IIM Lucknow Chief Strategy Officer Programme
This 10-month Certificate Programme in Strategic Leadership for Chief Strategy Officers (CSOs) by IIM Lucknow is designed for senior professionals ready to shape enterprise strategy at the highest level. The programme blends academic rigour with real-world relevance, covering strategic thinking, digital transformation, ESG integration, innovation management, and AI-powered decision-making. Delivered online via a Direct-to-Device (D2D) platform with live faculty-led sessions, it culminates in an immersive 3-day campus module and a capstone project. Participants gain the tools to craft, execute, and sustain competitive strategy across dynamic business environments. Graduates earn a prestigious certification from IIM Lucknow, one of India's top business schools, and are eligible for Executive Alumni Status. The programme is tailored for business heads, aspiring CSOs, founders, and senior managers seeking to move from tactical execution to boardroom-level strategic leadership.
Instructors:
English
Course Start Date:
23rd Aug, 2026
Application Deadline:
Closing Soon
Duration:
10 Months
₹ 4,00,500
Overview
This 10-month Certificate Programme in Strategic Leadership for Chief Strategy Officers is offered by IIM Lucknow, one of India's premier business schools. Designed for seasoned professionals with 10 or more years of experience, the programme prepares participants to take on the role of Chief Strategy Officer or equivalent enterprise leadership positions. Delivered in a Direct-to-Device (D2D) live online format with IIM Lucknow faculty, it combines strategic frameworks with real-world tools including AI, digital transformation, and innovation management. A mandatory 3-day on-campus immersion and a capstone project provide experiential depth. Successful participants earn an IIM Lucknow certificate and may opt for Executive Alumni Status.
Why Leadership & Strategy?
The IIM Lucknow CSO Programme stands out for its holistic, future-focused curriculum that goes beyond traditional strategy frameworks. It integrates AI-powered decision-making, ESG and sustainability strategy, digital transformation, and corporate entrepreneurship into a single cohesive programme. Delivered by IIM Lucknow faculty with live, interactive sessions every Saturday, it respects the constraints of working professionals while maintaining the academic standards of a top-tier B-school. The mandatory 3-day campus immersion offers an exclusive in-person experience on the IIM Lucknow campus. Participants graduate with a recognised IIM Lucknow certificate and optional Executive Alumni Status, gaining lifelong access to an elite alumni network.
What does this course have to offer?
Key Highlights
Master 360-degree strategy in 10 months
Join live online sessions every Saturday
Attend a 3-day immersive campus module
Own end-to-end strategy, from formulation to flawless execution
Use digital transformation, AI, and innovation tools in strategy
Apply case studies to real business challenges
Industry-tailored curriculum built for seasoned professionals
Earn alumni credentials that strengthen your boardroom impact
Certificate from IIM Lucknow upon successful completion
Optional IIM Lucknow Executive Alumni Status available
Interested in career outcomes and specializations?
Who is this programme for?
A business head or functional leader driving outcomes in sales, supply chain, finance, or operations
An aspiring CSO, COO, or CEO eyeing enterprise-level leadership
A new-age founder scaling with purpose and strategic clarity
A senior manager or VP leading transformation, innovation, or multi-region growth
Minimum Eligibility
10+ years of full-time work experience
Graduation/Diploma/Post-graduation degree with minimum 50% marks
Suitable for business heads, functional leaders, aspiring CSOs, COOs, or CEOs
Senior managers or VPs leading transformation or multi-region growth
Not sure whether you qualify for this programme?
Who is the programme for?
Admission to the IIM Lucknow CSO Programme requires a minimum of 10 years of full-time work experience and a graduation, diploma, or post-graduation degree with at least 50% marks. The application process involves submitting details for counselling, paying a registration fee of ₹15,000 and an application fee of ₹2,500, document verification, and potentially an interview. Candidates who receive an offer letter must confirm acceptance before onboarding. Assessment during the programme is based on 50% project presentations and 50% end-term exams. A minimum 75% attendance is required for successful completion and certificate award.
Selection process
How to apply?
Curriculum
The curriculum is structured across three thematic modules progressing from strategic sensing to execution. Module 1 (Sensing Opportunity) covers introduction to strategy, economic and business landscape analysis, emerging disruptions, external environment evaluation, and assessment of internal resources and capabilities. Module 2 (Crafting Competitive Advantage) addresses business, corporate, and international strategy development, cooperative strategies, M&A, technology and innovation strategy, BOP strategies, emerging market strategy, corporate entrepreneurship, non-market strategy, and startup strategy. Module 3 (Execution and Realising Competitive Advantage) includes strategy implementation, corporate governance, ethics and CSR, corporate communication, business experiment design, change and transformation management, and design thinking for innovation. The programme concludes with a group project discussion and presentation, along with a mandatory 3-day campus immersion.
There are 4 semesters in this course
Module 1 focuses on sensing strategic opportunity: participants explore the foundations of strategy and decision-making, understand economic and business landscapes, assess challenges from emerging disruptions, evaluate the external environment across general, industry, and competitor dimensions, and analyse internal resources, capabilities, and competencies. Module 2 builds on this foundation by developing competitive advantage through business, corporate, and international strategy formulation, cooperative strategies including alliances and joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, technology and innovation strategy, BOP and emerging market strategies, corporate entrepreneurship, non-market strategy, and startup strategy. Module 3 translates strategy into action through implementation frameworks, corporate governance, ethics and CSR, strategic communication, business experiment design and analysis, management of change and transformation, and design thinking for innovation. The programme culminates in a group capstone project presentation.
Module 1: Sensing Opportunity
Module 2: Crafting Competitive Advantage
Module 3: Execution and Realising Competitive Advantage
Group Project Discussion and Presentation
Programme Length
10 Months, with live online sessions every Saturday and a mandatory 3-day campus immersion at the end of the programme.
Whom you will learn from?
Learn from top industry experts who bring real-world experience and deep knowledge to every lesson. The instructors are dedicated to help you achieve your goals with practical insights and hands-on guidance.
Instructors
Associate Professor, Strategic Management
Prof. Sabyasachi Sinha is an Associate Professor of Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation at IIM Lucknow, where he has taught since 2012. Before joining academia he worked with multinational organisations in different capacities.
Assistant Professor, Strategic Management
Priyatam Anurag is an Assistant Professor in Strategic Management group of the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow since July 2019. He completed his Ph.D. in Strategy from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore in 2019.
Tuition Fee
The total programme fee is ₹4,00,500 inclusive of the application fee of ₹2,500 and registration fee of ₹15,000. GST at 18% is charged additionally on all components. The fee is payable in instalments: ₹15,000 registration fee at the time of application; ₹1,46,500 within the first week of offer rollout; ₹1,59,000 and ₹80,000. For foreign candidates, the cost of dispatching study material is borne by the participant. The application fee of ₹2,500 is non-refundable if the candidate rejects the offer, or if the application is rejected due to incomplete documents, incomplete information, or failure to meet eligibility criteria. Optionally, participants may obtain IIM Lucknow Executive Alumni Status for a one-time registration fee of ₹10,000 plus GST.
Fee Structure
Payment options
Need help understanding fees, EMI options, or scholarships?
Learning Experience
The programme is delivered via IIM Lucknow's cutting-edge Interactive Learning (IL) platform in Direct-to-Device (D2D) mode. Participants can attend live synchronous sessions from any device—desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Live sessions are conducted by IIM Lucknow faculty from an on-campus studio using audio, video, slide presentations, and digital whiteboards for an engaging two-way learning experience. The pedagogy includes live online lectures, real-life case studies, quizzes, a capstone project, simulations, and assignments. Participants receive reading materials for each course and can interact with faculty via email or chat for academic support. The programme culminates in a mandatory 3-day on-campus immersion at IIM Lucknow.
University Experience
IIM Lucknow is one of India's six original IIMs and is consistently ranked among India's premier management institutions. The campus in Lucknow offers world-class academic facilities. Participants in this programme benefit from IIM Lucknow faculty-led sessions, access to the campus library during the on-campus immersion, and the option to join the institute's distinguished Executive Alumni network. The Executive Alumni Status provides lifelong networking access, programme brochures and newsletters, and souvenirs from the MDP Office. This programme is part of IIM Lucknow's executive education portfolio, designed to bring the rigour and prestige of the institution to working professionals across India and abroad.
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About the University
Established in 1984, IIM Lucknow is the fourth Indian Institute of Management established by the Government of India. Located on a sprawling 200-acre campus in Lucknow, it is renowned for its excellence in management education. The institute offers diverse programs including postgraduate, doctoral, and executive education. IIM Lucknow became the first IIM to establish a second campus at Noida in 2005, exclusively for executive education. The institute combines the interactive case study method with globally acclaimed faculty in a close-knit environment, developing ethical business leaders ready to make a global impact
#111-120
QS World Ranking
#55
FT Global Ranking
#7
NIRF Management Ranking
Affiliation & Recognition
AACSB Accredited
AMBA
EFMD
Faculties
These are the expert instructors who will be teaching you throughout the course. With a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience, they're here to guide, inspire, and support you every step of the way. Get to know the people who will help you reach your learning goals and make the most of your journey.
Instructors
Associate Professor, Strategic Management
Prof. Sabyasachi Sinha is an Associate Professor of Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation at IIM Lucknow, where he has taught since 2012. Before joining academia he worked with multinational organisations in different capacities.
Assistant Professor, Strategic Management
Priyatam Anurag is an Assistant Professor in Strategic Management group of the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow since July 2019. He completed his Ph.D. in Strategy from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore in 2019.
Career services
IIM Lucknow's Career Development Centre provides comprehensive placement support through a well-structured process. The institute maintains strong corporate relationships and organizes various training programs, workshops, and seminars to enhance students' employability. The placement process includes summer internships, which serve as a crucial bridge between academic learning and corporate experience. The center facilitates campus recruitment drives, internships, and job fairs, connecting students with leading employers across various sectors. The institute's placement cell works year-round to ensure students receive optimal career opportunities and guidance, resulting in consistent 100% placement records
100%
Placement Rate
30LPA
Average Package
65LPA
Highest International Package
Top Recruiters
Course Start Date:
23rd Aug, 2026
Application Deadline:
Closing Soon
Duration:
10 Months
₹ 4,00,500
Frequently asked questions
Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about this course. We aim to provide clear and concise answers to help you better understand the course content, structure, and any other relevant information. If you have any additional questions or if your question is not listed here, please don't hesitate to reach out to our support team for further assistance.