Chief Digital Officer Certificate

Digital leaders have to be ready for a dynamic future. To thrive, you need a diverse skill set, the agility to pivot as markets and business needs rapidly shift, and the resilience to weather change and ambiguity. CMU is in a unique position to accelerate the rise of next-gen digital leaders with a broad cross-section of relevant topics, the latest best practices, and an invaluable network of experts and peers. Mark Yolton | VP, Digital | Salesforce

• Cohort 2 (Spring 2022) Program Dates & Schedule

  Virtual Orientation: 12:00 - 5:00pm EST
  March 29-31, 2022

  Virtual Modules: 4:00 - 9:00pm EST
  (Note: all virtual class dates are Mondays)
  April 11, 25 (2022)
  May 9, 16 (2022)

  Program Mid-Session + Alumni Event: 9:00am - 4:00pm EST (Pittsburgh, PA)
  May 23-25, 2022
  *Current students will have the opportunity to network with CDigitalO alumni

  Virtual Modules: 4:00 - 9:00pm EST
  (Note: all virtual class dates are Mondays)
  June 6, 13, 20 (2022)
  July 11, 18 (2022)

  Virtual Practicum:
  August 10-11, 2022

  Please note: Students must complete all modules in sequence.

• Class Location

  On-campus sessions are held at our main campus in Pittsburgh:

  Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy
  Carnegie Mellon University
  4800 Forbes Avenue
  Pittsburgh, PA 15213

  Please note: CDigitalO Certificate Program deliveries will be virtual for Cohort 2; the program mid-session will be offered virtually with an optional in-person delivery, if possible, in accordance with public health guidance. Students will not be required to travel to complete the program.
  

• Program Costs
  • $16,250 for the entire program
  • $13,000 discounted rate for Carnegie Mellon alumni—including CIO, CISO, CRO, and CDataO programs—U.S. government employees, veterans, and employees of non-profit organizations
  • Fee includes all program materials and daily continental breakfast, lunch, and refreshments during on-campus sessions.
  • Optional credit card installment payment plan is available

  Please note: Due to the non-credit bearing nature of the CDigitalO Certificate Program, students are unable to apply for tuition assistance, scholarship, or VA benefits.

   

  Cancellation/Refund Policy

  A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of 1/6 of the total program cost is required to reserve a seat in the program.

  Should a student withdraw from the program after the deposit has been paid but prior to the program start date, students may have 5/6 of the program costs either refunded to them or transferred to the following cohort of the program.

  After the program start date, no refunds will be issued. However, under extenuating circumstances and with program director approval, students may petition to postpone their attendance to a future cohort and have 5/6 of the program costs applied accordingly.

• Deadlines

  Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and will be considered for the next available cohort. Please submit your application as soon as possible for consideration.

  If space remains in a cohort after the deadline, we will continue to accept applications on a first-come, first-served basis.

  Apply Now

• Digital Transformation

  Instructor:
  Ari Lightman | Distinguished Service Professor, Digital Media and Marketing, Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College

  Digital drives new efficiencies and new modes of work and creates data to develop new experiences, products, and services. However, it also opens up an organization to issues associated with culture, organization, security, and privacy when not introduced effectively. How does the Chief Digital Officer strike a balance while keeping up with market dynamics, hyper competition, and increasingly stringent consumer facing legislation?

  This module will discuss the key issues that a Chief Digital Officer will face when transforming the organization to open new opportunities.

• Role of the Chief Digital Officer (Digital Strategy Development)

  Instructor:
  Sameer Badlani | EVP, Chief Digital Officer, Fairview Health Services

  This module focuses on defining the roles and responsibilities of a Chief Digital Officer. As part of these core Chief Digital Officer responsibilities, students will learn how the digital executive integrates digital strategy effectively into overall organizational governance as well as best leadership and management practices that enhance the ability of today’s digital executive to succeed in any organization.

  This session will help to set the stage for the overall CDigitalO certificate program and the subsequent modules.

• Digital Innovation and Culture

  Instructor:
  Chris Labash | Associate Teaching Professor, Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College

  Becoming digitized and digital requires new ways of working as well as a mindset shift. Failing fast through a culture of experimentation is a necessity, but how can this be done in a risk-averse organization or a company that is not equipped for rapid experimentation? Chief Digital Officers must understand what an organization wants to achieve; assess incremental change; and map that back to culture, processes, and capabilities for growth.

  This module will discuss some processes and methods to develop a strong digital-focused culture in the organization.

• Emerging Technology

  Instructor:
  Steve Agnoli | CIO, Reed Smith

  This module will focus on how a Chief Digital Officer works with their technology peers (CIO/CTO) to assess pros and cons associated with emerging technologies, such as 5G, cloud infrastructure, IOT, digital twins, augmented reality, and others.

  This module will focus on how to develop a strategy for the implementation of disruptive technologies for business advantage.

• Platform Dynamics

  Instructor:
  Tim Derdenger | Associate Professor of Marketing and Strategy, Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business

  New, disruptive technologies that impact organizations are introduced in the marketplace daily. Also, new platform business models help organizations acquire data, foster community growth, and scale to meet the demands of an evolving digital ecosystem. When organizational shifts need to occur due to the introduction of new technology and business models, how do Chief Digital Officers best position themselves and determine which skillsets are needed to thrive in an increasingly digital organization?

  This module will discuss in detail these trends and how organizations can manage impact and achieve benefits.

• Data’s Role in DT, and Demystifying AI

  Instructor:
  David Steier | Distinguished Service Professor, Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College

  Artificial intelligence has been around for a long time, but organizations are flocking to deploy AI in droves. What should the Chief Digital Officer understand about what AI can and cannot provide? How should they look at AI in practical terms to “intelligently” deploy AI within their departments and across their organizations?

  This module will discuss how the Chief Digital Officer would utilize AI to enhance/accelerate digital initiatives in their organizations. This module will also discuss data’s importance in developing a robust strategy to enhance the competitive advantage of their organization.

• Data Analytics

  Instructor:
  Rebecca Nugent | Stephen E. and Joyce Fienberg Professor in Statistics & Data Science; Associate Department Head; Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies, CMU Department of Statistics & Data Science

  Data is increasingly important for organizations to identify new markets, products, and services; streamline processes; create unique consumer experiences; etc. How do organizations build a culture focusing on data collection, exploration, and analysis? What should organizations pay careful attention to and try to avoid as analytics become more fundamental in their day-to-day operations?

  This module will discuss the ways that the Chief Digital Officer should utilize and interpret data as a competitive advantage.

• Digital Product Management

  Instructor:
  Peter Boatwright | Professor of Marketing, Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business; Co-Founder and Director, CMU Integrated Innovation Institute

  Digital accelerates timing associated with research, development, delivery, and obsolescence. In a dynamic fast-paced environment, how do organizations implement processes to engender an ongoing stream of new products and services? Knowing that most products fail due to a mismatch of what companies produce and what the market needs, what kind of data are useful for a rich understanding of customer needs, and how can those data be readily translated into viable products and product features?

  This module will discuss how the Chief Digital Officer can effectively introduce and manage new product offerings to achieve desired business outcomes.

• Digital Storytelling

  Instructor:
  John Zimmerman | Tang Family Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Human-Computer Interaction, Carnegie Mellon University

  As information becomes more complex and data becomes richer, how do Chief Digital Officers communicate to a diverse audience so that they understand the imperative and nuances associated with new initiatives? How can different audiences engage in narratives to process complex information with a greater level of acuity?

  This module will work to improve the communication/persuasion skills of the Chief Digital Officer role to advance digital initiatives.

• Digital Marketing Analytics

  Instructor:
  Param Vir Singh | Carnegie Bosch Professor of Business Technologies & Marketing, Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College

  Digital technology has changed how consumers search for information, interact with each other, and buy products and services. Given the many digital technologies—like online search, social media, mobile, content sites, A/B testing, etc.—how should a firm design its digital marketing strategy? How can the firm measure the effectiveness of its digital marketing efforts?

  This module will discuss how a Chief Digital Officer should approach this process to maximize opportunities for digital initiatives.

• CDigitalO Organization Structure and Operations

  Instructor:
  Rafeh Masood | EVP, Chief Digital Officer, Bed Bath & Beyond

  This module is an overview of practical day-to-day operations of the Chief Digital Officer organization. The module will cover how to properly plan and structure the digital team, obtain “buy-in” from the organization, budget for needed resources, and report (metrics) on the team and initiatives to management.

  This module will also cover key project and change management principles/methods that a Chief Digital Officer would utilize in operations to support the team and meet the strategic objectives of the organization.

• Collective Intelligence of Digital Teams

  Instructor:
  Anita Woolley | Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior and Theory, Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business

  Teams are fundamental to collective intelligence and organizational function. However, digital collaboration and communications results in different work modalities. How are high performance teams designed and managed in an increasingly digital organization?

  This module will discuss some of methods and processes a Chief Digital Officer would employ to empower digital teams and initiatives in the organization.

• Digital Ethics

  Instructor:
  David Danks | Professor of Data Science & Philosophy, University of California, San Diego

  As organizations look to automate processes and glean insights from data, how do Chief Digital Officers ensure groups are using and acting on information in an ethical fashion? How do we understand and assess development of bias within data analytics as well as the human toll associated with an increasingly digitized society?

  This module will discuss important issues that digital executives should be aware of that could have an impact on their organizations.

• Privacy in the Digital Age

  Instructor:
  Alessandro Acquisti | Trustees Professor of Information Technology and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College

  Collecting and sharing personal information creates opportunities and challenges for organizations. Understanding how consumers think about their data (and value, or not, their privacy) and what the individual, organizational, and societal economic consequences of data collection/protection decisions are can help digital leaders navigate these complex trade-offs.

  This module will highlight ways the Chief Digital Officer can ensure digital products are developed with a privacy mindset to protect the organization and its customer base.