How IIM Kozhikode's new Chief Financial Officer Programme featuring global modules 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 global modules from Kellogg Executive Education through its online certified modules.
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 CFO programme by IIMK 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 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 Berkley who received the Asia Pacific CMO Council's Best Professor of Financial Management award, explains that the programme 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 programme modules 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 modules 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.
● Two online modules with certificates by Kellogg Executive Education: Through these global Kellogg modules, participants discover the expertise of a globally renowned institution and benefit from pre-recorded video lectures by Kellogg Executive Education. The lectures provide nuanced perspectives on ‘Business Leadership in the Age of Disruption’ and ‘Leading Growth Strategy’so learners can gain global exposure with global content and unlock networking opportunities with global peers.
● 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:
Upon successful completion of all evaluation components, including a capstone project and maintaining a minimum attendance of 75%, IIMK awards the programme participants with a certificate. They also gain two module certificates from Kellogg Executive Education. These modules are graded as pass or fail; participants must secure a minimum score of 80 percent to pass and obtain the certificate of completion for each Kellogg Executive Education module.
Important programme details needed before enrolment into the programme
The below details will be useful once you decide to enrol into the programme and proceed with enhancing your financial leadership skills and industry knowledge with IIMK’s CFO programme.

About 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 Infopark, 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 startup incubation programme and the Indian Business Museum. IIMK is ranked 3rd as per NIRF India Rankings 2023: 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 251-300 Institutes in Business & Management Studies globally, as per the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023. It has the distinction of being the only IIM in the coveted innovation rankings. IIM Kozhikode is globally accredited by EQUIS (EFMD) and AMBA (UK).
IIM Kozhikode also made its debut in the prestigious Financial Times Rankings (FT Rankings 2023) in the 72nd position among the top 75 open-enrolment executive program providers globally, catapulting the 27-year IIM onto an exclusive list of the foremost providers of executive education in the world. The institute has also now entered in global top-100 at Rank #77 for FT Masters in Management (MIM) 2023 Rankings, for its full-time MBA programme. 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, provide 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
IIM Kozhikode is collaborating with online education provider Emeritus to offer a portfolio of high-impact online programmes. Working with Emeritus gives IIM Kozhikode the advantage of broadening its access beyond its on-campus offerings in a collaborative and engaging format that stays true to the quality of IIM Kozhikode. Emeritus’ approach to learning is built on a cohort-based design to maximise peer-to-peer sharing and includes video lectures with world-class faculty and hands-on project-based learning. More than 300,000 students from over 200 countries have benefitted professionally from Emeritus’ programmes.
Disclaimer: This article has been produced on behalf of Emeritus by Times Internet’s Spotlight team.