Executive Education
AI Strategy and Leadership Certification
This certification program bridges the gap between AI hype and AI execution for decision-makers at any level. Unlike academic survey courses or vendor-driven demos, this program is taught by a practitioner who builds and deploys AI systems for organizations. Every session blends conceptual frameworks with hands-on application and every participant leaves with a decision-maker-ready AI strategy and implementation roadmap built specifically for their organization.
Who Should Attend
- C-suite executives (CEO, COO, CFO, CTO, CIO)
- Vice presidents and directors of operations, strategy, IT and innovation
- Operations specialists, project managers and continuous improvement leads
- Department heads and functional leaders
- Individual contributors who identify operational bottlenecks or lead process improvement
At A Glance
AI Strategy and Leadership Certification
- An 8-session certification program
- Blends conceptual frameworks with hands-on application
- Participants leave with a decision-maker-ready AI roadmap.
Dates
First Class
17 & 19
1, 3, 8, 10, 15 & 17
Second Class (Just the Six Sigma Classes)
23, 25 & 30
1, 6, 8, 13 & 15
Costs
$1,999.00
Session Topics
| SECTION | TOPIC |
|---|---|
| 1 | AI Demystification |
| 2 | Industry-Specific AI |
| 3 | Use Case Prioritization and Data Readiness |
| 4 | Risk, Ethics and Governance |
| 5 | Implementation Planning |
| 6 | Communication Strategy and Buy-In |
| 7 | Cross-Industry Case Studies |
| 8 | Showcase and Certification |
Session Objectives
- Distinguish between the technical nuances of AI, machine learning, deep learning and generative AI with precision, and communicate these concepts to any audience
- Apply structured frameworks to identify, prioritize and build business cases for AI use cases
- Evaluate vendors, models and implementation approaches using repeatable decision criteria
- Design governance frameworks, acceptable-use policies and risk management strategies
- Build a realistic implementation plan with timelines, budgets, teams and change management
- Deliver a high-quality AI strategy and implementation roadmap with a recorded pitch video
- Communicate AI opportunities to boards, vice presidents, budget committees and skeptics
Taught By
Ben Nichols
Nichols combines academic rigor with hands-on AI implementation. He teaches AI at Syracuse University and designs AI systems for businesses through Upstate AI. His background spans over 15 years in analytics, product management and technology leadership, with a foundation in applied statistics (M.S. in Statistics and Operations Research, B.A. in Mathematics and Philosophy). He builds and operates AI systems daily—a practitioner perspective that distinguishes this workshop from traditional academic programs.