Program Overview

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Introduction to the Duke Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Program

The Duke Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Program is an extensive 8-month multi-modular program designed to shape visionary financial leaders into transformative agents who can steer their organizations towards success in an increasingly uncertain global business arena. This immersive program offers a deep dive into the multifaceted world of modern finance, equipping participants with the tools to navigate complex financial decisions and emerging trends.

Program Details

• Duration: 8 months (August 2025 - March 2026)
• Fee: USD 26,000
• Format: Blended (Live Online + Classroom Sessions)
• Location: Duke University Campus (Durham, N.C., USA)

Program Benefits

Upon completion of the Chief Financial Officer Program, participants will become part of the CFO Program community and the global Duke Executive Education network. They will receive select premier benefits, including:

• The Duke CFO Program certificate from Duke Executive Education and Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business
• Inclusion in The Fuqua School of Business alumni LinkedIn network
• Inclusion in Fuqua’s alumni directory with access to online searching for networking opportunities
• Access to CareerBridge, Fuqua’s Job Board
• Receive the monthly alumni e-newsletter, Team Fuqua Flash
• Access to Fuqua’s alumni events and webinars
• Access to Fuqua’s Ford Library while on campus
• Ability to post targeted career opportunities for their organization through Fuqua’s Career Management Center job portal
• Inclusion in the Duke University alumni directory and the ability to join Duke’s affinity, industry, and regional groups
• Access to create a Duke lifetime email address
• 30% discount on future Duke Executive Education program registrations (Global partner programs excluded)

Program Experience

This Chief Financial Officer Program is an extensive learning experience with a blend of classroom modules and live online modules designed especially for busy working professionals in the field of finance. The program is led by sought-after Fuqua faculty and is designed to meet the specific needs of finance professionals who are ready to lead their organizations through the rapidly evolving landscape of financial leadership.

Participant Experience

The program includes testimonials from past participants, such as Eleonore Galouzeau de Villepin, Managing Director at Oberon Securities, LLC, and Drew Dannels, Vice President, FP&A at Impinj.

Program Highlights

• Blended Format: Immersive live-online sessions and classroom sessions at Duke University to enhance learning and networking.
• Exclusive Network: Be included in the exclusive Fuqua and Duke Executive Education networks.
• Elite Credentials: Receive credentials from a world-renowned business school.
• World-Renowned Faculty: Gain insights from distinguished faculty and industry experts.
• Leading-Edge Curriculum: An expansive curriculum focused on vital areas of modern finance.
• Real-World Application: The carefully designed learning approach promotes the immediate application of critical financial concepts.

Distinguished Faculty

The program is delivered by Fuqua’s world-renowned faculty, who are leading scholars in their fields and passionate about their work. The faculty includes:

• Prof. John Graham, D. Richard Mead, Jr. Family Professor of Finance
• Aaron (Ronnie) Chatterji, Mark Burgess & Lisa Benson-Burgess Distinguished Professor of Strategy
• Alon Brav, Bratton Family Distinguished Professor of Finance
• Ashleigh Shelby Rosette, James Vincent Professor of Leadership
• Anna Cieslak, Associate Professor of Finance
• Campbell R. Harvey, J. Paul Sticht Professor; Professor of Finance; American Finance Association Fellow; Duke-CFO Survey Founding Director
• David Brown, Snow Family Distinguished Professor of Decision Sciences
• David T. Robinson, James and Gail Vander Weide Professor of Finance
• Glenn Hopper, Instructor, Executive Education, and CFO, Eventus Advisory Group
• Jimmie Lenz, Executive in Residence, Engineering Graduate and Professional Programs
• Manuel Adelino, Professor of Finance
• Salman Azhar, Executive in Residence, Faculty
• Scott Dyreng, Professor of Accounting
• Sim Sitkin, Michael W. Krzyzewski University Professor of Leadership
• Veronica Root Martinez, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett Distinguished Professor of Law
• Vish Viswanathan, F. M. Kirby Professor of Finance
• William J. Mayew, Martin L. Black Jr. Distinguished Professor of Business Administration
• Shep Moyle, Senior Lecturing Fellow, Duke Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Prof. Daisy Lovelace, Associate Professor of the Practice; Executive Director, Management Communication Center

Curriculum

The CFO Program is purposefully designed for seasoned financial professionals and leaders who want to work towards cultivating a forward-looking mindset and driving organizational success through strategic and informed financial planning. The extensive curriculum encompasses essential topics that equip participants with strategic, analytical, and managerial competencies vital for thriving in today’s dynamic financial landscape.

Evolving Technology Trends in Finance

• New Frontiers in Finance – AI/ML, Web 3, Cybersecurity
• Leveraging Big Data for Financial Analytics
• Fintech Evolution – The Financial Services Industry Transformation

Strategic Capital Investment & Human Capital Investment

• Future-proofing the Organization: Strategic Investment Management
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Divestitures
• Compensation

Strategic Financial & Payout Decisions

• Risk Management
• Debt vs. Equity
• Dividends & Repurchases

Global Issues in Accounting, Tax, and Governance

• Contemporary Issues in Taxation and Accounting
• Communication and Managing the Narrative with Analysts and Investors, Journalists, Crowd-sourced
• Governance & Interacting with Activist Investors
• Using Financial Statements Ratios for Assessing Company Performance and to Benchmark against Peers

Finance Strategy in a Global Context

• Key Value Drivers and Competitive Advantage
• Navigating Global Financial Markets, Currency Fluctuations & Inflation
• Legal and Regulatory Compliance in Finance

C-Suite Leadership

• Agile Leadership through Crises, Ambiguity & Uncertainty
• Executive Presence and Influence
• Interacting with the Board of Directors and driving strategic negotiations
• Leadership, Ethics and driving dynamic high-performing teams
• CFO as Strategic Partner to CEO
• ESG Reporting & Climate Finance

Funding Innovation & Private Capital Markets

• How to Fund Innovation
• How Private Capital Markets Work

Financial Reporting Analytics

• Strategic Finance: Using Big Data and Finance Analytics to Improve Financial Decision-making
• Discretion in Accounting and Financial Reporting Analytics

Capstone Project

The program curriculum covers many topics that connect with the many roles that CFOs play. Central to these topics is the preservation and creation of value for the company. The capstone project serves as a comprehensive platform for senior finance executives to apply their expertise, hone their problem-solving skills, drive value-creation within their organizations, or pursue innovative ventures in the broader business landscape.

Admissions

The program follows a simple 3-step application process:

1. Submit Application: Candidates can apply to the program online and attach all required materials.
2. Rolling Admission: The Admissions team will assess the application as soon as it is received.
3. Interview: Candidates might be required to give an interview before being accepted into the program.

Application Requirement

• A resume in Word or PDF format
• Two professional references to discuss the candidate's candidacy in detail

Program Fees

The program fee is USD 26,000 inclusive of all taxes. It covers teaching fees, all academic materials, lunches, and select dinners. The fee does not include transport expenses, accommodation, or other expenses not expressly mentioned.

About Duke University

Duke University traces its origins to a small school that opened in 1838 in Randolph County, North Carolina. The university has changed in many ways since its founding, and today, the ever-evolving Duke University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, masters, doctorate, and professional degrees.

About Northwest Executive Education

Duke Executive Education collaborates with Northwest Executive Education on program design, outreach, and delivery to build this program into a transformational experience for global participants. Northwest works in close collaboration with prominent universities and schools to deliver high-quality executive education programs that offer relevant, contextual, and global learning experiences.