How IIM Kozhikode’s Chief Financial Officer Programme, featuring online certificate courses from Kellogg Executive Education, is helping finance leaders transform into modern-day CFOs

Taking cognisance of the ongoing dynamic shifts in the business landscape and the need for financial and non-financial firms to have their financial strategy led by Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) who have the technical skills and a vision to harness modern-day financial instruments and practices, the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK) has launched a new year-long CFO programme. This Management Development Programme (MDP) can be undertaken online on the weekends with a 3-day immersive learning on and around its campus. The programme features two online certificate courses from Kellogg Executive Education to give participants a global edge and perspective.
With an industry-aligned curriculum, the course is designed to enable the CFOs to use a cutting-edge CFO toolkit in a culture of data-driven decision-making aimed at bringing about the financial transformation of a firm. The course consists of modules which provide a holistic CFO education through case studies, dynamic discussions, simulations, and a collaborative group Capstone Project, which add up to a comprehensive and impactful learning experience.
How IIMK’s CFO Programme helps attune new and aspiring CFOs to their evolving role and responsibilities
Prof. Debashis Chatterjee, Director, IIMK, trusts that this ambitious, future-thinking will provide a bird’s-eye-view of the financial drivers in a dynamic global economy and a trench-view of data-driven ground realities to drive long-term value. This dual-view is made possible by immersion in every CFO's strong suit, from gauging opportunity and strategically managing risks to optimising costs and mastering new tech.
VG Sridharan, Chair Professor, Finance, Accounting & Control, IIMK, avows that the programme will provide participants with a unique skill set and foster an enriching and encouraging atmosphere conducive to personal growth, professional development, and effective leadership.
Professor Abhilash Nair, a Visiting Fulbright Fellow at UC Berkeley who received the Asia Pacific CMO Council's Best Professor of Financial Management award, explains that the cultivates expertise across a broad spectrum of executive finance skills to adeptly confront and overcome diverse business challenges.
Mridul Saggar, Professor of Practice in economics at the IIMK and a former RBI ED and MPC member, notes that as the macro-financial landscape evolves rapidly, the role of CFO demands continuous upskilling to navigate complexities and drive strategic financial decisions in the backdrop of changing business and financial cycles; and this is what the course aims to provide.
In the face of the changing role of CFOs, experts note that CFOs have four action priorities:
(i) embrace digital leadership within finance,
(ii) adapt firms’ finance operating models for an autonomous future,
(iii) reframe expectations and processes for investment leadership, and
(iv) address overlooked drivers of change fatigue.
Programme modules aim at state-of-the-art skills for CFOs
The are calibrated to prepare them for these challenges. They include modules on economy, financial markets, M&As and IPOs, advanced corporate finance, strategic performance management, data-driven decision-making, design and strategic thinking, risk management, AI & other digital technologies, corporate governance and ethical leadership, and C-suite leadership.
The ongoing changes are elevating the role of a CFO to a strategic partner who not only manages financial risks but also drives growth and innovation. Embracing these challenges can lead to a rewarding and impactful career. The programme will be valuable to those already holding CFO positions and aiming to upskill themselves for new challenges. It will also be considerably beneficial for seasoned finance professionals and business executives who wish to acquire leadership roles in the world of finance.
Moreover, through immersive Kellogg Executive Education online certificate courses such as 'Business Leadership in the Age of Disruption' and 'Leading Growth Strategy’, participants will gain insights from leading experts in the field. This exposure to global best practices will broaden their perspective and enhance their ability to drive growth and innovation within their organisation.
Additionally, the capstone project, which is guided and evaluated by IIMK faculty, ensures that participants receive expert feedback and guidance throughout the process. The feedback helps participants improve their critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, which are essential for success in senior finance roles.
This collaborative learning environment fosters creativity, teamwork, and communication skills, which are essential for effective leadership in finance.
What sets the programme apart?
● Comprehensive curriculum: The programme covers a wide range of topics, from strategic performance management to C-suite leadership. This ensures that participants gain a holistic understanding of the CFO role and its strategic implications.
● Live online sessions by IIMK faculty: The programme's live online sessions, delivered by top IIMK faculty, allow participants to interact with experts and peers, enhancing their learning experience and facilitating networking opportunities.
●2 online certificate courses by Kellogg Executive Education: Discover the expertise of a globally renowned institution. Benefit from pre-recorded video lectures by Kellogg Executive Education, delivering nuanced perspectives on ‘Business Leadership in the Age of Disruption’ and ‘Leading Growth Strategy’. Gain global exposure with global content and unlock access to global learning.
● Campus immersion: The three-day campus immersion at IIM Kozhikode provides participants with a hands-on learning experience, allowing them to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios and gain insights from industry experts.
● Focus on transformation: The programme focuses on enabling participants to lead transformation and change management initiatives within their organisations. This includes spearheading digital and finance technology investments, a key aspect of the modern CFO role.
● Emphasis on ethical leadership: The programme emphasises the importance of ethical financial leadership, ensuring that participants are equipped to make responsible and sustainable financial decisions.
● Hands-on learning: Through live online sessions, pre-recorded lectures, and a guided capstone project, participants gain practical insights and knowledge that can be applied directly to their roles as CFOs. The campus immersion further enhances the learning experience by providing a hands-on opportunity to apply newly acquired skills in a real-world setting, making the programme highly relevant and impactful for aspiring and new CFOs.
● Prestigious IIMK certification: Upon successful completion of the modules, participants will receive a physical completion certificate from IIM Kozhikode. This certificate serves as a testament to their commitment to professional development and their mastery of the skills and knowledge essential for modern CFOs. The certificate will not only validate their achievement but will also enhance their credibility and career prospects in the finance industry.
Eligibility criteria:
Participants are awarded a certificate by IIMK upon completing all evaluation components, including a capstone project and maintaining a minimum attendance of 75%. They also gain two module certificates from Kellogg Executive Education. These modules are graded as pass or fail; participants must receive 80 percent to pass and obtain the certificate of completion for each module from Kellogg Executive Education.
Important programme details needed before enrolment into the programme
The details below will be useful once you decide to enroll in the programme and proceed with enhancing your financial leadership skills and industry knowledge with .
About the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode
Started in 1997 with its Post Graduate Programme (PGP), the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK) is on a high growth trajectory today, offering a wide range of academic programmes in the field of management education. These include the Fellow Programme in Management, Executive PG Programmes, Management Development Programmes and Faculty Development Programs. IIMK set up a Satellite campus at Info Park, Kochi, in 2013, dedicated to Executive Education. IIMK also has the unique distinction of launching a PhD (Practice Track) programme for working professionals, besides bringing in new dynamic programmes such as the one-year Post Graduate programme in Business Leadership (2019), MBA in Finance and MBA in Liberal Studies & Management (2020). The institute is also home to IIMK LIVE, a first-of-its-kind start-up incubation programme and the Indian Business Museum.
IIMK is ranked 3rd as per NIRF India Rankings 2024: Management. The institute also features regularly among top global institutes for its flagship MBA (PGP) and EMBA programme (EPGP) in the QS World University Rankings. The institute has leapfrogged 100 spots to be placed in the Top 151-200 Institutes in Business & Management Studies globally, as per the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024. IIM Kozhikode is also globally accredited by EQUIS (EFMD) and AMBA (UK) and is on the verge of a triple-accreditation crown.
IIM Kozhikode also made its debut in the prestigious Financial Times Rankings in 2023 and was recently ranked #70 among the top-80 open-enrolment executive programme providers globally for the year 2024. The feat has further consolidated the 29-year-old IIM's footing in an exclusive list of the foremost providers of executive education in the world. The institute had also entered the global top-100 at Rank #77 for FT Masters in Management (MIM) 2023 Rankings, for its full-time MBA programme. It further improved its position by nine spots to reach Global Rank #68 in 2024. IIM Kozhikode has successfully delivered close to 1,300 MDP programmes over the past two decades, training more than 41,000 participants from 150+ organisations, including several Fortune 500 companies.
About Kellogg Executive Education
Kellogg Executive Education empowers business leaders to foster growth in themselves, their teams, and their organisations. Their renowned faculty, consisting of the world’s best researchers, educators, and practitioners, provides practical insight that participants can apply as soon as they return to work. Providing a collaborative, immersive environment for their executive development programs, they serve a variety of businesses and executives from a myriad of industries and geographies.
About Emeritus
Emeritus is committed to teaching the skills of the future by making high-quality education accessible and affordable to individuals, organisations, and governments worldwide. It does this by collaborating with more than 80 top-tier universities across the United States, Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, India, and China. Emeritus' short courses, degree programs, professional certificates, and senior executive programs help individuals learn new skills and transform their lives, companies, and organisations. Its unique model of state-of-the-art technology, curriculum innovation, and hands-on instruction from senior faculty, mentors and coaches has educated more than 350,000 individuals across 80+ countries.
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