Start your journey as a chief data and analytics officer.
Prepare yourself for a leadership role as chief data and analytics officer in setting the analytics vision and strategy, data sharing, policies, and opportunities to create and capture value from data.
The chief data and analytics officer is the most senior executive who leads the data vision, mission, and culture across the organization and is responsible for a firm’s data as an asset. Mason's chief data and analytics officer program, presented in partnership with industry and educational leaders, is designed to help you advance your organization's data management agenda while networking with faculty, subject matter experts, and other participants.
Who Should Attend?
The ideal candidate has:
- Four to six years of experience in middle to upper management with demonstrated organizational leadership experience.
- Working knowledge of data management tools and experience implementing data management practices.
- Solid communications skills.
- An undergraduate degree or equivalent experience.
Sample Schedule
- In-Person Opening Oct. 24 - 26, 2023
- Online Sessions Nov. 1 - Dec. 13, 2023
- Mid-Program In-Person Session Jan. 9 - 10, 2024
- Online Sessions Jan. 17 - Feb. 28, 2024
- In-Person Closing March 5 -7, 2024
Program Topics
- The Growth and Impact of Data 30%
- Transforming the Organization 20%
- Business and Financial Acumen 20%
- Leadership and Culture 15%
- Strategic Mindset for the CDO 15%
Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Establish and lead the data organization’s data activities as a strategic and aligned business partner.
- Develop, in concert with senior leadership, a comprehensive strategic data plan with a mission, vision, and specific, measurable goals that are fully aligned with the organization.
- Effectively and efficiently execute the strategic data plan.
- Build the necessary infrastructure to integrate data practices into the business.
- Create and sustain an enabling data-focused ecosystem with conditions to encourage a culture of data-driven understanding and decision making, innovations for data management applications, and value creation.
- Engage the organization’s leadership team in support of data initiatives at the enterprise level.
- Lead innovation and change activities by fully leveraging the data asset of the organization.
Badge of Certification
This program is delivered as a non-degree, School of Business executive certificate. Attendees have the opportunity to add a badge credential from Credly for successful completion of the program to their resume for organizational recognition (internal and external) and to indicate the accomplishment of obtaining a George Mason University credential.
Program Information
Dates: October 24, 2023–March 7, 2024
Delivery: Hybrid; online sessions and in-person sessions at Mason Square (formerly the Arlington Campus)
Cost: $8,500
Personal Consultation
Contact us to schedule an advising session:
Email ❭
(703) 993-6725 ❭
"Mason's Chief Data Officer Program brings together data management leaders and thinkers from around the country and the world. This fosters a highly productive dialogue and is a valuable tool for carrying forward effective data management. We were so convinced of the program’s value that we are now collaborating in its teaching."
Meet Your Instructors
Chief Data Strategist, MITRE
Mike Fleckenstein is the Chief Data Strategist at MITRE.
Assistant Professor, Department of Computational and Data Science, George Mason University
Olga Gkountouna is an assistant professor in the Department of Computational and Data Science at George Mason University.
Professor, Information Systems and Operations Management
Nirup Menon is a professor within the Information Systems and Operations Management Area in the School of Business at George Mason University.
Chief Technology Officer, myDigitalOffice and Adjunct Professor at George Mason University
Sudhir Menon is chief technology officer at myDigitalOffice and an adjunct professor at George Mason University.
Professor and Chair, Geography and Geoinformation Science, George Mason University
Dieter Pfoser is a professor and chair of Geography and Geoinformation Science at George Mason University.
Related Programs
Frequently Asked Questions
Are faculty from George Mason University?
A combination of Mason faculty, adjuncts, and subject matter experts teach in the program.
How was the curriculum created and courses chosen?
An advisory council of professionals at the c-suite level help George Mason University develop the program curricula, which is dynamic and changes based on feedback and emerging practices.
Is this program eligible under the GI Bill?
Not at this time.
Are there any discounts to attend the program?
Preferred pricing for government employees is $7,650. A promotional code will be provided to those accepted into the program. Please call (703) 993-8275 if you are a Mason employee or would like to discuss a group rate.
What does the cost of the program include?
The $8,500 program cost includes all materials, activities, catering, receptions, and a certificate of completion.
How do I register and pay for the program?
You must first submit an online application. Once accepted into the program, you will be provided directions on how to register and pay.
How much time will participants need to devote to the program?
Participants should expect to spend six full days at the George Mason University Arlington Campus as well as participating in 5-6 online topics delivered in two-week increments. For each two-week topic there will be approximately 8-10 hours of learning including readings, videos, video presentations, live sessions, discussion boards, and assignments.
How are the courses conducted?
As a hybrid program, topics are covered during two multi-day in-person sessions and online.
There are six in-person days and approximately four months of online delivery.
Online topics include a combination of asynchronous components such as discussion boards, presentations, videos, and assignments, as well as live synchronous sessions. Expect one to three scheduled live sessions for each online topic. These generally start between 7 and 8 p.m. ET. Live sessions are recorded and posted the next day.
Zoom or Blackboard Collaborate is used for live online sessions. A tutorial is provided to participants in pdf form, and an optional live tutorial session is offered as well. All registered participants are given access to Blackboard approximately two weeks prior to the start of the program.
Do I get university credit for this program? Will I be graded?
This is a non-credit executive development program so you will not earn university credit. However, CEUs (continuing education units) authorized by George Mason University are available upon request. At least two weeks prior to the start of the program, please send your request to execdev@gmu.edu. You will be asked to provide additional personal information in order to have your CEUs properly recorded.
Participants will not be graded, but In order to receive a certificate of completion, participants will need to complete a minimum of 80 percent of the work assigned (including assignments, deliverables, discussion boards, and live sessions). At the end of each topic, faculty are asked to provide a summary of participant’s engagement.
How many participants are enrolled?
The maximum number of participants for a single cohort is 20.
What are some common student personas/backgrounds/job titles?
Most participants have at least six years of management experience and are at the director level or above. Approximately half of the participants have been from the public/nonprofit sector and half from the private sector. The average age of participants is 45.
Is there an application deadline?
No. Participants are admitted on a rolling basis up to the start of the program or until the cohort is full.