chief marketing officer program

Lead growth, navigate digital disruption, and shape organizational strategy

7 Months | April 2026 - October 2026 | USD 25,000 | Duke University Campus (Durham, N.C., USA) | Application Deadline : 17th Jan 2026

cmo-program@fuqua.duke.edu | +1 919 629 1223 (USA)

The CMO role has evolved well beyond traditional brand leadership. Modern marketing leaders must be customer-centric, skilled in insight generation, focused on brand relevance, and equally creative and technologically fluent, serving as architects of the customer experience while integrating MarTech, shaping data strategy, and driving innovation across the organization. The Duke Chief Marketing Officer program is a comprehensive learning experience spanning 7 months that features a blend of immersive classroom modules and live online sessions, specifically designed for busy senior professionals navigating the fast-paced demands of modern leadership.

Led by renowned Fuqua faculty and enriched by global industry insights, the program equips you to master the complexities of modern marketing from customer-centricity and data-driven decision-making to brand strategy, executive influence, and AI-powered innovation. Throughout this journey, you will expand your global network and build lasting connections with senior marketing leaders shaping the future of enterprise growth.

70%

of CMOs say upskilling in AI-driven customer experience and performance marketing is essential to remain competitive

Source: PwC Global Marketing Study 2024

64%

of senior marketing leaders believe demonstrating the impact of marketing actions is their #1 challenge

Source: Deloitte CMO Survey 2025

48%

of CMOs cited becoming more involved in business strategy decisions as among their top 3 annual priorities

Source: PwC Pulse Survey

DUKE CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER PROGRAM BENEFITS

Upon completion of the Duke CMO Program, apart from becoming part of the Duke CMO Program community, you will become an integral part of the global Duke Executive Education network. Additionally, you will receive select premier benefits as part of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business*:

The Duke CMO Program certificate from Duke Executive Education and Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business
Inclusion in The Fuqua School of Business alumni LinkedIn network – a private group with 15,000+ alumni members
Inclusion in The Fuqua School of Business alumni directory, with access to online searching for networking opportunities
Access to CareerBridge, Fuqua’s Job Board, an exclusive resource for Fuqua degree students and alumni job seekers, with the ability to search across several criteria, including region, function, geographical location, and work authorization
Receive monthly alumni e-newsletter, Team Fuqua Flash, from Fuqua’s Alumni Relations team
Access to Fuqua School of Business alumni events and webinars
Access to The Fuqua School of Business Ford Library while on campus
Ability to post targeted career opportunities for your organization through The Fuqua School of Business’ Career Management Center job portal – accessible by Fuqua students and alumni only
Inclusion in the Duke University alumni directory and the ability to join Duke’s affinity, industry, and regional groups
Access to create a Duke lifetime email address
30% discount on future Duke Executive Education program registrations (global partner programs excluded)

*All benefits are subject to change.

PROGRAM EXPERIENCE

This CMO program is a 7-month comprehensive learning experience that features a blend of immersive classroom modules and live online sessions, specifically designed for busy senior marketing professionals navigating the fast-paced demands of modern leadership. Thoughtfully curated to meet the evolving needs of senior marketing professionals, the program empowers participants to lead with strategic clarity, customer-centric vision, and transformative impact. As part of the program, you will have the opportunity to broaden your global network and forge meaningful connections with like-minded, senior marketing leaders who share your commitment to driving customer-first innovation and shaping the future of enterprise growth.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Blended Format

Immersive live-online sessions and classroom sessions at Duke University to enhance learning and networking.

On-Campus Immersion

Participants will travel to the Duke campus for two in-person immersions, each consisting of five days of hands-on workshops, team-building sessions, and networking opportunities with Duke faculty and global peers.

Expert Faculty and Industry Practitioners

Learn from world-renowned Duke faculty, industry experts, and executives.

Real-World Application

Real-world case studies and practical applications.

Masterclass Webinars

Opportunity to attend masterclass webinars on trending marketing topics by faculty and industry experts.

Capstone Strategy Project

Leverage program insights to address a real opportunity in your organization, drawing on faculty/industry expertise and peer feedback.

Duke Fuqua Advantage

Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business was founded in 1969 and, since then, has come to be known for attracting and nurturing a new kind of leader. One who has the power to bring out the strength in others and move teams forward toward a common purpose. Our global community is prepared for and thrives in an environment with differing viewpoints.

We foster a leadership style that inspires entire organizations to do better while doing what’s best. As a business school, we don’t just teach societal leadership, which is a core function of business; we live it through our own business practices.

With internationally renowned thought leaders on our faculty, research centers, and a collaborative culture, Duke Fuqua has quickly risen to become one of the world’s premier business schools.

Key Takeaways

Upon completing the Duke Chief Marketing Officer Program, you will be well-positioned to become a strategic marketing leader, equipped with cutting-edge management skills and leadership acumen to drive customer-first innovation, brand transformation, and enterprise growth.

With this program, you will be able to:

Elevate your leadership effectiveness and adapt to shifting priorities
Learn to harness technology, culture, and changing stakeholder expectations to redefine marketing leadership over the next decade
Explore strategies for leveraging AI and emerging technologies to accelerate digital transformation, enhance customer engagement, and achieve scale
Learn how to leverage AI and analytics to design data-driven, personalized marketing strategies that optimize segmentation, maximize customer lifetime value, and enhance retention
Enhance customer centricity and insight generation to propel innovation, draw on behavioral insights for growth, understand forces that shape behavior, choice, and brand relationships, and build experiences that resonate with how people think about spending
Create value through brand leadership and deploy frameworks for reducing friction, avoiding backlash, and creating customer experiences that feel empowering
Develop and optimize marketing strategy and execution through segmentation, value propositions, and go-to-market efforts within competing platform economies, global and multimarket contexts, and how to link strategy and channel execution to measurable financial impact
Gain a global perspective on marketing transformation and build executive influence to shape enterprise direction
Join a select network of senior marketing leaders shaping the future of the function

Who Should Attend

The Duke Chief Marketing Officer Program is suitable for professionals with:

Significant experience and demonstrated success across levels, including CXOs, Directors, Presidents, VPs, etc.
Senior functional managers and business leaders responsible for driving growth in their organizations
A strong drive to succeed and aspirations for reaching beyond the obvious career milestones
A demonstrated ability to adapt, learn, and apply new knowledge in varied situations

Participants are required to have:

A minimum of 10 years of work experience in functional, technical, or business roles
A graduate degree with a strong academic track record is preferred
Fluency in written and spoken English

DISTINGUISHED FACULTY

The program is delivered by Fuqua’s esteemed faculty, who are leading scholars in their fields and passionate about their work. Known for their expertise in teaching and research, they are visionaries in their respective fields. You will have an unparalleled learning journey as they enrich your experience with practical insights.

ACADEMIC PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Dr. Keisha Cutright

Professor of Marketing

Dr. Keisha Cutright is a Professor of Marketing at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, where she specializes in the psychological foundations of consumer behavior. Her research investigates how factors such as personal control, religion, and self-care shape consumer decision-making, brand engagement, and overall well-being. Her work bridges academic insight with practical relevance, offering valuable implications for brand-building and customer-centric strategy.

▶ View Full Profile

Program faculty may include*:

Christine Moorman

T. Austin Finch, Sr. Professor of Marketing

Devavrat Purohit

Ford Motor Company Professor of Business Administration

Gavan Fitzsimons

Edward S and Rose K Donnell Professor of Marketing and Psychology

Wilfred Amaldoss

Thomas A. Finch Jr. Professor of Marketing

*Program faculty is subject to change

Curriculum

The Duke CMO Program is designed for senior marketing leaders who are ready to move beyond tactical execution and embrace enterprise-wide influence. The immersive curriculum blends academic insight with real-world application, sharpening your ability to lead cross-functional initiatives, harness emerging technologies, and deliver measurable impact.

SECTION 1: STRATEGY & VALUE CREATION

The Strategic CMO

The evolving role of the CMO in leading enterprise-wide growth
Navigating digital disruption
Forging strategic partnerships that shape organizational strategy

Customer Centricity and Insight Generation

Transforming data and analytics into actionable customer insights
Behavioral insights for growth
Understanding how unconscious forces shape behavior, choice, and brand relationships
Psychology of money and how consumers think, feel, and behave around spending

Growth and Innovation Strategy

Driving enterprise growth through innovation and experimentation
Embracing new business models

Brand Leadership and Value Creation

Enhancing brand positioning using behavioral, cultural, and data-driven insights
Building brand relevance, pricing power, and trust

Marketing Strategy and Execution

Creating high-impact B2C and B2B marketing strategies with an omnichannel focus
Optimizing customer acquisition cost (CAC), lifetime value (LTV), and ROI
Achieving customer-centric design and cross-functional alignment
Strengthen marketing’s credibility by more effectively linking brand and customer strategies to financial outcomes
Learn frameworks for measuring ROI, customer lifetime value, and the long-term financial impact of marketing investments

SECTION 2: DATA AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN MARKETING

Digital and Data Mastery

Exploring digital marketing strategies and emerging trends
Navigating regulations and enhancing customer engagement
Using data analytics for segmentation, targeting, and positioning

AI-Enabled Marketing Transformation

Applying generative and predictive AI to drive creativity and precision in marketing
Reengineering marketing workflows and accelerating intelligent decision-making
Trust and Responsibility in Modern Marketing: Explore how transparency, privacy, and ethical AI use shape consumer trust and brand resilience. Learn how CMOs can lead responsibly while balancing innovation and integrity.

SECTION 3: LEADERSHIP AND PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

C-Suite Leadership

Developing a leadership mindset to manage stakeholders and lead through change
Building and leading high-performing marketing teams
Elevating the marketing function across the C-suite and board
Building the modern marketing organization by redesigning teams, talent, and partnerships for agility, innovation, and data-driven collaboration in an AI-powered world.

The Future-Ready CMO

Anticipating the impact of emerging technologies and cultural shifts on marketing
Preparing for future stakeholder expectations and leadership challenges

*These topics are illustrative and subject to change.

The program prepares leaders to strategically drive growth, customer-centric innovation, and enterprise transformation through marketing. Transform data into actionable insights, harness AI to sharpen strategic foresight, and lead with confidence in a world shaped by human–machine synergy and intelligent marketing systems.

The Duke Chief Marketing Officer Program encompasses a range of topics that reflect the evolving responsibilities of today’s marketing leaders. At the core of these themes is the imperative to deliver customer-centric growth, brand differentiation, and measurable business impact.

This capstone project serves as a culminating platform for senior marketing professionals to apply their strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, and data-driven insights to a real-world marketing challenge within their organization. Participants will engage in a Capstone Project that addresses a pressing issue in marketing, branding, or customer engagement, supported by faculty, industry experts, and peer collaboration. While the project is primarily self-directed, participants will benefit from structured check-ins with peer groups and the broader cohort. On the final day of the program, each participant will present their project and engage in discussions with cohort peers in a Capstone Executive Forum.

The capstone project will unfold in five distinct phases:

Identify the Opportunity Methodically analyze the chosen area to identify a topic.
Develop a Plan Design a plan for improvement for the opportunity identified in Phase I.
Stakeholder Communication Develop effective communication strategies to convey the financial strategy to internal and external stakeholders.
Implementation Roadmap Create a detailed roadmap to implement the proposed financial strategy, including key milestones, resource allocation, etc.
Continuous Monitoring and Adaptation Establish a framework to continuously monitor the financial performance and market dynamics.

Admissions

The program follows a simple 3-step application process. The step-by-step process is outlined below.

Submit Application

Candidates can apply to the program online and attach all required materials as outlined in the requirements below.

Apply Now

Rolling Admission

The Admissions team will assess your application as soon as it is received.

Interview

Candidates might be required to give an interview before being accepted into the program. Once all the requirements are completed, the Admissions team will notify the candidate with a decision.

Applicants for the program are required to have:

A resume in Word or PDF format
Two professional references to discuss your candidacy in detail

Program Fees

The program fee is USD 25,000, inclusive of all taxes. It covers teaching fees, all academic materials, lunches, and select dinners (one hosted dinner during each campus immersion module).

The fee does not include transport expenses (domestic and international), any associated visa fees, etc., nor accommodation for modules and/or workshops. It also does not cover any other expenses that are not expressly mentioned.

Apply Now Please Note:

The application fee for the Duke CMO is USD 200.
The application fee is refunded only in the case that an applicant is not offered admission to the program.

*Flexible financing options are available for this program. Please connect with your program advisor for more information. Limited seats available per cohort.

About Duke University

Duke University traces its origins to a small school that opened in 1838 in Randolph County, North Carolina. The university has changed in many ways since its founding, and today, the ever-evolving Duke University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master's, doctorate, and professional degrees.

Our vision for the next decade is "to be a community of scholars and students that partners with purpose, empowers bold thinkers, renews the campus, and advances humankind."