Chief Financial Officer Program — India
In an era where financial leadership defines the success of business, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Program — India stands as the definitive choice for ambitious finance leaders in India. This program goes beyond conventional learning — it blends cutting-edge financial strategy, global best practices, and India-specific business insight to prepare CFOs not just for the next quarter, but for the next decade.
The program equips finance leaders with global best practices, strategic insight, and leadership skills tailored to India’s evolving financial landscape — empowering them to drive impact, influence boardroom decisions, and lead with confidence on the global stage.
Program Highlights
- Reframe the CFO role as a transformational force by aligning financial strategy with enterprise-wide goals
- Lead change initiatives and act as strategic business partners to CEOs and boards
- Champion a data-driven and AI-enabled culture, driving digital agility in finance functions
- Optimize capital deployment and valuation models to fuel investment strategies
- Navigate complex M&A landscapes and alliances with precision and foresight
- Structure capital to balance growth ambitions with financial risk and shareholder value
- Architect global growth strategies by leveraging platforms, digital ecosystems, and financial technologies
- Strengthen boardroom dynamics and enhance shareholder communication and engagement
PROGRAM DETAILS
Duration: 6 months
Location:
Blended (Online + In Person)*
*Includes 2 India immersions in Mumbai.
The program fee is ₹9,15,000 and covers teaching fees, all academic material, and access to online coursework. The fee does not include accommodation, transport expenses (domestic, international, visa fee, and more), and other expenses not specifically mentioned in the fees.
Experience and Impact
Your gateway to becoming a future-ready, global CFO.
- Learn from world-renowned Wharton faculty: Gain insights from renowned Wharton faculty and industry experts who are at the cutting edge of innovation
- Peer-to-peer networking: Benefit from cross-industry knowledge sharing and forge transformative relationships with like-minded CXOs
- 2 India immersions (3+2 days): Engage directly with the Wharton faculty in India to deepen strategic thinking and enhance leadership capabilities through interactive sessions
- Pathway to Wharton alumni status: Following the successful completion of the program and subsequent OEPs, subject to further qualification criteria and additional tuition, you have a pathway to apply for Wharton alumni status via the Advanced Finance Program (AFP)
- Blended learning journey: Engage in an accelerated learning experience that combines the best of practical and theoretical learning to meet India’s rising demand for global-ready CFOs
- On-demand learning: Learn at your own pace with a weekly commitment of four to six hours of sessions and activities.
- Real-world case studies: Learn from global case studies and equip yourself with the skills to apply global strategies to tackle India-specific challenges
Program Format
Tailor-made for Indian financial leaders, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Program — India is a unique blend of cutting-edge modules, case studies, and guest speakers that will equip you with the C-suite capabilities to accelerate value creation, drive enterprise-wide excellence, and shape your organization for future success.
Pillar 1:
Leading as a strategic CFO
| Leadership and decision making | Fintech: Leveraging technology for finance and strategic decision making | Masterclass: Framework for evaluating AI transformation initiatives | Global trends in financial strategy |
| Data-driven processes for value creation |
Pillar 2:
Global financial leadership
| Strategy for competitive advantage | Leading through disruption in the age of AI |
| Building platforms and ecosystems | Modern day CFO |
Pillar 3:
Tools of advanced corporate finance
| The cost of capital and valuation: Optimizing investment decisions | Capital structure: Decisions about debt and equity | Managing uncertainty with a financial lens |
| Strategic mergers, acquisitions, and alliances: Effective M&A strategies | Masterclass: Toolkit for going public | Managing uncertainty with a strategic lens |
Pillar 4:
Cutting-edge C-suite mindset
| The CFO as a strategic architect | Moving the needle: Prioritizing what matters |
| Measuring and managing performance | Putting strategy to work |
Pillar 5:
Navigating risk and uncertainty
| Managing the global corporation and financial risks | Identifying, categorizing, and mitigating risks |
| Navigating the macroeconomic environment: Impact on financial decisions | Masterclass: Forex risk in Indian markets |
Pillar 6:
Beyond finance: Governance, ESG and strategic influence
| Introduction to corporate governance | Balancing stakeholder and shareholder interests | Communicating with the board | |
| Integrating ESG & DEI goals | Workshop: SEBI's ESG guidelines | Masterclass: Succession planning - preparing second level leaders | Crisis Management |
Note: Modules, sub-modules and capstone are indicative only, and the suggested time and sequence may be dropped, modified or adapted to fit the total program hours.
Who Should Attend
This program is tailored for senior finance leaders in the Indian C-suite who are shaping enterprise-wide strategy through financial leadership, investment decisions, digital transformation, and cross-border growth planning.
Whether you’re an experienced CFO or preparing to step into the role, this program empowers you to lead at a global level with confidence, foresight, and influence.
The program is particularly beneficial for:
- Chief financial officers of MNCs, mid-sized firms, or large Indian corporations aiming to enhance strategic leadership and global influence
- Finance directors, controllers, and senior VPs of finance with 15+ years of experience, preparing to transition into the CFO role
- Corporate strategy leaders and financial planners seeking to expand their impact on enterprise decision making across geographies and functions
Participants are required to have:
- A minimum of 10 years of work experience
Pathway to Wharton Alumni Status
Executives who successfully complete the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Program — India have the option of applying to the Advanced Finance Program (AFP) or the General Management Program (GMP). The AFP and GMP provide further opportunity to enhance your leadership skills and business acumen with a flexible curriculum. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Program — India provides one credit towards the six required to complete the AFP or GMP and earn alumni status.
Upon qualifying for Wharton Alumni Status, you will be eligible to receive:
- Full access to become a member of 77+ Wharton Alumni Clubs
- Invitation to attend future Wharton Global Alumni Forums
- A Wharton forwarding email address
Delivered in collaboration with program partner Emeritus:
Christopher Geczy, PhDSee Faculty Bio
Adjunct Professor of Finance; Academic Director, Wharton Wealth Management Initiative; Academic Director, Jacobs Levy Equity Management Center for Quantitative Financial Research, The Wharton School
Itay Goldstein, PhDSee Faculty Bio
Joel S. Ehrenkranz Family Professor, Professor of Finance, Professor of Economics; Chairperson, Finance Department, The Wharton School
Research Interests: Corporate finance, financial fragility and crises, financial markets
Kevin Kaiser, PhDSee Faculty Bio
Adjunct Professor of Finance; Senior Director, Harris Family Alternative Investments Program, The Wharton School
Research Interests: Corporate finance, managing for value, private equity, financial distress
Rahul Kapoor, PhDSee Faculty Bio
David W. Hauck Professor; Professor of Management, The Wharton School
Research Interests: Innovation, technology management and strategy, industry evolution, firm boundaries, business ecosystems
Marissa King, PhDSee Faculty Bio
Alice Y. Hung President’s Distinguished Professor; Professor of Health Care Management; Professor of Management, The Wharton School
Anthony Landry, PhDSee Faculty Bio
Deputy Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, MBA Program; Adjunct Full Professor of Finance, The Wharton School
Research Interests: Macroeconomics, international finance, and international trade and investment
Mary-Hunter McDonnell, JD, PhDSee Faculty Bio
Bantwal Family Goldman Sachs Presidential Associate Professor; Associate Professor of Management, The Wharton School
Research Interests: Organizational theory (political sociology, institutional theory); nonmarket strategy; corporate governance; corporate misconduct and punishment
Scott A. Snyder, PhDSee Faculty Bio
Chief Digital Officer, EVERSANA; Senior Fellow, Management Department, The Wharton School; Adjunct Faculty, The Moore School of Engineering, University of Pennsylvania; Co-author Goliath’s Revenge
James D. Thompson, PhDSee Faculty Bio
Adjunct Associate Professor, Management Department, The Wharton School; Adjunct Associate Professor at the School of Social Policy and Practice, University of Pennsylvania
Research Interests: Social entrepreneurship, building future markets, investment under conditions of high uncertainty
Michael Useem, PhDSee Faculty Bio
William and Jacalyn Egan Professor Emeritus of Management; Faculty Director, Center for Leadership and McNulty Leadership Program, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Research Interests: Catastrophic and enterprise risk management, corporate change and restructuring, leadership, decision making, governance
David Wessels, PhDSee Faculty Bio
Adjunct Professor of Finance, The Wharton School