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Chief Technology and AI Officer Program
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Join 225,000+ University of Waterloo alumni
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Why Enroll in the
AI-CTO Program?
100%
Live
University of Waterloo Faculty + Industry Leaders
Dual Tracks
Intrapreneurship and Entrepreneurship
Board Room Influence
Build strategic tech insight that earns you a voice in the boardroom
Startup Incubation
Accelerate your startup journey with mentorship from Velocity at Waterloo
Highly Ranked
Crafted for tech leaders by a global top 100 university (THE World Reputation Rankings 2025)
Chief Technology & AI Officer (AI-CTO) Program – University of Waterloo
Course Snapshot
-
50+
Years of Legacy
-
THE Global Top 100
World Reputation Ranking 2025
-
QS Canada #5
Ranking
- Tech + Finance Fluency: Master both code and capital — from microservices, MLOps, and FinOps to P&L, pricing, and unit economics. Few programs teach both. We do.
- Hands-On Learning, Board-Level Thinking: Build eight real-world deliverables — from strategy plans to board decks — and learn to speak the language of executives.
- Two Tracks. One Challenge: Choose Entrepreneurship (venture building, fundraising, IPO prep) or Intrapreneurship (innovation and transformation at scale). Both end with War Games — live crisis simulations that test your leadership under pressure.
- Elite Mentors. Real Outcomes: Learn from Waterloo professors, CTOs, founders, and VCs. Pitch to Velocity for startup incubation or tap into Waterloo’s powerful industry network for next-level career opportunities.
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About the University
- Unleash the extraordinary at Waterloo, the powerhouse shaping tomorrow’s AI leaders.
- With a legacy of bold innovation, Waterloo has produced world-changing founders and ranks among the top global schools for unicorn creation.
- The Kitchener-Waterloo startup ecosystem, valued at US$2.8–3.4 billion, is driven by Waterloo talent.
- Sam Altman calls it “the best up-and-coming startup city in the world,” while Paul Graham praises its steady stream of exceptional founders.
- The AI-CTO program brings together leadership, AI, and technology to invent the future.
- At Waterloo, you do more than study. You join a network that builds companies, leads change, and powers the AI revolution.
The University of Waterloo
Where Technology, AI and Leadership Converge
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Chief Technology and AI Officer Program (AI-CTO) - University of Waterloo
Earn valuable credentials and global recognition
On successful completion of the AI-CTO program, you will receive a course certificate and executive alumni status from the University of Waterloo.
Chief Technology and AI Officer Program Curriculum
Strategic Leadership and Business Fluency
Clarify the modern CTO mandate across startup, scale-up, and enterprise contexts. Learn to communicate technology decisions in business terms, align engineering outcomes with revenue and ROI, and build an executive-ready 90-day plan for your organization.
(Weeks 1-3)
Key Topics
- The Modern CTO Role and Archetypes
- Business–Technology Alignment and ROI Modelling
- Building Teams, Culture, and Psychological Safety
Key Deliverable
Executive Onboarding Package (90-Day CTO Plan) — A board-ready 90-day plan including a stakeholder map, first-quarter priorities, and strategic bets. Strategic Priorities Dossier—Top five initiatives with financial impact, risks, and board-ready language
Modern Technology & AI Leadership
Master the technologies that define the modern CTO’s toolkit. Learn to design scalable cloud architectures, deploy AI/ML systems with governance and MLOps, optimize cloud costs using FinOps, and make build-versus-buy decisions that balance innovation with business value.
(Weeks 4-12)
Key Topics
- Architecture and Platform Engineering (microservices, DevSecOps, CI/CD, zero-trust security)
- Data, AI and Emerging Tech (GenAI, MLOps, Responsible AI)
- Scaling Operations (SRE metrics, FinOps, vendor management, global architecture)
Key Deliverables
- AI Investment Dossier — Business case, ROI/TCO model, and governance framework.
- Scaling Blueprint (SRE + FinOps) — Reliability charter, cost dashboard, and global expansion plan.
- Architecture Decision Record + Platform Blueprint — Target architecture, security, and compliance framework.
Boardroom Influence & Transformation
Strengthen your ability to lead at the highest levels. Learn to communicate complex technology strategy in board language, drive enterprise-wide transformation programs, and design governance models that balance innovation, regulation, and ethical AI practice.
Weeks (13-18)
Key Topics
- Board Dynamics and Executive Communication
- Transformation and Change Leadership
- Ethical AI and Governance
Key Deliverables
- Board Presentation Deck — A board-ready presentation with strategy budget, and risk summary.
- Transformation Playbook — Governance, metrics, and change-management framework for sustained impact.
Electives — Choose Your Path
Apply your leadership blueprint in one of two advanced contexts — launching and scaling a new venture or driving enterprise-wide innovation and transformation. Each path culminates in high-stakes War Games where learners present under real-world pressure and board scrutiny.
(Weeks 19-25)
Track A: Entrepreneurship — Building and Scaling Ventures.
Key Topics
- Venture discovery, validation, and growth strategy.
- Fund-raising, investor targeting, and exit planning.
- Capstone War Games: VC pitch, valuation defense, and multi-crisis simulation.
Track B: Intrapreneurship—Enterprise Innovation and Transformation.
Key Topics
- Leading enterprise-scale transformation and ROI tracking.
- Platform modernization and change leadership with governance balance.
- Capstone War Games: Board-level transformation pitch, regulatory or M&A shock response.
Key Deliverables
- Startup Playbook — An investor-ready package with pitch deck, growth model, and exit options.
- Enterprise Transformation Blueprint — A three-year roadmap with governance model, ROI framework, and transformation plan.
Engage with Waterloo’s Velocity ecosystem for mentoring, incubation touchpoints, and enterprise innovation pilots to take projects beyond the classroom.
Program Fees: AUD 18,400
The tuition fee is subject to annual revision effective April 2026.
Chief Technology and AI Officer Program Eligibility & Admissions
How to apply to the Program?
The program's selective admissions process is crafted to identify exceptional candidates. To secure a spot in the program, you must complete the following steps.
While most AI-CTO participants bring over a decade of experience, we also welcome rising leaders who drive impact—those managing teams of 10+ technology professionals or championing innovation as founders of product-first companies
Submit Application
Submit your Application with your education and work experience details.
Submit your Application with your education and work experience details.
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Submit Documents
Upload your education and work experience documents
Upload your education and work experience documents
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Receive Acceptance Letter
Once all your documents have been successfully verified, receive your acceptance letter.
Once all your documents have been successfully verified, receive your acceptance letter.
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Block Your Seat
Pay the block amount mentioned in your offer letter to reserve your seat
Pay the block amount mentioned in your offer letter to reserve your seat
Read More
upGrad Learner Support
Monday - Friday | 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM SGT
Phone Number
Email Address
*All telephone calls will be recorded for training and quality purposes.
*If we are unavailable to attend to your call, it is deemed that we have your consent to contact you in response.
