Blockchain in Business (Online): Beyond the Hype

Blockchain and cryptocurrencies grab a lot of headlines in the media, leaving business leaders with the challenge to distinguish between the hype and what has the power to transform an entire industry. This program allows you to break through the mystery, offering a very practical understanding of blockchain, both its opportunities and its challenges. Over the course of six weeks, you'll decipher how cryptocurrencies work and learn how the underlying blockchain technology could transform your organization and industry.

In addition to world-renowned Columbia Business School faculty, you'll learn from industry experts who will share invaluable insights — from the origin story of the creators of the first blockchain to where the technology is heading five to ten years down the road. After taking this program that is designed with the executive in mind, participants will be able to make more informed decisions about the role that blockchain technology may play in their business.

At the end of the program, you'll know the answers to the quintessential Blockchain questions, including:

• How has blockchain technology emerged since its original design?
• Does Bitcoin count as money and can Bitcoin replace the traditional form of money?
• How do smart contracts and tokens work?
• What are the “real” opportunities and challenges of blockchain technology in the market?
• What questions should I ask to evaluate potential opportunities in blockchain and cryptocurrencies for my organization?
• How can I leverage blockchain for my business?

Please contact our partners at Emeritus at columbia@emeritus.org, +1 315-982-5094, or +1 315-277-2746 for a personal conversation about this program and how it may benefit you.

Delivered in collaboration with

At the end of the program, you will be able to:

• Understand the key principles underlying the technology and history of blockchain and cryptocurrencies in modern business.
• Identify real-world opportunities and limitations of blockchain technology and practical applications for their organizations.
• Ask the right questions and make more informed decisions about the role that blockchain technology may play in their business.

Upon completion of this program, you will earn one credit towards a Certificate with select alumni and tuition benefits. Learn more.

Our approach to this program is to provide the foundational concepts behind blockchains and cryptocurrencies by exploring their history, philosophies, and real-world applications and examining how these technologies will influence executive decision making. Key components include video lectures with guest speakers, hands-on exercises, and real-world applications. Participants have multiple opportunities to apply concepts such as a simulation of creating a blockchain.

The program includes the following modules:

This program is intended for those who have experience in corporate finance, capital markets, or investment management. It is highly recommended that participants have prior knowledge of topics such as discounted cash flow models; risk and return; capital asset pricing model; dividend policy; asset valuation; fixed income; and behavioral finance.

The program is ideal for:

• Senior executives who set the strategic course for growth and oversee the firm’s investment portfolio
• Mid-level managers who serve in finance or investment functions and play a key role in the financial matters of the organization
• Consultants, Legal Counsel, and Advisors who serve in a role of sourcing, executing, managing, or integrating M&A transactions, or who hold relationships with investment banks and private investors