Leading Strategically with AI
Lead your organisation's AI future with clarity, confidence and strategic conviction.
Leading Strategically with AI Overview
AI is no longer a technology conversation. It's a leadership imperative.
Organisations are investing heavily in AI, yet many are struggling to realise meaningful business value. The challenge is no longer access to technology. It is leadership capability.
Designed for senior executives and leadership teams, Leading Strategically with AI equips participants with the frameworks, tools and confidence to move from AI experimentation to enterprise-wide adoption.
Through a combination of strategic leadership frameworks and hands-on AI agent-building exercises, participants develop an actionable AI strategy portfolio tailored to their organisation.
The program is delivered in two formats; a 5-week online program or a 3-day face-to-face intensive.
Who Should Attend Leading Strategically with AI?
Enterprise Leaders
- Senior leaders responsible for shaping organisational strategy and driving AI-enabled transformation across the enterprise. Designed for both technical and non-technical leaders, the program equips participants to lead AI initiatives with confidence, regardless of their functional background.
Senior Leadership Teams
- Functional leaders responsible for translating strategy into action, sponsoring AI initiatives, driving organisational change and embedding AI capabilities across their teams.
Leading Strategically with AI Key Takeaways
A Personal AI Strategy Portfolio
- Develop practical strategic outputs that can be immediately applied within your organisation.
Lead with Confidence
- Build the language, frameworks and judgment needed to engage credibly with AI strategy, investment and transformation decisions.
Turn AI Ambition into Business Value
- Learn how to identify, prioritise and implement AI opportunities that create measurable organisational impact, from productivity gains and cost reduction to customer value and innovation.
A Governance Framework you can Apply Immediately
- Develop a practical approach to AI governance, risk management and responsible deployment.
A High-calibre Executive Network
- Join a cohort of senior leaders navigating similar opportunities and challenges.
Accelerate Organisational Readiness
- Understand how to align people, processes and strategy to realise AI value.
AI Leadership for a new era
The gap between AI experimentation and enterprise-wide transformation is one of the defining leadership challenges of our time.
As organisations increase investment in AI, there is a growing need to realise meaningful business value. Leaders are increasingly expected to make strategic decisions about AI investment, governance, risk, workforce transformation and organisational change, supported by the right frameworks, tools and confidence to lead effectively.
Leading Strategically with AI has been designed to address this challenge directly.
Drawing on contemporary case studies from a range of industries and organisational contexts, the program provides practical frameworks that help leaders navigate AI strategy, governance and organisational transformation.
This is not a technical course. It is a leadership program designed for senior leaders responsible for strategic decision-making, regardless of their functional background. Participants develop the frameworks, language and confidence to lead AI initiatives without needing to become technical specialists.
The Learning Experience
Executive Peer Learning
Real-world Case Studies
AI-first Learning Design
Practical Application
Community of Practice
Post-program Reconnect
Which Program is Right for You?
One program. Two flexible ways to learn.
Whether you participate online or in-person, you will experience the same program content, work with the same facilitators, and develop the same AI Strategy Portfolio.
Online Program - 5 weeks | Weekly 90-minute live facilitated sessions | 4-5 hours per week
Face-to-face Intensive - 3-day program
Community of Practice
After the program, participants are invited to engage in a community of practice featuring curated thought leadership.
This includes discussion forums, expert insights, events and peer exchange designed to support ongoing learning and application.
Extending beyond program completion, the community provides a forum for continued learning, networking and the sharing of practical AI leadership insights.
AI Strategy Portfolio
Throughout the program, participants develop a practical portfolio of strategic outputs tailored to their organisational context.
Examples include including:
- Develop a coherent AI strategy aligned to business objectives
- Evaluate AI opportunities and investment decisions
- Govern AI responsibly and effectively
- Lead organisational transformation
- Communicate AI strategy to boards, leadership teams and employees.
Participants leave with practical AI-enabled artefacts aligned to their organisational priorities, providing an immediate foundation for implementation and value creation.
Strengthen Organisational Capability
Melbourne Business School’s short courses help organisations develop executive alignment through consistent and productive behaviours and capabilities.
The greatest barrier to AI success is not technology. It is the ability of leaders to align strategy, governance, people and culture around AI adoption.
When leaders share a common language, strategic framework and governance approach, organisations are better positioned to accelerate adoption, manage risk and realise value.
AI is the most disruptive technology of our time, yet many organisations are still working to move from isolated pilots to enterprise-wide AI adoption at scale. The differentiator is leadership. This program equips executives with the mindset, frameworks and confidence to lead that transformation.
JON WHITTLE
Program Director Distinguished Fellow and Professor (IDIA)
This program is ideal for executive teams, leadership groups and transformation leaders seeking a shared approach to AI strategy and implementation.
Leading Strategically with AI helps organisations:
- Build executive AI capability
- Strengthen strategic alignment
- Improve AI investment decisions
- Establish governance frameworks
- Accelerate organisational readiness
- Team participation
Organisations may choose to enrol multiple leaders to build a shared language, governance framework and strategic approach to AI across the enterprise.
For organisations enrolling multiple participants across our executive programs within a 12-month period, tailored group pricing may be available.
Talk to us about a customised version of this program tailored to suit your organisation’s needs.
Custom SolutionsLeading Strategically with AI Facilitators
Professor Jon Whittle
PROGRAM DIRECTOR | DISTINGUISED FELLOW AND PROFESSOR (IDIA)
Professor Jon Whittle is Australia's leading thought leader on AI for business. A former technical lead at NASA and director of CSIRO's AI capability, he also founded Australia's National AI Centre. He has a global reputation for applying AI to achieve real world impact with a human-centred approach, having worked with or advised Boeing, the Federal Aviation Administration in the US, Google, Microsoft, NASA, Australian Super, Medibank, BHP, Supreme Court Justice of Victoria, state and federal governments. He has worked extensively in the US, the UK, UAE, Germany and Australia. He is author of two books on AI: Responsible AI - Best Practices for Creating Trustworthy AI Systems, and AI for Business - A Guide to AI Adoption. He also hosts the award-winning podcast, CSIRO Presents Everyday AI. He regularly appears in the media, having recently been interviewed for ABC Radio, The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, The AFR, Sky TV and ABC TV.
Matthew Newman
PROGRAM CONTRIBUTOR
Matthew Newman is an MBS facilitator and founder of TechInnocens, a consultancy helping organisations find their path with Artificial Intelligence and other frontier technologies. With over 25 years' experience helping some of the world’s biggest organisations understand and navigate exponential technology to increase competitiveness and efficiency. He has worked in the US, across Europe, South Asia, Asia Pacific and Australia for global organisations providing balance between opportunity, risk, reputation and trust in the achievement of technology outcomes. He advises government, NGOs and standards organisations on the Responsible-Use of AI and AI Safety.
Upcoming Sessions
This is a non-residential program. The program fee covers tuition, learning materials and meals during the workshop.
If you are travelling from interstate or internationally, we recommend participants stay either on-site at Melbourne Business School (based on availability), or we can recommend a variety of partnering hotels who can offer our guests special corporate rates. Please contact us for more information.
Read our full terms and conditions and other frequently asked questions for more information.
Online Program - 5 weeks | Weekly 90-minute live facilitated sessions | 4-5 hours per week
Face-to-face Intensive - 3-day program
Program Enquiry
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| Program | Leading Strategically with AI (Online) | Leading Strategically with AI (Face-to-Face Intensive) | AI for Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level | Senior Executives, Business Leaders, Leadership Teams | Senior Executives, Business Leaders, Managers and Decision Makers | |
| What is it about? | Senior Leaders charged with developing AI strategy | Leaders seeking a practical introduction to AI and Generative AI. | |
| Who is it for? | Senior Leaders, Business Leaders and Leadership teams (sector agnostic) | Leaders at all levels seeking a practical introduction to AI and Generative AI. | |
| Duration | 5 weeks | 3 days (non-residential) | 2 days (non-residential) |
|
Mode (Location) |
Online (Virtual) | In person, Melbourne Business School | In person, Melbourne Business School |
| Program Structure | Weekly 90-minute facilitated sessions over 5 weeks, including pre-program AI diagnostic, practical assessments, Community of Practice access and post-program reconnect. | Three-day intensive program covering all core modules, including pre-program AI diagnostic, Community of Practice access and post-program reconnect. | Two-day immersive short course combining expert facilitation, practical demonstrations, case studies and hands-on exploration of AI tools and applications. |
| Fees 2026 pricing |
AUD$2,950 per person (inc. GST) |
AUD$5,500 per person (inc. GST) |
AUD$3,500 per person (inc. GST) |
| Focus | Enterprise AI strategy, governance, investment decisions and organisational transformation. | Understanding AI, Generative AI and automation to identify opportunities, build business cases and successfully implement AI. | |
| Topics |
AI and Competitive Strategy
AI Strategy and Investment
AI in Action
Governance, Risk and Responsible AI
Leading the AI-Ready Organisation
Portfolio Presentations & Peer Reflection
|
AI fundamentals and business applications
Generative AI and prompt engineering
Automation in the age of AI
AI safety and governance
AI strategy and business case development
AI implementation and adoption
|
|
| Practical Outputs |
AI Posture Diagnostic
AI Use Case Prioritisation Framework
Working AI Prototype
AI Governance Review
AI Strategy Communications Toolkit
|
AI opportunity assessment
Prioritised AI use cases
AI business case
AI strategy and implementation roadmap
|
|
| Learning Experience | Flexible learning with application between sessions. | Immersive executive learning with intensive peer interaction. | Hands-on applied learning focused on AI tools, technologies and business applications. |
| Inclusions |
Organisational AI Diagnostic
Weekly live facilitated sessions
AI-enabled learning tools and exercises
Community of Practice access
Executive Reconnect Session
All program materials
GST
|
Organisational AI Diagnostic
AI-enabled learning tools and exercises
Community of Practice access
Executive Reconnect Session
All program materials
Lunch and refreshments
GST
|
1-month access to AI platform licence
All program materials
Lunch and refreshments
GST
|
| Key Takeaway | Lead enterprise-wide AI transformation with a practical AI strategy portfolio. | Understand AI and Generative AI well enough to identify opportunities, manage risks and create business value. | |
| Dates |
12 Oct – 15 Nov 2026 2027 TBC |
27 – 29 October 2026 2027 TBC |
9–10 September 2026 25–26 November 2026 10–11 March 2027 14–15 April 2027 16–17 June 2027 8–9 September 2027 10–11 November 2027 |
| Enrolment | Leading Strategically with AI | AI for Business | |
