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Chief AI Officer Program

Expand your expertise to harness AI for strategic innovation and growth

Work Experience

Program Overview

As AI reshapes industries, organizations need leaders who can turn innovation into impact. The Chief AI Officer Program at Chicago Booth prepares executives to lead enterprise-wide AI transformation with strategic vision and technical insight. Over 10 months, you’ll learn to design scalable AI strategies, build responsible governance frameworks, and drive measurable business outcomes across functions.

What Will You Learn in the CAIO program

  • Align AI strategy with business goals to drive organizational success. 

  • Identify impactful, measurable AI projects that deliver meaningful results. 

  • Create a data strategy to enable successful AI implementation. 

  • Determine the resources needed to deploy, scale, and manage AI effectively. 

  • Build organizational support and buy-in for AI initiatives. 

  • Establish policies to mitigate risk and ensure trustworthy, secure AI. 

  • Lead with confidence as a strategic officer within your organization. 

Curriculum

The Chief AI Officer Program equips senior executives to lead enterprise AI transformation with a forward-looking, practical curriculum. The program is structured into six core modules spanning AI strategy, deployment, governance, and transformation, delivered through live online sessions, hands-on activities, and applied projects to drive real-world impact.

  • Explore emerging AI trends (Generative AI, Agentic AI, multimodal intelligence)

  • Compare traditional AI methods with new technologies and use cases

  • Assess your organization’s AI maturity and readiness

  • Align AI initiatives with business goals and KPIs

  • Activities include: live faculty sessions, case readings, guest speaker insights, and peer forums

  • Applied projects: evaluate new AI technologies, align strategy with organizational goals, and assess AI’s impact on your industry

  • Bridge business goals with AI strategy to drive measurable impact

  • Identify value-creation opportunities and enable new business models

  • Quantify ROI, costs, and risks of AI initiatives in business terms

  • Design a prioritized AI roadmap to advance organizational objectives

  • Build compelling business cases and gain stakeholder buy-in

  • Applied project: Create and present a full AI strategy for your organization, from situational analysis to business case and implementation roadmap

  • Explore modern data infrastructures, technologies, and best practices for AI

  • Assess organizational data strategy and maturity to identify gaps and improvements

  • Evaluate costs, risks, and value of data economies to inform AI project ROI

  • Learn data collection, storage, and quality frameworks for reliable model training

  • Apply principles of data pipeline design, MLOps, and governance for scalable AI

  • Applied project: Design a tailored data infrastructure strategy to support AI initiatives

  • Explore trends shaping AI deployment and scalability across organizations

  • Identify AI system types and architectures best suited for specific business applications

  • Evaluate strategic AI investment decisions: build, buy, partner, or M&A

  • Manage AI product lifecycles and scale solutions across business units

  • Apply xOps, AIOps, and governance frameworks for enterprise AI adoption

  • Balance cloud and edge AI strategies to optimize cost, performance, and regulatory compliance

  • Translate AI vision into an enterprise investment thesis aligned with KPIs

  • Prioritize and roadmap AI use cases using structured scoring frameworks

  • Design AI operating models and responsible governance frameworks

  • Evaluate build-vs-buy economics, vendor strategies, and total cost of ownership

  • Lead organizational change, talent upskilling, and adoption of AI-driven culture

  • Track and communicate AI value through KPI dashboards and implementation roadmaps

  • Design and implement AI governance frameworks aligned with strategy and regulations

  • Develop and maintain AI policy portfolios with cross-functional input

  • Assess and mitigate AI risks using NIST and OWASP frameworks

  • Embed governance through collaboration with legal, compliance, HR, and innovation teams

  • Lead AI innovation and investment strategies while managing risk

  • Communicate complex AI governance issues to boards and executives

  • Applied project: Build a tailored AI governance framework and deliver a board-level presentation

  • Communicate vision and value to senior leaders and stakeholders.

  • Strengthen brand and influence as a C-suite member.

  • Foster collaboration between the CAIO and other CXOs.

Live sessions will be held every Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00 to 9:30 AM (Chicago time). Any change in the schedule will be informed.

Faculty Insights on the Program

Faculty Insights on the Program

    Learning Experience

    CAIO - Learning experience

    Join the In-Person Experience at the Chicago Booth Campus

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    Program Highlights

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    World-Class Faculty

    Learn from Booth faculty and former CEOs shaping global business. 

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    In-Person Immersion

    Join a three-day in-person experience in Chicago to collaborate and network.

    CBT - Icon - Community
    Booth Community

    Access a global network of peers, scholars, and leaders post-program.

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    Industry Insights

    Hear directly from accomplished professionals on real-world AI applications.

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    Extended Access

    Revisit program materials with six months of virtual campus access.

    Who Is It For?

    The Chief AI Officer Program is designed for executives who seek to drive AI strategy and innovation within their organizations and functions. This includes leaders of data science, analytics, and AI initiatives, leaders of product teams focused on AI, and sitting CTOs, CIOs, CDOs, and CAOs.

    Titles of participants may include:

    • Directors, VPs, and other leaders of data science, analytics, and AI

    • Chief AI Officers seeking to expand their skillsets

    • Head of AI with expertise in implementation and optimization

    • CTOs, CIOs, and other senior technology leaders

    Participants are required to have:

    • A minimum of ten years of relevant work experience in managerial positions

    • Experience in international markets is appreciated

    Past Participants Profile

    Work Experience

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    Top Industries

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    Hear from Our Participants

    The University of Chicago was my first choice, its reputation and expert faculty are unmatched. The blended format made it possible to balance work with study, and meeting my cohort in person after mo...
    CXO - CBT - CAO - ENG - SEC - Elizabeth Suehr
    Elizabeth Suehr
    Director, Law Firm | CAIO Program, Chicago Booth Executive Education
    Booth stood out immediately—its reputation, faculty expertise, and focus on AI as a business strategy made the decision easy. The program blends challenge with flexibility and sharpened my ability to ...
    CXO - CBT - CAO - ENG - SEC - Christopher Lake
    Christopher Lake
    President & Director, Assurity LLC | CAIO Program, Chicago Booth Executive Education

    Meet Your Teaching Team and Contributors

    CBT - Faculty - Christian Hansen
    Christian B. Hansen

    Wallace W. Booth Professor of Econometrics and Statistics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business

    Christian B. Hansen is the Wallace W. Booth Professor of Econometrics and Statistics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Prof. Hansen is the current academi...

    CBT - Faculty - Daryush Laqab
    Daryush Laqab

    Chief AI Officer, Ascendion

    Daryush Laqab is a seasoned executive in AI and product management, currently serving as Chief AI Officer at Ascendion since June 2024 and an Investor at InvestInData since Ja...

    CBT - Faculty - Irina Petrakova
    Irina Petrakova

    Founder and CEO, AI expert

    Irina Petrakova-Otto is a technology leader, educator, and entrepreneur with extensive experience in AI, engineering, and business strategy. She is currently the Founder and C...

    CBT - Faculty - Jeanette Shutay
    Jeanette Shutay, PhD

    Instructor; President & Chief Data Officer at Shutay Consulting

    Dr. Jeanette Shutay is currently the Director of AI Consulting at EPAM Systems as well as the President and Chief Data Officer at Shutay Consulting. Jeanette is a strategic re...

    CBT - Faculty - Lisa Stefanac
    Lisa Stefanac

    Clinical Professor of Leadership

    Lisa Stefanac is clinical professor of leadership at University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She is also Co-Founder and CEO of KSE Leadership, a privately held leaders...

    CBT - Faculty - Neeren Chauhan
    Neeren Chauhan

    Chief Innovation & AI Officer, Senior Executive, Business Builder

    Neeren Chauhan is a senior executive with a rare cross-industry background spanning engineering, consulting, and corporate leadership. As Chief Innovation and AI Officer at To...

    CBT - Faculty - Roger Moore
    Roger Moore, MBA

    Associate Clinical Professor specialized in big data, analytics, and visualization to solve strategic problems.

    Roger is an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Chicago in the MS in Applied Data Science Program. He teaches Leadership & Consulting along with the Capstone cou...

    CBT - Faculty - Sudhir Anantharaman
    Sudhir Anantharaman

    Chief Information Security Officer, AQR Capital Management

    Sudhir Anantharaman is the Chief Information Security Officer of AQR Capital Management, LLC, and oversees the information and cyber security function globally. Prior to AQR, ...

    Certificate

    Certificate

    Upon successful completion of the CAIO Executive Education Program, you will receive a Chicago Booth Executive Education Certificate of Completion and a digital badge. This credential recognizes your ability to drive AI strategy, lead transformative AI initiatives, and implement governance frameworks at scale.

    Note: Certificates and digital badges are issued in the name used during program registration. Images are for illustrative purposes and may be updated at the discretion of Chicago Booth Executive Education

    Chicago Booth Benefits

    Program participants enjoy exclusive perks designed to extend learning, networking, and professional growth:

    • CXO Networking & Events: Invitations to future in-person CXO events, panels, and networking opportunities (limited spots; additional fees may apply).

    • Discounted Booth Events: Reduced registration for select programs, including the Booth Management Conference, Faculty Firesides, Economic Outlook, and Faculty in Residence sessions.

    • Executive Education Savings: 10% tuition discount on select professional and executive education programs.

    • Chicago Booth Review: Complimentary subscription to the flagship publication featuring faculty research, insights, and commentary.

    • Alumni Network: Access to a private LinkedIn group connecting past participants across Booth’s CXO portfolio.

    • Certificate & Digital Credential: Earn a Certificate of Completion and a shareable digital credential to showcase on LinkedIn.

    • Exclusive Booth SWAG: Branded merchandise distributed at CXO in-person events.

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    The CAIO Program is delivered in a hybrid format, combining asynchronous online modules with live online sessions and an in-person experience. This structure offers flexibility while maintaining interactive and immersive learning.

    The program spans several months, with specific dates and durations provided upon application. Participants should expect a commitment that balances with their professional responsibilities.

    The program fee is $28,000 USD. Discounts may be available; it's advisable to contact the admissions team for the most current pricing and potential financial assistance.

    The CAIO Program is designed for executives and senior leaders, including but not limited to:

    • Leaders in data science and analytics

    • Directors of technology and data analytics

    • Chief analytics officers and chief data officers

    • C-suite executives such as CIOs, CTOs, COOs, CISOs, CDOs, and chief product officers.

    Applicants should have significant professional experience in leadership roles, particularly in areas related to data, technology, or AI. Specific requirements may vary, and it's recommended to consult the admissions team for detailed eligibility criteria.

    Participants who successfully complete the program will earn a Certificate of Completion from Chicago Booth Executive Education and a digital badge to showcase their achievement.

    Applications can be submitted online through the program's official webpage. It's advisable to apply well in advance of the desired cohort start date to ensure ample time for processing.

    Yes, the program includes opportunities for networking with peers, faculty, and industry leaders. These interactions are designed to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among participants.

    The hybrid format allows for remote participation in online modules and live sessions. The in-person component may require travel to designated locations; details will be provided upon enrollment.

    Connect with a Program Advisor for a 1:1 Session

    Didn't find what you were looking for? Schedule a call with one of our Program Advisors or call us at +1 872 253 6895.

    Enroll now and save your spot.

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