Registration Open: Communications Leadership Certificate Program, July 2026

The Yale Program on Stakeholder Innovation and Management (Y-SIM) is bringing back its CCO Leadership Certificate Program for a third year, responding to strong demand from senior communications leaders seeking to expand their strategic role within the enterprise.

As stakeholder expectations rise and technologies such as artificial intelligence reshape the business landscape, Chief Communications Officers are increasingly being asked to help guide business decisions—not just communicate them. The program equips communications leaders with frameworks, tools, and leadership capabilities to influence outcomes across complex organizations.

Developed in collaboration with the Page Society, the 2.5-day immersive program will take place on the campus of the Yale School of Management in New Haven, Connecticut. Participants engage in real-world case studies, applied stakeholder strategy exercises, and leadership simulations designed around the challenges modern communications leaders face.

The program helps communications leaders strengthen their partnership with CEOs, navigate multistakeholder complexity, and build enterprise-level leadership capabilities. Participants leave with practical tools—including stakeholder mapping methods and decision frameworks—that can be applied immediately.

The program was developed by Jon Iwata, Y-SIM practice leader and former SVP and chief brand officer at IBM, and Ravi Dhar, the George Rogers Clark Professor of Management and Marketing.

Guest executives will include Allyson Park, chief communications officer of Walmart, alongside leaders such as Andy Pharoah of Mars and Reidar Gjærum, former senior vice president of corporate communication at Equinor.

Alumni say the experience reshapes how communications teams engage with the business.

“Applying a stakeholder lens—rather than just an audience lens—has transformed how our communications team engages with business partners. It’s helped us take a more forward role in areas like monthly business reviews and reframe the value we bring as communicators, which has been truly transformational for our practice.”
—Allyson Funk, VP, Communications, The Cigna Group, Class of 2025.

Program Details

• Location: Yale School of Management, New Haven, CT
• Format: 2.5-day in-person program
• Tuition: $9,000
• Learn more about the program
• Download syllabus
• Register
• Contact: Adria Boyle, Adria.Boyle@yale.edu