Program Overview

Executive Program for Energy Leaders

The Executive Program for Energy Leaders from Texas Executive Education at The McCombs School of Business is an extraordinary opportunity to gain crucial insights from industry experts and thought leaders. This nine- to twelve-month program provides a strategic framework to address complex business decisions and sustain long-term growth in the evolving energy landscape.

Program Overview

The energy industry is witnessing unprecedented levels of volatility. Geopolitical tensions, climate change concerns, and the increased pressure for decarbonization have pushed the global energy industry to accelerate transformation through technological advancements and innovation. Energy executives must strike a balance between driving their organization’s need for business growth with profitable and efficient solutions and innovating for future demand.

Program Structure

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

Key Features

• Adapt: Embark on the learning journey at your own pace, with online sessions and an in-depth curriculum.
• Communicate: Learn alongside accomplished global peers and exchange perspectives, interacting with world-leading faculty and industry experts to gain new insights.
• Elevate: Advance your career and elevate your organization by gaining advanced skills and hands-on experience to develop unique solutions.

What You Will Learn

The energy leadership program will provide participants with the tools and frameworks for:

• Insight-driven decision making: Assess uncertainty in the energy landscape to determine growth, valuation, and business strategies.
• Strategic implementation: Explore and implement new business models to increase profitability in the new energy world.
• Adaptive strategies for the future: Develop business innovations and technology solutions in response to industry disruption.
• Ethical leadership: Assess the societal, economic, environmental, ethical, and legal impacts of energy systems.
• Risk management: Analyze the decisions, opportunities, and key stakeholders associated with the execution of risky capital projects.
• Leading change: Build alignment through influential communication and lead the organization forward.

Key Program Features

• Core Curriculum: Take a deep dive into the program’s core modules with 18 weeks of in-depth sessions on the crucial challenges facing the energy sector.
• Minimal Weekly Commitment: Balance learning with a busy work schedule by dedicating just three to five hours each week toward program sessions and learning activities.
• In-Person Networking: Connect with high-achieving peers from around the world and build a lifelong network at an optional two-day program and networking event on the University of Texas campus in Austin.
• Expert Faculty: Gain in-depth insights from world-renowned faculty and expert practitioners with practical industry experience.
• Success Coach: Craft your learning journey in line with your career goals with a success coach assigned to your cohort.
• Global Peer Group: Interact with like-minded energy executives from across the world and share insights with each other.
• Specialized Electives: Select two online electives that can help advance your career in a relevant area of specialization.
• Self-Paced Learning: Work at your own pace by accessing the week's sessions and activities at your convenience.
• Capstone Project: Apply your insights to a project that will help you craft a business case or road map for an initiative you are leading.

Curriculum

This leadership program is designed with insights from world-leading experts to enable participants to assess and navigate the uncertain energy landscape as executives. It is divided into weekly modules for ease of learning. Each week’s curriculum includes a mix of faculty lectures, assignments, guest speaker, case studies, and business scenario simulations.

1. Core Modules (Online and Live Online | 18 Weeks)
2. Electives (Online | Six Weeks Each | Choose Any Two)
3. Networking and Recognition Ceremony (Two Days | In Person)

Capstone Project

The capstone project enables participants to apply the insights they have gained throughout each core phase to address a real-life challenge their organization is facing. By the end of the learning journey, participants will have crafted an actionable business case or road map for an initiative they are leading.

Meet the Faculty

• R. Britt Freund: Faculty Director; Professor of Information, Risk, and Operations Management
• Anitesh Barua: David Bruton Jr. Centennial Chair Professor, Department of Information, Risk, and Operations Management
• Fred Beach: Assistant Director, Energy and Technology Policy, UT Energy Institute
• J. Eric Bickel: Professor and Director of the Graduate Program in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering (Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering)
• Tim Curren: Principal, Blue Strata Solutions
• Gürcan Gülen: Independent Consultant and Senior Researcher, UT Austin
• Gaylen Paulson: Associate Dean, Director of Texas Executive Education
• Michael Peterson: Assistant Professor of Instruction, Department of Management
• David Spence: Professor in the Business, Government & Society Department

Participant Profile

The Executive Program for Energy Leaders is ideal for executives in mid- to large-sized energy organizations, including:

• Rising functional and technical leaders who want to gain a broader perspective and advance their careers in their organizations
• Leaders aiming to launch a new initiative within their organizations
• Executives striving to understand the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the energy business

Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of work experience
• Fluency in written and spoken English

Select Alumni Benefits

After completing the program, participants will join the prestigious Texas Executive Education alumni group and earn select benefits, including:

• A 25% discount for a Texas Executive Education open-enrollment program if enrolled within a year of completing the Executive Program for Energy Leaders
• A complimentary 1-year membership to Texas Exes, the official alumni association for the University of Texas at Austin, unlocking access to exclusive benefits
• Access to the Texas Executive Education LinkedIn group
• McCombs In the News, a weekly roundup of media coverage of McCombs' research, expertise, and impact
• A University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business certificate (digital and printed) and digital badge
• Invitations to alumni webinars

Certificate and Digital Badge

Upon successful completion of the program, participants will be awarded a certificate and a digital badge from the University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business.

Program Details

• Starts On: April 13, 2026
• Duration: 9 to 12 Months
• Program Fee: US$18,000 (US$16,500 with early application discount)
• Application Fee: US$200
• Discount: US$1,500 for applications received by December 19, 2025, at 04:59 AM