Succeeding as a Strategic CFO
- Dates: 02–05 APR 2023
- Format: In-Person Learning takes place on the HBS campus or a designated location.
- Location: HBS Campus
- Fee: $11,250
The program fee covers tuition, books, case materials, accommodations, and most meals.
Application Due: 27 MAR 2023
"The goal of this program is to help "emerging CFOs" to start rounding out the skills they need to be successful."
"The goal of this program is to help "emerging CFOs" to start rounding out the skills they need to be successful."
Summary
As capital markets and organizational strategies have evolved, so has the role of the chief financial officer (CFO). Today's CFOs are not just gatekeepers of a company's financial information; they serve as key strategic partners who must fulfill a broad set of responsibilities. In this program, you will learn what it takes to meet the demands of the CFO role. You will begin to build a robust set of skills in strategy, communication, and leadership that will enable you to drive innovation and lead organizational change.
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Summary
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As capital markets and organizational strategies have evolved, so has the role of the chief financial officer (CFO). Today's CFOs are not just gatekeepers of a company's financial information; they serve as key strategic partners who must fulfill a broad set of responsibilities. In this program, you will learn what it takes to meet the demands of the CFO role. You will begin to build a robust set of skills in strategy, communication, and leadership that will enable you to drive innovation and lead organizational change.
DetailsExpand AllCollapse All
Enhance your financial decision-making skillsEnhance your financial decision-making skills
- Review and practice applying frameworks and tools of value-based management
- Learn about financial policies and practices used by other organizations and determine which ones best suit your organization
- Formulate processes and understand the key considerations of financial policy decisions
Become a strategic partner to the CEOBecome a strategic partner to the CEO
- Discover how to formulate, evaluate, and implement strategic choices that are grounded in financial metrics, but not limited to them
- Learn how to determine which metrics are most appropriate for your organization
- Make crucial choices about investment, divestitures, and the optimization of distinct product and geographic segments
- Identify new opportunities to use finance to advance the strategic goals of your organization
Develop your leadership capabilitiesDevelop your leadership capabilities
- Lead, motivate, and engage people with expertise different from your own
- Oversee processes, such as capital budgeting and managing risk, in an effective manner
- Gain confidence in situations outside of your areas of expertise
Strengthen your communication skillsStrengthen your communication skills
- Improve how you describe your plans and performance results to stakeholders
- Become a more effective advocate for actions that create value
- Effectively communicate and collaborate with leaders and teams across different functional areas and levels
Expand your personal and professional networkExpand your personal and professional network
- Extend your network by living and working with accomplished executives from various backgrounds, industries, and countries around the globe
- Build relationships with a diverse group of peers who can provide wide-ranging insights into your business challenges and career decisions
Enhance your financial decision-making skills
- Review and practice applying frameworks and tools of value-based management
- Learn about financial policies and practices used by other organizations and determine which ones best suit your organization
- Formulate processes and understand the key considerations of financial policy decisions
Become a strategic partner to the CEO
- Discover how to formulate, evaluate, and implement strategic choices that are grounded in financial metrics, but not limited to them
- Learn how to determine which metrics are most appropriate for your organization
- Make crucial choices about investment, divestitures, and the optimization of distinct product and geographic segments
- Identify new opportunities to use finance to advance the strategic goals of your organization
Develop your leadership capabilities
- Lead, motivate, and engage people with expertise different from your own
- Oversee processes, such as capital budgeting and managing risk, in an effective manner
- Gain confidence in situations outside of your areas of expertise
Strengthen your communication skills
- Improve how you describe your plans and performance results to stakeholders
- Become a more effective advocate for actions that create value
- Effectively communicate and collaborate with leaders and teams across different functional areas and levels
Expand your personal and professional network
- Extend your network by living and working with accomplished executives from various backgrounds, industries, and countries around the globe
- Build relationships with a diverse group of peers who can provide wide-ranging insights into your business challenges and career decisions
Who Should Attend
- New CFOs who want to enhance their skills
- CFOs of smaller or divisional entities who are transitioning to larger entities or evolving CFOs taking on increased responsibilities
- Finance professionals—such as analysts, treasurers, controllers, and those in financial planning and analysis—seeking to enhance their strategic acumen
- Financial leaders from early-stage companies or technical backgrounds (e.g., digital startups), as well as government and nonprofit financial leaders seeking to be more effective in their roles
Program for Leadership Development participants earn 3 PLDA Points on completion of this program.
- New CFOs who want to enhance their skills
- CFOs of smaller or divisional entities who are transitioning to larger entities or evolving CFOs taking on increased responsibilities
- Finance professionals—such as analysts, treasurers, controllers, and those in financial planning and analysis—seeking to enhance their strategic acumen
- Financial leaders from early-stage companies or technical backgrounds (e.g., digital startups), as well as government and nonprofit financial leaders seeking to be more effective in their roles
Program for Leadership Development participants earn 3 PLDA Points on completion of this program.
Learning and Living at HBS
When you participate in an Executive Education program on the HBS campus, you enter an immersive experience where every aspect of the learning model has been carefully designed to facilitate your growth. Your learning will take place on your own, in your living group, and in the larger classroom, driven by the renowned HBS case method.
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Learning and Living at HBS
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When you participate in an Executive Education program on the HBS campus, you enter an immersive experience where every aspect of the learning model has been carefully designed to facilitate your growth. Your learning will take place on your own, in your living group, and in the larger classroom, driven by the renowned HBS case method.
Admissions Criteria and Process
Answering Your Questions
Application Submission
Application Review
Fee, Payment, and Cancellations
Answering Your Questions
Application Submission
Application Review
Fee, Payment, and Cancellations
What You Will Learn
Emphasizing the case study method, this program uses a variety of interactive teaching methods to prepare you for the demands of the CFO role. The program also features sessions with current or retired practitioners who will offer insight on their career paths and share practices that have helped them and their organizations succeed.
Participants should expect to spend at least 9-12 hours on self-paced case preparation prior to attending the program. Case materials will be made available approximately two weeks prior to program start.
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What You Will Learn
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Emphasizing the case study method, this program uses a variety of interactive teaching methods to prepare you for the demands of the CFO role. The program also features sessions with current or retired practitioners who will offer insight on their career paths and share practices that have helped them and their organizations succeed.
Participants should expect to spend at least 9-12 hours on self-paced case preparation prior to attending the program. Case materials will be made available approximately two weeks prior to program start.
Key TopicsExpand AllCollapse All
FinanceFinance
- Applying frameworks and tools employed in value-based management
- Evaluating the financial policies and practices that firms often use
- Analyzing tradeoffs that arise when making and implementing choices with a financial component
- Considering potential pitfalls of some approaches to financial management
StrategyStrategy
- Using financial tools to illustrate the value implications of alternative strategic choices
- Making strategic decisions in pursuit of margins and growth
- Linking strategic choices to appropriate financial metrics
- Balancing the disciplining aspects of finance with its ability to support innovation
- Serving as a trusted strategic partner
LeadershipLeadership
- Engaging in an introspective analysis of your leadership style and capabilities
- Managing and motivating teams of people with deep technical knowledge
- Developing a plan for enhancing your leadership skills
CommunicationCommunication
- Observing the habits and traits of strong communicators and learning how to incorporate best practices into your own communication style
- Developing storytelling skills to better communicate results and plans to employees, investors, and the board of directors
- Communicating effectively with different functions and business units
Finance
- Applying frameworks and tools employed in value-based management
- Evaluating the financial policies and practices that firms often use
- Analyzing tradeoffs that arise when making and implementing choices with a financial component
- Considering potential pitfalls of some approaches to financial management
Strategy
- Using financial tools to illustrate the value implications of alternative strategic choices
- Making strategic decisions in pursuit of margins and growth
- Linking strategic choices to appropriate financial metrics
- Balancing the disciplining aspects of finance with its ability to support innovation
- Serving as a trusted strategic partner
Leadership
- Engaging in an introspective analysis of your leadership style and capabilities
- Managing and motivating teams of people with deep technical knowledge
- Developing a plan for enhancing your leadership skills
Communication
- Observing the habits and traits of strong communicators and learning how to incorporate best practices into your own communication style
- Developing storytelling skills to better communicate results and plans to employees, investors, and the board of directors
- Communicating effectively with different functions and business units
The HBS Advantage
Our Executive Education programs are developed and taught by HBS faculty who are widely recognized as skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors. Through their board memberships, consulting, and field-based research, they address the complex challenges facing business leaders across the globe.
André R. Jakurski Professor of Business Administration
Roy and Elizabeth Simmons Professor of Business Administration
Tandon Family Professor of Business Administration
Andreas Andresen Professor of Business Administration
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The HBS Advantage
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Our Executive Education programs are developed and taught by HBS faculty who are widely recognized as skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors. Through their board memberships, consulting, and field-based research, they address the complex challenges facing business leaders across the globe.
Faculty Chair
André R. Jakurski Professor of Business Administration
HBS Unit:FinanceFacultyRoy and Elizabeth Simmons Professor of Business Administration
HBS Unit:FinanceTandon Family Professor of Business Administration
HBS Unit:Negotiation, Organizations & MarketsAndreas Andresen Professor of Business Administration
HBS Unit:Strategy
Your Peers Expand Your Learning
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Your Peers Expand Your Learning
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Global PerspectiveExperience the world in your classroom.Global PerspectiveExperience the world in your classroom.5%Africa7%Asia Pacific22%Europe6%Latin America8%Middle East52%North America5%Africa7%Asia Pacific22%Europe6%Latin America8%Middle East52%North AmericaTop Industries RepresentedInsights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.Insights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.18%Financial10%High Technology9%Professional Services8%Consumer Products7%Health Care7%Real Estate / Construction7%Chem / Pharma / Bio6%Raw Materials / Energy5%Manufacturing4%Retail ServicesTop Industries RepresentedInsights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.18%Financial10%High Technology9%Professional Services8%Consumer Products7%Health Care7%Real Estate / Construction7%Chem / Pharma / Bio6%Raw Materials / Energy5%Manufacturing4%Retail ServicesExperienceExperienceYears workedYears workedExperienceYears workedLess than 10 yearsLess than 10 years10-14 years10-14 years15-19 years15-19 years20-24 years20-24 years25-29 years25-29 years30-34 years30-34 years35-39 years35-39 years40 or more40 or moreLess than 10 yearsLess than 10 years10-14 years10-14 years15-19 years15-19 years20-24 years20-24 years25-29 years25-29 years30-34 years30-34 years35-39 years35-39 years40 or more40 or more
"The goal of this program is to help "emerging CFOs" to start rounding out the skills they need to be successful."
"The goal of this program is to help "emerging CFOs" to start rounding out the skills they need to be successful."