Press Release
WatSPEED at the University of Waterloo has announced a new Chief Technology and AI Officer (AI-CTO) program, a six-month executive online program created to help senior technology leaders translate advanced architectures and AI innovation into business growth.
The program is designed by Waterloo faculty and supported by experts from across the industry. It combines technical AI learning with financial insights, organizational transformation skills, and responsible governance. upGrad will manage enrolments and learner support within Waterloo’s academic framework.
According to Myleeta AgaWilliams of upGrad, “AI has moved from trial to full-scale adoption. Organizations need leaders who can pair algorithmic expertise with strategic foresight.” Aaron Pereira of WatSPEED added, “This program unites engineering depth with executive fluency and reflects Waterloo’s strengths in innovation and systems engineering.”
The program is aimed at CTOs, CIOs, CAIOs, CDOs, and senior tech teams seeking to grow into strategic enterprise leaders. Over 25 weeks, participants engage in modules covering strategy, technology, and applied leadership. They build business alignment, explore cloud and AI systems, master MLOps and FinOps, and learn to present board-level narratives that articulate value and risk.
The experience ends with real-world simulations where leaders respond to crises and make high-stakes decisions. Graduates receive a Waterloo certificate and produce deliverables such as a 90-day CTO plan and a transformation playbook. The program’s applied learning design, including simulations, decision labs, and strategy workshops, equips leaders to operate confidently in complex environments.
