CCO Leadership Program | Page + Yale Executive Education

Communications leaders today are being asked to do more than communicate. They’re being asked to help shape decisions and influence outcomes that guide the business.

As stakeholder expectations evolve and technology accelerates, the role of the CCO has never been more essential—or more strategically positioned. This program, developed with the Yale Program on Stakeholder Innovation and Management, equips senior communications leaders with the tools, frameworks, and capabilities to meet this moment with confidence.

Communications leaders today are operating at a pivotal moment – stakeholder expectations are rising, technology is accelerating, and CEOs are increasingly turning to CCOs as strategic partners. It’s an exciting evolution: the function now sits closer than ever to business strategy, innovation, and long-term value creation.

To make the most of this opportunity, communications leaders need modern management tools, cross-functional fluency, and the confidence to lead across the enterprise.

This program, built on extensive CEO and CxO research by Yale’s Program on Stakeholder Innovation & Management (Y-SIM) and informed by Page’s global CCO community, helps executives close the capability gap and unlock their full strategic potential.

A Toolkit for Leading in a Multistakeholder World

Enterprise Value Creation
Learn how long-term value is generated—and the pivotal role CCOs play in shaping it.
Influence Without Authority
Acquire tools for aligning leaders, driving decisions, and creating momentum across complex organizations.
Stakeholder Mapping & Multistakeholder Strategy
Understand how to diagnose issues, anticipate risk, and design responses that reflect the needs of multiple stakeholder groups.
Enterprise Brand Stewardship
Move beyond messaging to build brand systems that encompass the full stakeholder ecosystem.
Societal Issues & AI Implications
Explore how AI, polarization, short-termism, and shifting public expectations are redefining leadership and enterprise decision-making.
Practical, Immediately Applicable Tools
From stakeholder maps to decision frameworks, you leave with resources you can use right away.

An Immersive, High-Impact Learning Experience on the historic Yale Campus in New Haven, CT

Over two and a half days at the Yale School of Management, participants engage in:

Real Case Studies
Deep dives into companies such as Mars, Nike, Equinor, Warby Parker, and Moody’s.

Applied Frameworks & Methods
Hands-on exercises rooted in Y-SIM research and Page Society insights.

Leadership Simulations
Scenario-based sessions that mirror the real-world challenges CCOs now face.

Faculty and Executive Dialogues
Interactive sessions with Y-SIM founders Jon Iwata, Yale Lecturer and former IBM Senior Vice President and Chief Brand Officer, and Ravi Dhar, George Rogers Clark Professor of Management and Marketing; Page senior leaders, and guest executives including Andy Pharoah, Vice President of Corporate Affairs & Sustainability, Mars, and Reidar Gjærum, Former SVP of Corporate Communication, Equinor.

Peer Exchange
A small, senior-level cohort designed to maximize learning, connection, and relevance.

This program is not theory alone—it’s practical, applied, and designed around the realities of modern leadership.

Pre-program Webinar:
February: One-hour webinar hosted by Yale. Participants share what they hope to learn, review course curriculum and are assigned pre-reads.

Monday, February 23, 2026

6:30 p.m.: Evening Reception & Dinner , The Study Penthouse @ Yale School of Management

Day 1: Tuesday, February 24
Yale School of Management, in person

CCO Stakeholder Challenges and Opportunities
The CEO Perspective
- Insights From 200+ CEO Interviews
Systemic Approaches to Stakeholder Value Creation
- How the CEO Uses Purpose, Culture and Strategy
- Guest Speaker: Andy Pharoah, VP of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Mars Inc.
Skills to Successfully Execute Learnings
- Influence Without Formal Authority

Day 2: Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Designing Solutions for the ‘And’
- Framing Multistakeholder Problems
- From Trade-offs to Innovation: Stakeholder Design
Corporate Brand Strategy in a Multistakeholder World
- Expanding Stewardship of the Corporate Brand
- Guest Speaker, Reidar Gjærum, former SVP Corporate Communication
A Strategic Approach to Addressing Societal Issues
Connecting it All Together
- Future-proofing Exercise

Day 3: Thursday, February 26, 2026

Decision Making and Management at the Intersection of Business and Society
- Corporate Short-termism
- Implications of AI
- The Changing Role of the CCO
Closing
- Graduation and certificate ceremony

About Us

Arthur W. Page Society

The Page Society is the world’s leading professional association for senior communications executives. Page advances leadership at the intersection of enterprise communications, corporate character, and societal value.

Yale Program on Stakeholder Innovation and Management

The Yale Program on Stakeholder Innovation & Management (Y-SIM) conducts original research into how long-lasting companies create value through stakeholder relationships. Y-SIM’s insights—rooted in more than 200 CEO and senior-executive interviews—inform teaching, tools, and real-world leadership development used across industries.

Together, Page and Y-SIM offer a program designed for the next generation of communications leadership.

Who should attend this CCO leadership program?
Senior communications executives—including CCOs, Heads of Corporate Affairs, and leaders responsible for brand, reputation, or stakeholder strategy—will benefit most from this training.
Does the program address AI and communications leadership?
Yes. The curriculum includes sessions on how AI, automation, and shifting stakeholder expectations are transforming the role of the CCO.
Is this program part of Yale School of Management’s executive education offerings?
It is similar in that the program is held on campus at Yale SOM and features Yale faculty. The curriculum is specifically designed by the Yale Program on Stakeholder Innovation and Management and senior leaders from the Page Society.
Do I need to be a Page member?
Participants will be members of Page or Page Up as well as senior strategic communication leaders who are eligible for Page or Page Up membership.
What is the certification?
After completing the 2.5 day program, you will receive a printed certification signed by the Yale SOM faculty displayed in a Yale School of Management folder. You will also receive a digital certification badge to display on your social channels such as LinkedIn.
What is the detailed schedule?
The program starts with a reception dinner on Monday, February 23 at 6:30 PM, and ends on Thursday, February 26 at 12:30 PM. It includes a reception dinner and two networking dinners. For more information download the curriculum and agenda here.
What is the application process?
You can apply via the website, which asks for payment and personal information.
What is your cancellation policy?
Anyone who cancels their registration 30 days or more before the program is entitled to a full refund. Within 30 days, the participant is eligible for a 50% refund. Within 14 days, no refund will be given.
Do you have a justification letter to help me pitch it to my manager?
Yes, you can download it here.
Can I speak to someone at Yale about the program?
Yes, email Adria Boyle: adria.boyle@yale.edu
How big is the cohort size?
To optimize learning and networking opportunities, the cohort size caps at 25.
If I can’t make it this year, can I be put on a list for next year?
Yes, email Tiffany Cook: tcook@page.org
How long has the program been taught?
2026 will be the third iteration of the program. Each year faculty updates the content and case studies and incorporates feedback from alumni.
Is pre-work required?
Yes, you can expect about 1.5 hours of pre-reads that include original Y-SIM case studies and articles on companies such as Mars, Rio Tinto, Warby Parker and Target, as well as original research on founding and refounding.
Are meals included?
Yes, all meals and dinners are included.

Can I speak to an alumni to get more information?
Yes, please start the conversation with Tiffany Cook: tcook@page.org and she will director you to the appropriate alumni.
Is there a pre-meeting before the class starts?
Yes, in February there will be a webinar that reviews curriculum, introduces the online learning platform and assigned pre-reads.
How do I get to New Haven?
After you register, you will receive detailed information on logistics and travel.

You can consider the following airports for travel:
- Bradley International Airport (BDL), Hartford, CT – under an hour to New Haven by car.
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA), NYC – approximately a 90-minute drive to New Haven; public transportation options are available.
- John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK), NYC – approximately a 2-hour drive to New Haven; public transportation options are available.
- Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN) – approximately 15 minute drive to New Haven; however they only have smaller regional flights.
You can consider the following options for train travel:
- Metro-North Rail (MTA) – The MTA New Haven Line runs between New Haven Union Station and New York City’s Grand Central Terminal. Trains depart frequently throughout the day; travel time is roughly two hours
- Amtrak – Amtrak arrives at New Haven Union Station and offers direct service along the Northeast Corridor, including to and from New York City, Boston, and other major cities; travel time varies but you can estimate it will take up to 2 hours.