AI for Leaders

Man making presentation with AI usage AI adoption is accelerating. Is your organization prepared to turn it into meaningful business results?

As artificial intelligence reshapes how organizations operate, compete and grow, leaders face a challenge that extends beyond understanding the technology. Realizing AI's potential requires the ability to identify valuable opportunities, make informed decisions and guide the organizational changes necessary for successful implementation.

SMU Cox Executive Education's AI for Leaders equips professionals across industries with the strategic perspective and practical tools to lead in an AI-enabled business environment. Through expert instruction and hands-on application, participants explore AI capabilities, evaluate business opportunities, address risk and governance, and develop a 90-day roadmap to turn a real organizational challenge into an actionable plan.

AI for Leaders helps bridge the gap between technological possibility and organizational readiness, preparing participants to evaluate where AI can make a difference and lead the changes required to realize its value.

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Course feature	Course detail
Dates:	March 10, 2027 – March 11, 2027
Topic:	Innovation, Strategy
Format:	On Campus
Location:	James M. Collins Executive Education Center 3150 Binkley Ave, Dallas, TX 75205
Credentialing:	Credly digital certificate awarded upon course completion.
Price:	Pricing: $4,500 \| Final Registration Deadline: March 3, 2027 20% discount until December 31, 2026: $3,600* 10% discount until January 17, 2027: $4,050* Group pricing & discounts available* *Limit one discount per program. Some exclusions may apply.
Questions?	To learn more about the program, contact Sally Siegel at 214.768.6444 or sallys@smu.edu.

Topics

From AI understanding to strategic action

AI for Leaders moves beyond theory to help participants address the business and leadership decisions that determine whether AI initiatives succeed. Through interactive discussions, practical exercises and application to a real organizational challenge, you'll develop the knowledge and confidence to identify opportunities, assess their value and lead implementation.

In this program, you will:

Understand today's AI capabilities. Explore what AI and AI agents can do, where they create opportunities and what leaders need to consider before putting them to work.
Identify opportunities for business value. Evaluate potential applications, prioritize high-impact use cases and build a business case grounded in measurable outcomes.
Redesign work for an AI-enabled organization. Consider how people, processes and technology can work together to improve performance and productivity.
Lead responsible AI implementation. Address governance, risk, trust and accountability while preparing teams to adapt to new ways of working.
Build a roadmap for action. Translate a priority business challenge into a practical 90-day plan for AI adoption and implementation.

A practical learning experience with lasting value

Participants will apply course concepts to a real business challenge from their own organization, moving from opportunity identification to implementation planning. The experience culminates in a 90-day roadmap designed to help participants take informed next steps when they return to work.

A 90-minute virtual follow-up session provides an additional opportunity to reconnect after the in-person program.

Program Schedule

March 10-11, 2027

	March 10	March 11
8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.	Breakfast	Breakfast
8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.	AI Leadership and Challenge	Trust, Risk and Accountability
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.	Break	Break
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.	AI and Agents Today	AI Workforce and Skills
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.	Lunch	Lunch
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.	Business Value and ROI	From Pilot to Adoption
2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.	Break	Break
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.	Redesigning Work with Humans and AI	90-day Roadmap Lab

April 2027 - Date TBD

Follow up -- 90-minute virtual session

Who should attend?

AI for Leaders is designed for professionals across industries and business functions who want to understand AI's strategic implications and lead its effective adoption within their organizations.

The program is particularly relevant for:

Business leaders and senior executives responsible for organizational strategy, performance and innovation.
Managers and directors seeking to identify AI opportunities, improve team productivity and guide changing ways of working.
Technology, data and AI leaders looking to strengthen their ability to connect technical capabilities with business priorities and organizational needs.
Leaders responsible for transformation and change who must consider the workforce, governance and operational implications of AI implementation.

The program emphasizes strategic decision-making and practical application rather than technical AI development, making it relevant to leaders from a range of professional backgrounds.

Program Instructors

Helmuth Ludwig

Professor of Practice for Management, Strategy and Entrepreneurship at SMU Cox School of Business. He chairs the board of Humanetics Group, serves on the board of Hitachi Ltd., Myers Industries, Inc, and is a senior advisor to Bridgepoint LLC and Zscaler, Inc.
Tim Sutton

Co-Founder of Mighty Ltd., an AI-enabled strategy company, Sutton is an engineer, strategist and advisor who helps global brands grow and adapt. He brings extensive experience leading innovation and facilitating strategy workshops for executive teams.