Director in Executive Education

Contributing Faculty

Oded Netzer

Arthur J. Samberg Professor of Business

Faculty Member Chris LaSala

Chris LaSala

Former Google Executive, Senior Lecturer in Marketing

Oded Netzer

Arthur J. Samberg Professor of Business

Faculty Member Chris LaSala

Chris LaSala

Former Google Executive, Senior Lecturer in Marketing

Past Speakers

Joe Brown, Director, IDEO

David Glick, Chief Technology Officer, Flexe

Laura Kornhauser, Chief Executive Officer, Stratyfy

Steve Serra, Chief Digital Officer, United Technologies

Vanessa Colella, Chief Innovation Officer, Citi

Seth Goodman, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, SiteR

Tim Reis, Director, Google

Dan Siroker, Co-Founder, Scribe

Douglas Feagin, Senior Vice President, Ant Financial

Nick Katsivelos, Director, Microsoft

Fernando Riaza, Chief Marketing Officer, Merck

Fiona Tan, Chief Technology Officer, Walmart

Who Is This Program For?

The Digital Business Leadership Program is ideal for:

  • Senior executives looking to take on larger digital transformation roles
  • Experienced professionals from large or medium-sized organizations that are focused on digital transformation and innovation

Program eligibility criteria include:

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

Hear from Our Alumni

Faculty Member Kevin Brown

Kevin Brown

Partner, Ernst & Young

“The program is a great balance of theory and practical learning as well as organizational visits and tours of innovative centers. Since the completion of the program, my views on digital have changed. I am much clearer on the many ways to define ‘digital.’ The pace of change is so fast that the old ways won't last in the future, and therefore, being open to a whole new paradigm is key.”
Faculty Member Gladys Morales

Gladys Morales

CEO and Founder, GHMG Strategies

“What really drove me to choose this program was the opportunity to meet people who are top leaders going through change and facing challenges and to share experiences and potential solutions to organizational problems. The faculty at Columbia Business School provide a wealth of knowledge bringing their firsthand experience in advising top organizations that have been facing disruption successfully.”

Select Alumni Benefits

Join Columbia Business School’s worldwide network of more than 47,000 alumni and receive select benefits, including:

  • Access to Columbia Business School Alumni Career Services resources
  • Invitations to alumni events and programs around the world
  • Global networking opportunities
  • An additional tuition benefit on eligible future programs
  • Lifetime Columbia Business School forwarding email address

Certificate in Business Excellence

Example image of certificate that will be awarded after successful completion of this program

Certificate in Business Excellence

Upon completion of the Digital Business Leadership Program, participants are awarded the Certificate in Business Excellence from Columbia Business School Executive Education. The certificate is a recognition of their achievement and the investment they and their organization have made in their education and development.

As a Certificate in Business Excellence holder, you will receive a 25 percent tuition benefit for full-price Executive Education in-person programs lasting three and four days and all full-price online programs. Exclusions apply**

Certificate holders will also be awarded select Columbia Business School Alumni benefits.

Your digitally verified certificate will be issued in your legal name and emailed to you, at no additional cost, upon completion of the program, including all modules of the program (online, in person, or live online, inter-module). All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Columbia Business School Executive Education.

Program Calendar

The program journey features in-person immersion modules, online and live-online modules, and two capstone projects. The in-person modules provide the opportunity to immerse yourself in New York City’s thriving technology sector and engage with Ivy League faculty and digital experts. During the live-online sessions, you will learn from organizations at the forefront of the digital revolution and interact with eminent speakers from startups, investors, and large organizations.

Program Kickoff | February 26, 2024
Live online | One-hour program introduction session and pre-readings

Module 1 | Digital Strategies for Business | March 4–April 27, 2024
Online | Eight weeks, three to four hours per week

Module 2 | April 29, 2024
Live online | Three hours of faculty lectures and guest speakers

Module 2 | Project Work | April 30–May 17, 2024
Solo capstone project: future landscape and right to win
Team capstone project: online meetings with assigned teams

Module 3 | May 20–22, 2024
Three days of in-person learning in New York City
Solo capstone project: meet with peer mentors
Team capstone project: meet and begin working in teams

Module 4 | Project Work | May 28–July 12, 2024
Solo capstone project: northstar Impact and Business Theory
Team capstone project: customer interviews and initial testing of hypotheses
Coaching (live online): one hour of coaching per team

Module 5 | Part 1: July 15–17, 2024 | Part 2: July 18–19, 2024
Live online | Five three-hour sessions with faculty, guest speakers, and industry experts

Module 6 | Project Work | July 22–August 30, 2024
Solo capstone project: innovation stack and culture gaps
Team capstone project: testing of MVPs with customers
Coaching (live online): one hour of coaching per team

Module 7 | September 5–6, 2024
Two days of in-person learning in New York City
Solo capstone project: final meeting with peer mentors
Team capstone project: final team presentations on lessons learned
Graduation dinner on September 6, 2024

FAQs

  • The Digital Business Leadership Program from Columbia Business School Executive Education is an intensive Ivy League learning journey that prepares global executives to innovate new strategies and business models and lead their organizations to thrive in the digital age. It equips digital leaders with the skills to drive digital transformation in their respective organizations. Upon completion of the program, participants receive select Columbia Business School alumni benefits.

  • Participants in the Digital Business Leadership Program come from large or medium-sized organizations focused on digital transformation and innovation within existing industries. The learning experience is designed specifically for participants with a minimum work experience of 10 years.

  • The Digital Business Leadership Program kicks off with an online introduction session, followed by a mix of online modules and in-person modules at the Columbia Business School campus in New York City.

  • Upon completion of the Digital Business Leadership Program, participants will be awarded a Certificate in Business Excellence from Columbia Business School Executive Education.

  • Applications to the Digital Business Leadership Program can be made online and should include an updated resume/LinkedIn profile as well as professional references. The application fees vary by rounds—applying earlier helps your chances of being accepted into the program.

Questions? Connect with a Learning Advisor.

Email: dblp_columbia@emeritus.org

Phone: +1 567 587 1669 (U.S.) / +44 1156 471398 (U.K.) / +971 80 00321209 (U.A.E.) / +52 55930 20507 (LATAM)

Apply Now

Early registrations are encouraged. Seats fill up quickly!