Wharton Online has announced the launch of its new Innovation Strategy and Design Thinking Certificate, a fully online, self-paced credential designed to help professionals master innovation from idea generation through execution. Developed and led by Wharton professors Christian Terwiesch and Karl Ulrich, global authorities on innovation management, the certificate brings together three in-depth online courses that can be taken individually or as part of the full program:

1. Introduction to Innovation: Everyone Is an Innovator—Build foundational literacy and learn to identify and evaluate innovation opportunities using structured, AI-enabled methods.
2. Innovation Tournaments and the Process View—Learn to design and run live innovation tournaments that surface and scale winning ideas.
3. Design Thinking: Developing the Solution Concept—Apply customer-centered design frameworks to turn insights into tested, actionable solutions.

“Innovation isn’t a matter of luck or genius,” said Christian Terwiesch, a professor of operations, information and decisions and co-director of the Mack Institute for Innovation Management. “It’s a discipline that can be learned and applied systematically. This certificate gives professionals the structure and confidence to design and lead innovation efforts that deliver measurable results.”

Participants can enroll in any of the three courses individually or complete all three to earn the Innovation Strategy and Design Thinking Certificate, a Wharton credential that signals the ability to lead innovation initiatives strategically and systematically.

Each course features 16–24 hours of content across four to five modules, blending research-based frameworks, practical exercises, and case-based learning. Learners earn a digital badge upon completion of each course and a formal certificate upon completing all three. The certificate is designed for professionals across industries, including individual contributors, team leaders, and executives seeking to embed innovation into their organizations’ culture and strategy.

Enrollment for the Innovation Strategy and Design Thinking Certificate and each individual course is now open.