The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is the enterprise leader responsible for translating business strategy into execution at scale. Beyond managing day-to-day operations, today’s COO acts as a central architect of strategy execution; aligning people, processes, technology, and capital to deliver measurable business outcomes. In an environment shaped by macro uncertainty, digital disruption, and evolving governance expectations, COOs play a critical role in managing complexity, building organizational resilience, and enabling sustainable growth. Increasingly, the COO is also a key voice in boardroom discussions on risk, transformation, and enterprise performance.

Becoming a next-gen COO requires more than operational excellence. It demands the ability to connect enterprise strategy with execution, lead large-scale transformation, and operate confidently in complex, uncertain environments. A next-gen COO must integrate data-driven and AI-enabled decision-making with strong financial, governance, and risk perspectives. Equally important are leadership capabilities; building influence across the C-suite, engaging stakeholders, shaping culture, and contributing meaningfully to boardroom discussions. This programme is designed to develop these capabilities holistically through strategy, transformation, leadership, and governance learning, reinforced by real-world application and campus immersion.

This programme is distinct because it is purpose‑built for the evolving role of COO, addressing today’s challenges like technological disruption, AI‑driven process innovation, and complex supply‑chain redesign, far beyond what typical operations or leadership courses cover.

Thus the programme offers an 8X advantage

• Earn IIM Calcutta certification
  Prestigious industry-recognition
• Executive education alumni status
  Join 33,000+ alumni network
• Hands-on learning
  Case studies and group assignments
• Navigate organizational complexity
  Risk, governance and AI at enterprise scale
• Work on capstone projects
  Real business challenges
• Strengthen your leadership presence
  Enterprise-level decisions
• 8 days of campus visit
  In-person engagement with faculty & peers
• Expand your professional network
  Peers from diverse industries

Upon successful completion, you will receive an industry-recognized Certificate of Completion from IIM Calcutta

Yes. You will be awarded Executive Education Alumni Status from IIM Calcutta alongwith:

• Get an IIM Calcutta email ID after course completion
• Access the IIM Calcutta Alumni Portal
• Join a 33,000+ Executive Alumni Network
• Network with all IIM Calcutta Exec Ed alumni
• Receive updates on jobs, projects, and alumni news
• Avail 5% fee discount on other IIM Calcutta executive programs

This programme is ideal for:

• Senior operations leaders seeking to move from execution excellence to enterprise-level ownership
• Functional and cross-functional leaders preparing for broader C-suite or COO-track roles
• Current and aspiring COOs looking to strengthen strategic impact, boardroom presence, and governance capability
• Leaders operating in complex environments who want to integrate AI, transformation, and leadership into their operating models
• Entrepreneurs looking to professionalise operations, scale their organisations, and build governance-ready enterprises

Typically, participants have 10+ years of professional experience across operations, manufacturing, services, technology, or enterprise functions.

Candidates are evaluated and selected based on the following criteria:

• Professional experience (minimum 10 years preferred)
• Academic qualifications (minimum 50% in graduation/post-graduation)
• Statement of Purpose (SOP) that outlines career goals and learning intent
• Fitment with the peer group to ensure meaningful cohort learning

Shortlisted candidates may be invited for further discussion if required.

Eligibility criteria:

• Graduate/post graduate (in any discipline) with a minimum of 50% marks
• Minimum 10 years of full-time work experience

The programme is taught by distinguished faculty from IIM Calcutta, combining academic depth with real-world insight. You can check the faculty details here

Module I: Strategic Role of COO

Macroeconomic Context

• Understanding Macroeconomics and Geopolitical Landscape (India and Global)

Strategy Formulation

• Business Strategic planning and Decision-Making
• Organizational and Product Strategy
• Environmental dynamism and Strategy formulation (VUCA and BANI world)

Operations Strategy

• Aligning Operations Strategy to Business strategy
• Strategic Supply Chain Design and Capacity Planning

Finance for COOs

• Understanding Financial statements (Income statement, Balance sheet, Cash flow)
• Financial analysis (Ratio analysis, unit economics, contribution)

Digital strategy and Operations Planning

Module II: Leading Business Transformation and Operational Excellence

Competing Through Customer-Centricity

• Strategic Marketing choices
• Understanding Omni-Channel Systems

Design Thinking and Innovation

• Design thinking and Building Innovation Ecosystems
• Radical and Incremental innovation

Operational Excellence

• Process innovations, tactical and operational efficiency
• Optimization of operations parameters
• Agile Supply Chain models

AI and Business Transformation

• Applications of Generative AI and Agentic AI
• Big Data and Analytics Driven Decision-Making
• Cybersecurity and Cloud

Internet of things and Business Transformation

Finance and Costing for Transformation

• Understanding and Analysis of cost structure
• Budgeting, forecasting, and capital allocation
• Leading Business Transformation and Change Management

Module III: Leadership and Stakeholder Management

• Discovering Effective Leadership Style, Influence and Power
• Negotiation Skills and conflict management
• Leadership Communicating and Effective Storytelling
• Effective organization structure and Culture
• Nurturing Talent and Building Teams
• Contemporary and evolving challenges in managing employees
• Understanding the Evolving Regulatory Landscape
• Sustainability and Regulatory Pressures
• Engaging with C-suite - Simulation/Panel discussion

Module IV: COOs Role in Boardroom

• Frameworks and Issues in Corporate Governance
• AI and Ethical responsibility
• Role and Responsibility of Board member (Leadership issues and dilemmas)
• Enterprise Risk Management

Capstone Projects Presentation

Please note, beyond the instructional hours, there would also be a capstone project which participants need to complete in groups.

The programme offers structured and informal networking touchpoints throughout:

• Live online sessions and group work that foster collaboration
• Closing closely with peers during capstone projects
• Campus immersion at IIM Calcutta for in-person peer and faculty engagement
• Executive Education alumni status for continued connections post-programme
• Alumni groups and forums to stay in touch and exchange opportunities

• Start Date: November 2026
• End Date: April 2027

• Total Duration: 8 months
• Blended format with on-campus and online learning

• Live online sessions on Sundays led by IIM Calcutta faculty
• 2 on-campus immersions (4 days each) at IIM Calcutta
• Mix of case studies, quizzes, capstone project and assignments

• All sessions are recorded and made available for later viewing
• However, full participation is recommended

Assessment will be based on:

• Participation in live sessions and discussions
• Group activities and simulations
• Assignments, case analysis, and capstone contributions

The total programme fee is ₹4,80,000 (inclusive of all components):

• Application Fee: ₹2,500
• Programme Fee: ₹4,80,000

This covers tuition, campus immersion sessions, learning materials, and certification.

Yes. The fee can be paid in three structured installments:

• Registration fee:₹20,000 – As per selection email
• 1st Installment: ₹1,40,000 – August 2026
• 2nd Installment: ₹1,60,000 – November 2026
• 3rd Installment: ₹1,60,000 – February 2027

No, the application fee is non-refundable.

No. The programme fee is non-refundable and non-transferable under any circumstances.

Yes. You will need a laptop with:

• Reliable internet access
• Video conferencing capability
• Basic spreadsheet and presentation software

Reading material (pre/post session) will be shared regularly through the Online Learning Management System. The access will be available for 1 year from the date of the commencement of the programme.

All participants are required to execute, before the start of the program, an agreement that consists of the standard programme Terms and Conditions. It has the following components:

Part A:

• Etiquette and Platform Rights
• Classroom Etiquette & General Policy Guidelines
• Tools and Platforms in Use
• Tools and Platforms: Terms of Use

Part B: Honor Code

Part C: Certification

Part D: Programme Fee, Refund, and Termination Policy

iPearl.ai (Interactive Platform for Experiential and Remote Learning) is created by TalentSprint’s engineering team. The platform integrates best-in-class technologies and SaaS services and perfected them over the last seven years.

When this platform was built, we intended to offer it to our partners and customers for digital learning and delivery. Since 2013, the platform has been extensively used by IIM Calcutta, IIT Kanpur, IIIT Hyderabad, and IIT Hyderabad, and many more of our customers and partners. More than 300,000 students have used this platform, which is reputed for user experience, quality, and scale.

This feature-rich platform has become so popular that some of our partners now use it for their academic needs.

The tried and tested direct-to-device platform enables 24 x 7 learning for its users. Some key benefits of the platform are:

• Intuitive student experience through a user-friendly LMS
• Seamless faculty experience through state-of-the-art Studios
• Highly Interactive Online Classes
• Effective group/peer learning/projects through Breakout Rooms
• Proctored Online Assessments with detailed analysis
• Insightful Reports on student engagement and performance
• Flexible integration with other components, as needed

A comparative study of iPearl.ai against Canvas, Impartus, Moodle, Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom was conducted. Features in the following categories were compared:

• Instructor-led Learning
• Self-paced Learning
• Assessments/Evaluations
• User Experience
• Customer Support
• Scalability and Performance
• Integration and Customization
• Others

Do not worry. In case you miss a session, you will be given access to view the recorded version of the session soon.

• An internet-connected device, Computer/Laptop/Tablet/Smartphone, is enough to access the platform.
• Web camera and Mic with necessary power backup will be needed for proctored online assessments.

• EQUIS, AMBA & AACSB Accreditation
• #2 in Asia for B schools
• Ranked #65 in QS Global MBA Rankings
• Global Alumni Network

The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta was established as the first national institute for Post Graduate Studies and Research in Management by the Government of India in November 1961, in collaboration with Alfred P. Sloan School of Management (MIT), the Government of West Bengal, The Ford Foundation, and the Indian Industry. Over the years, IIM Calcutta has grown into a mature institution with a global reputation, imparting high-quality management education. It has been playing a pioneering role in professionalizing Indian management through its Post Graduate and Doctoral level Programmes, Executive Training Programmes, and Research and Consulting Activities. For more information please visit the IIM Calcutta website.