Step into the COO seat
Stepping into your first COO role is exciting and intimidating in equal measure. This course gives you the frameworks, systems, and decision-making habits used by real-life COOs, so you can lead with confidence from day one.
After 10+ years of running operations communities, we’ve seen far too many people who:
- Want to become COOs, but lack the confidence to pursue these roles
- Are stuck questioning themselves and what they don’t even know they should know
- Fall into COO roles without being fully prepared for the challenges they will face - managing upwards, laterally, downwards, and diagonally
We want to equip the next generation of startup COOs with the tools you need to thrive in your roles.
Why should I take this Course?
Increase your cONfidence 💪
At the start and end of the Course, you will fill out our Operations Leadership Competency Scorecard. Our latest results showed that most participants’ confidence increased by 20-30%. Confidence will help you identify and solve problems more quickly and effectively.
Help your company thrive 🚀
In a down-market, it’s never been more critical for companies to do more with less human and financial capital. As an operations leader, it’s your job to put the right people, systems and processes in place to optimise your company’s success - increasing profit and reducing costs in your business.
Build your own operations hive mind 🧠
Through the course, you will gain access to a highly engaged community of fellow operations leaders. These operational experts can give you real-time advice that will help you through all the various trials of scaling.
What is included in the course?
This is a 14-week online course covering Operation Nation’s Core Competencies for a Strong COO. The next cohort kicks off in February 2026. Applications are open now!
Live sessions with experts
Learn from experienced COOs from the ON Community and beyond.
Weekly check-ins
Your very own group of accountability buddies to help you stay on track.
Pre-recorded videos
Focusing on the principles & guidelines of the related competency
You will also get
1:1 office hours
Chat with the Course Facilitators at any time during the course.
Digital workbook
Go through the exercises for deeper learning - in your own time.
Your own private group
A place to keep in touch with your cohort.
And if you successfully complete the Course…
Your official COO Course certificate
Which will look great on your LinkedIn profile when you network with fellow COOs or look for your next role.
What skills will I learn?
Based on 30 years of collective operational leadership experience, Operations Nation has designed a framework encompassing the following majority of the Core COO Competencies:
Strong Head
Strategic and Operational Planning
Ability to translate your organisation’s strategy into a realistic operational play.
Organisational Design
Ability to help shape your org chart/accountabilities as the organisation grows and scales
Strategic Finance
Ability to understand and support the strategic management of financial resources and growth
Strong Core
Organisational Performance and Analytics
Ability to aggregate, report upon, and influence the cross-functional metrics that matter most
Risk Management
Ability to anticipate risks to ensure your organisation’s strategy is achieved
Strong Voice
Internal Communication
Ability to communicate - from all-hands meetings to cross-functional projects
External Communication
Ability to communicate with/to VIP customers, Board Members and Investors
Strong Heart
Self-Awareness
How to identify, understand and communicate your personal and professional strengths and weaknesses
Stress Management
How to juggle multiple tasks and projects in a high-pressure environment
Self-Care
How to set boundaries, say no to others, and carve out time to care for/invest in yourself
How much does the Course cost?
This one-of-a-kind course costs £1,699* + VAT.
*Pricing may differ slightly depending on your location. We’re a global community and we strive to be accessible for all our members, so we use the PPP framework. You can read more about this here.
For context: the few COO-focused programs that do exist - like those at top business schools such as MIT or INSEAD - are typically priced around $20,000–$25,000 and cater to corporate executives rather than startup operators. Our course is built specifically for startup and scaleup COOs, and at a fraction of the cost.
Need help getting buy-in?
Here’s a helpful template you can send to your CEO or manager.
Testimonials
The proof is in the pudding: we've received an average rating of 9/10 from the six cohorts we’ve led over the past 2 years, with 100+ participants in total.
FAQs
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If you have any questions about the COO Course, or would like to contribute to it, please get in touch and let’s chat!