IIT Bombay Launches Chief Operating Officer Programme for Strategic Leadership in the Age of AI

The Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management (SJMSOM) at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) offers the Chief Operating Officer Programme: Strategic Leadership in the Age of AI, a six-month blended executive programme for senior leaders responsible for enterprise performance, operational strategy and organisational transformation.

According to PwC's 2026 Digital Trends in Operations Survey, 89% of operations leaders say their AI investments have not delivered the expected results. The finding highlights a challenge for business leaders: moving beyond successful pilots to achieve measurable returns, scalable operations and enterprise-wide adoption. The programme addresses this leadership challenge by developing the strategic, financial and technical judgement required to translate AI investments into business value.

What Does the COO Programme Cover?

The IIT Bombay COO programme develops capabilities across enterprise strategy, operating model design, financial decision-making, AI applications and organisational leadership. Its seven modules progress from strategy and value creation to AI-enabled operations, enterprise risk, governance and boardroom decision-making.

Participants explore Generative AI and Agentic AI, enterprise data foundations, decision intelligence, AI investment returns and digital infrastructure. The curriculum also examines intelligent supply chains, production planning, digital twins, cybersecurity, business continuity and sustainability.

The programme emphasises practical application, helping senior leaders assess high-value AI use cases, evaluate technology choices, measure investment returns and determine how AI initiatives can scale across an organisation.

Note: The curriculum is subject to periodic review and updates at the discretion of IIT Bombay faculty to ensure alignment with industry requirements.

How Does the Programme Help COOs Lead Enterprise-Wide AI Transformation?

The programme focuses on the operational and organisational decisions involved in scaling AI. Participants learn to connect business priorities with operating models, evaluate transformation investments and assess organisational readiness.

Through the curriculum, they develop the ability to build business cases, establish governance frameworks and lead workforce transformation. Topics such as human-AI collaboration, responsible AI and enterprise risk also help leaders consider the wider implications of technology adoption.

The Enterprise Transformation Studio runs alongside the core modules. Participants work on a challenge from their organisation, subject to faculty approval, or choose a faculty-designed project. With guidance from IIT Bombay faculty, they develop a 100-day AI transformation blueprint and present their proposal to a board-style panel of faculty and industry experts.

Programme Delivery and Learning Experience

The six-month blended executive programme combines online learning with two two-day campus immersions at IIT Bombay. Participants engage with faculty, explore the institute's laboratories and innovation ecosystem, and take part in case-based learning, masterclasses and peer interactions.

Faculty from SJMSOM and IIT Bombay's Engineering departments deliver live sessions, complemented by sessions led by senior industry experts. The two campus immersions bookend the learning journey, with the second including the Capstone showcase and programme completion.

Faculty and Industry Expertise

The programme brings together academic and industry perspectives. Faculty include Professor Varadraj Bapat, programme coordinator and Professor and Head of SJMSOM, alongside faculty members from IIT Bombay's management and engineering disciplines.

Industry experts include professionals with leadership experience across automotive, banking, chemicals, technology services and talent development. This combination supports learning through academic frameworks and practical enterprise perspectives.

Who Is the Programme For?

The programme is designed for senior professionals preparing to lead execution and performance across an enterprise. Intended participants include COOs, vice-presidents of operations, supply chain and manufacturing heads, business unit heads, general managers, functional leaders, chief digital officers, and digital transformation leaders.

Applicants must hold a bachelor's or master's degree, or a higher qualification, from a recognized university, with at least 50% aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA. A minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience is required. Prior AI experience is not required.

Certificate and Programme Benefits

Upon successful completion, participants receive a Certificate of Completion from IIT Bombay. The programme combines executive-level learning, faculty mentoring, campus engagement and an applied transformation project to help participants strengthen their approach to strategy, operational performance and AI adoption.

About the Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management, IIT Bombay

The Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management is part of IIT Bombay, an institution with a multidisciplinary academic and research ecosystem spanning engineering, science, technology and management. The school draws on this ecosystem to connect management education with emerging technologies and business challenges.

About Great Learning

Great Learning is the ed-tech partner for the programme and a global provider of professional learning and higher education. It collaborates with academic institutions to offer programmes across business, technology and interdisciplinary domains.