UC Berkeley Engineering Launches “Becoming a CTO” Program to Bridge the Gap Between Technical Excellence and Executive Leadership
Author: Mohammed Bukhari
Product Manager
Mohammed Rashed Bukhari is an aerospace engineering student at UC Berkeley and a Product Manager at the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (SCET). His long-term focus is building scalable innovation ecosystems in the space industry.
New five-week “Practical Field Guide” microcourse provides senior engineers and technical founders with a proven operating system for the C-suite.
BERKELEY, CA — February 1, 2026 — The UC Berkeley Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (SCET) today announced the launch of Becoming a CTO: A Practical Field Guide, an intensive five-week microcourse designed to transform high-performing engineers into strategic technology executives. Starting March 19, 2026, the live online program addresses a critical industry pain point: the lack of formal training for the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) role, which is often learned through trial and error rather than structured mentorship.
While many engineers are promoted based on technical brilliance, the transition to CTO requires a radical shift in mindset—from shipping code to architecting organizational delivery, managing technical debt strategically, and aligning engineering roadmaps with business outcomes. This program provides a “practical field guide” based on the real-world workflows of CTOs from top-tier startups and global enterprises.
The curriculum is built around five core pillars: Shipping in Small Batches (velocity), Living Documentation (transparency), Strategic Technical Debt Management, Data-Driven User Research, and the creation of a personalized “CTO Operating System.” Participants do not just study theory; they build a customized “CTO README” and a delivery-metrics dashboard that they can implement immediately in their current or future organizations.
“Most technical leaders are forced to figure out the CTO role on the fly, which often leads to expensive mistakes in hiring and architecture,” says Lorenzo Barberis Canonico, Program Instructor and Applied AI Researcher. “We’ve designed this course to give aspiring and current CTOs a repeatable system—a playbook for how to lead engineering teams and make high stakes decisions.”
The program features an impressive lineup of guest speakers and mentors, including Isaac Pohl-Zaretsky (CTO of Pocus), Daniel Cavero (CTO of Noya), and Mathias Klenk (Former CTO of Passbase). These practitioners provide diverse perspectives across industries, ranging from deep tech and climate tech to Series B startups.
Applications for the March cohort are now being accepted. The course is ideal for senior engineers (L6+), engineering managers, and technical co-founders seeking to scale their impact. For more information or to apply, visit the Becoming a CTO program page.
Contact Details
Program Inquiry:
Kristina Susac
Executive Education Advisor, UC Berkeley
Email: susac@berkeley.edu
Website: scet.berkeley.edu
Author: Mohammed Bukhari
Product Manager
Mohammed Rashed Bukhari is an aerospace engineering student at UC Berkeley and a Product Manager at the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (SCET). His long-term focus is building scalable innovation ecosystems in the space industry.