About Us
The California Institute of Advanced Management (CIAM) is the first independent, nonprofit graduate school entirely dedicated to advancing a more balanced and just society through responsible business management principles. At CIAM, we believe business has the power to shape the world—and the future belongs to leaders who combine knowledge, ethics, and compassion.
Mission, Vison & Values
Mission
Building upon the philosophy of Peter F. Drucker, through classroom and online learning, we produce successful, responsible, globally oriented leaders who are rooted in practice.
Vision
At the California Institute of Advanced Management, our vision is a world where our graduates promote the public good and serve humanity.
We will transform management education by:
- Offering accessible educational programs
- Providing students with real-world experience
- Advocating for management as a liberal art to instill a sense of social responsibility in our students.
Core Values
- Human dignity – We believe all individuals possess unique skills and contributions to the organization; their professional and personal development is important to CIAM.
- Integrity – We believe integrity is the practice of consistency: doing what one says, performing, and gaining results.
- Innovation – We believe innovation is a combination of inspiration and hard work. It is welcoming of and open to new and different thinking, recognizing the role of change and improvement for institutional and personal betterment. Innovation can come from any area of CIAM and has to be balanced with continuity.
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion – We embrace diversity and unity as a way to encourage creativity and to serve and strengthen society.
- Citizenship – We value the willingness to uplift and contribute to one’s society, to live for one’s community, and to practice civility.
- Responsibility – We believe in equitable participation and contributions to shared goals, autonomy, determination, and proper use of power.
Principles
Four pillars guide all academic, research, and service efforts at CIAM:
- Academic Excellence
- Management as a Liberal Art – rooted in Peter Drucker’s philosophy
- Engagement – with communities, industries, and global challenges
- Growth & Development – for students, faculty, and society
Culture
At CIAM, we are a team that nurtures a teaching and learning culture that:
- adapts to change and turns challenges into opportunities.
- pursues excellence through continuous reflection, innovation, and self-development.
- believes diversity, equity and inclusion serve the common good.
- works with our strengths, opportunities, and resources.
- empowers leaders to achieve results through data-driven decision making.
- fosters collaboration through honest constructive communication.
- is accountable to our students and all stakeholders.
- is determined, dedicated, and driven.
History of CIAM
The California Institute of Advanced Management was established in 2011 to promote Peter F. Drucker’s philosophy of Management as a Liberal Art and offer students real-world, hands-on experience during their Master of Business Administration programs at an affordable tuition. Today, CIAM’s graduate degree programs include three MBA in Executive Management options, a Master’s of Science in Data Analytics and a Master’s of Art in Organizational Leadership.
CIAM was founded by Dr. William A. Cohen (President Emeritus) and Ms. Jennie Ta (President), with the encouragement of philanthropist Mr. Minglo Shao, the institution’s principal benefactor. Mr. Shao has a substantial history of funding educational endeavors and programs and is the owner/founder of the Peter F. Drucker Academy of China and Hong Kong, a social enterprise with the mission of keeping Drucker’s management legacy alive.
While many graduate schools only teach theoretical concepts, CIAM prepares students for both the practical and theoretical elements that the world needs today. Our business university in California offers working students a chance to enroll in innovative hybrid distance education courses that are convenient and affordable.
CIAM incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) in 2011 and received its initial approval with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) in April 2012. Just one year after its founding, CIAM began instruction on July 14, 2012. CIAM received national accreditation in 2015 and distance education accreditation in 2018. Regional accreditation was earned from WSCUC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) in 2018.
The Peter F. Drucker Legacy
Peter F. Drucker, often hailed as the Father of Management, was a visionary thinker whose profound insights transformed the foundations of modern business theory and practice. Born in Austria in 1909, Drucker authored dozens of influential books over his distinguished career—works that continue to serve as cornerstones of management education around the world.
Drucker’s groundbreaking philosophy, Management as a Liberal Art (MLA), reimagines management as both a discipline and a human-centered practice. It emphasizes the fusion of traditional business expertise with a deeper understanding of society, culture, and ethics. He believed that effective management extends far beyond profit—it is about responsibility, purpose, and contributing to the common good.
At CIAM, Drucker’s legacy permeates the entire student experience. His seminal works and teachings provide a moral and intellectual framework for developing leaders who combine analytical strength with ethical stewardship. Through this approach, students gain not only the technical knowledge required for success but also the self-awareness and social consciousness essential for meaningful leadership.
Drucker ardently believed that those in management hold the power and duty to “advance the basic beliefs of our society, to contribute to its stability, strength, and harmony.” He warned against toxic leadership and championed trust, collaboration, and respect as the true foundations of organizational success.
CIAM is deeply committed to continuing Drucker’s legacy by embedding MLA principles into every facet of our academic programs. Through immersive, experiential learning, we prepare students to excel in their professions while creating positive change in their organizations, communities, and the world at large.