USC + FEI Strategic Leadership Program

Learning Journey

An Intentionally Sequenced Executive Learning Experience

The USC + FEI Strategic Leadership Program Learning Journey is a four-day, in-person executive education experience designed specifically for senior finance leaders.

Each day builds on the previous one moving from internal leadership effectiveness, to executive communication, to external influence, and finally to innovation and technology-enabled strategy. The journey is intentionally structured to help participants expand their leadership impact from functional expertise to enterprise-level influence.

 
 
 

Tuesday, June 2 – Friday, June 5

30 CPE Credits | Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge

Explore by Day:

Day 1 – Inside the Firm | Day 2 – Communicating to Lead
Day 3 – External Leadership | Day 4 – Innovation & Strategic

 
 


Day 1 | Tuesday, June 2
8:30 am - 4:30 pm Pacific

Managing Inside the Firm: Culture, Strategy & Control

Senior-level financial leaders must operate effectively inside complex organizations – balancing control, collaboration, and strategic alignment.

Leadership focus for Day 1:

  • Expanding from functional leadership to enterprise contribution
  • Aligning strategy, structure, and organizational culture
  • Leading effectively across teams and functions

Participants will explore how financial leaders can shape organizational outcomes, influence internal stakeholders, and strengthen leadership effectiveness within the firm.

  • USC Faculty: Michael Paranal, Assistant Professor of Clinical Accounting; Academic Director, Master of Business Taxation; Director, Office of Culture & Community Success, USC Leventhal.
  • FEI Instructor: Brent Woodford, Executive Vice President, Controllership, Financial Planning and Tax, The Walt Disney Company.
  • CPE Total for Day: 7.5 CPE Credits
8:30 am – 10:15 am

From Controller to Strategist:

Leading Through Financial Design
(USC Marshall + USC Rossier)
10:15 am – 10:30 am Break
10:30 am – 12:00 pm Organizational Influence: Leading Without Authority
(USC Marshall + USC Rossier)
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Case Simulation: “Culture Clash – Budget Cuts Meet Mission”
(USC Marshall + USC Rossier + FEI)
2:30 pm – 2:45 pm Break
2:45 pm – 4:30 pm Team Presentations & Debrief
(USC Marshall + USC Rossier + FEI)
 
 


Day 2 | Wednesday, June 3
8:30 am - 4:30 pm Pacific

Communicating to Lead: Clarity, Credibility & Presence

Leadership influence depends not only on insight, but on the ability to communicate clearly and confidently in high-stakes environments.

Leadership focus for Day 2:

  • Strengthening executive presence and credibility
  • Communicating strategy with clarity and impact
  • Influencing senior-level leaders, boards, and key stakeholders

Through interactive sessions and applied exercises, participants will develop tools to communicate more effectively as enterprise leaders—especially in moments that matter most.

  • USC Faculty: Clarissa Beyah, Professor of Professional Practice of Journalism, USC Annenberg; Chief Communications Officer, Union Pacific Railroad.
  • FEI Instructor: Kevin McBride, SVP, Chief Accounting Officer, ServiceNow, Inc.
  • CPE Total for Day: 7.5 CPE Credits
8:30 am – 10:15 am

Executive Presence & Smart Brevity
(USC Marshall + USC Annenberg)
10:15 am – 10:30 am Break
10:30 am – 12:00 pm Strategic Storytelling with Data
(USC Marshall + USC Annenberg)
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Workshop: Presenting Strategy to the Board in 3 Slides
(USC Marshall + USC Annenberg + FEI)
2:30 pm – 2:45 pm Break
2:45 pm – 4:30 pm Role Play: Messaging Under Pressure
(USC Marshall + USC Annenberg + FEI)
 
 


Day 3 | Thursday, June 4
8:30 am - 4:30 pm Pacific

Managing Outside the Firm: Stakeholders, Policy & Partnerships

Financial leaders increasingly operate beyond the walls of their organizations—engaging with external stakeholders, regulators, investors, and partners.

Leadership focus for Day 3:

  • Navigating external stakeholder relationships
  • Understanding reputational risk and external influence
  • Leading with confidence in public and market-facing contexts

This day focuses on expanding leadership impact beyond the organization, preparing financial executives to lead in broader, more visible arenas.

  • USC Faculty: Richard K. Green, Director, USC Lusk Center for Real Estate; Lusk Chair in Real Estate; Professor, USC Price School of Public Policy & USC Marshall.
  • FEI Instructor: Johanna Nielsen, Vice President, Corporate Controller, Nike, Inc.
  • CPE Total for Day: 7.5 CPE Credits
8:30 am – 10:15 am

Strategic Networking & Ecosystems
(USC Marshall + USC Price)
10:15 am – 10:30 am Break
10:30 am – 12:00 pm Finance in the Public Arena: Branding, Risk & Advocacy
(USC Marshall + USC Price)
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Case Simulation: Government–Finance Partnership Gone Wrong
(USC Marshall + USC Price + FEI)
2:30 pm – 2:45 pm Break
2:45 pm – 4:30 pm Team Presentations & Debrief
(USC Marshall + USC Price + FEI)
 
 


Day 4 | Friday, June 5
8:30 am - 4:30 pm Pacific

Innovation & The Strategic Tech-Enabled Leader

Modern financial leadership requires comfort with innovation, data, and technology-enabled transformation.

Leadership focus for Day 4:

  • Leading innovation and strategic change
  • Understanding the financial leader’s role in technology-enabled transformation
  • Making informed leadership decisions in complex, evolving environments

Participants will explore how senior-level financial leaders can help drive innovation while maintaining strategic discipline and enterprise alignment.

  • USC Faculty: Mitch Feinman, USC Marshall faculty (Strategic Management & Innovation); UCLA Anderson Executive MBA capstone advisor.
  • CPE Total for Day: 7.5 CPE Credits
8:30 am – 10:15 am

Technology & AI for Strategic Finance Leaders
(USC Marshall + USC Viterbi)
10:15 am – 10:30 am Break
10:30 am – 12:00 pm Systems Thinking: Designing the Future Organization
(USC Marshall + USC Viterbi)
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Tech Lab: Dashboards, Scenarios & Decision Tools
(USC Marshall + USC Viterbi + FEI)
2:30 pm – 2:45 pm Break
2:45 pm – 4:30 pm Program Wrap-Up: Strategic Leader Reflections & Commitments
(USC Marshall)
 
 

How the Learning Journey Comes Together

Across four days, the program is designed to help participants:

  • Shift perspective from functional financial leadership to enterprise leadership
  • Strengthen executive presence and communication in high-stakes settings
  • Expand influence across internal and external stakeholders
  • Lead strategic and technology-enabled change with confidence

Each session is grounded in real-world leadership challenges and facilitated by USC Marshall faculty and experienced financial leaders selected for their ability to connect rigorous thinking with practical application.

This Learning Journey complements the program’s leadership outcomes and faculty experience described on the main program page.

 
 
 

Back to USC + FEI Strategic Leadership Program


 

Program Location:
University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles

 

CPE Credits: 30 (Specialized Knowledge)

 

Tuition: $8,995

 

Cohort limited to 40 participants