AI for Business Leaders

The programme

Programme overview

Senior leaders do not need to become AI practitioners — they need enough strategic fluency to ask the right questions, evaluate opportunities, and make sound investment and adoption decisions. This fast-paced executive briefing distils the essentials of AI strategy, opportunity assessment, and organisational readiness into two focused days.

Delivered through discussion-driven sessions using real business case studies rather than technical demonstrations, this briefing serves as a lighter entry point ahead of Ratomac 5-day Mini-MBA: AI and Digital Transformation, for leaders who want deeper follow-up. It works equally well as a standalone briefing for leaders who simply need working AI literacy for oversight and decision-making.

Who should attend

Who is this programme for?

This AI for Business Leaders Executive Briefing is designed for:

• CEOs, Executives, and Senior Managers Evaluating AI Adoption
• Board Members and Directors Seeking Working AI Literacy for Oversight Purposes
• Department Heads Assessing AI Opportunities Within Their Function
• Leaders Preparing to Sponsor or Approve AI Initiatives

Learning outcomes

What you will learn

This briefing equips you to evaluate, sponsor, and govern AI initiatives with confidence, without needing to become a technical practitioner.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

• Explain core AI concepts and capabilities in plain, non-technical business language
• Identify realistic AI opportunities and risks within their own organisation
• Assess organisational readiness for AI adoption
• Ask informed questions when evaluating AI vendor proposals or internal business cases
• Understand the basics of AI governance and risk to sponsor initiatives responsibly
• Distinguish AI hype from genuine strategic opportunity
• Leave with a personal action plan for the next AI decision on their desk
• Strategic Fluency in Two Days: Get enough AI literacy to lead confidently, without becoming a technologist.
• Ask Sharper Questions: Walk into vendor pitches and business cases able to separate substance from hype.
• Governance-Ready Sponsorship: Understand enough AI governance and risk to sponsor initiatives responsibly.
• Built for Executive Time: A fast-paced, discussion-driven format designed around how senior leaders actually learn.
• A Clear Path Deeper: Use this as a standalone briefing, or as the natural lead-in to Ratomac 5-day Mini-MBA: AI and Digital Transformation.

Explore the programme

Detailed programme outline

DAY 1 — Understanding AI and Where It Fits in Your Organisation

Session 1: AI in Plain Business Terms

• What AI can and can’t do, explained without the jargon
• Cutting through AI hype to focus on genuine business capability
• Key AI terms every executive should be able to use confidently
• Framing AI as a strategic decision, not just a technology purchase

Practical Exercise: Translate a piece of AI vendor jargon into plain business language for your board.

Session 2: Where the Real Opportunities Are

• Common patterns in where AI creates genuine business value
• Identifying realistic AI opportunities within your own organisation
• Distinguishing quick wins from long-term strategic bets
• Learning from real business case studies of AI adoption

Practical Exercise: Identify two realistic AI opportunities within your own function or organisation.

Session 3: Assessing Organisational Readiness

• Key readiness factors: data, people, process, and culture
• Common reasons AI initiatives stall or fail to deliver value
• Assessing your organisation’s readiness honestly and specifically
• Sequencing AI adoption to match organisational maturity

Practical Exercise: Score your organisation’s AI readiness across the key readiness factors.

DAY 2 — Evaluating, Governing, and Acting

Session 4: Evaluating AI Opportunities and Vendor Proposals

• Questions that separate a strong AI business case from a weak one
• What to ask AI vendors before committing budget or data
• Evaluating build, buy, and partner options for AI initiatives
• Red flags that signal an AI proposal isn’t ready for sign-off

Practical Exercise: Draft a question set for evaluating a sample AI vendor proposal or internal business case.

Session 5: Governance, Risk, and Responsible Adoption

• AI governance basics every sponsor should understand
• Key risk categories: data, bias, security, and reputational exposure
• What responsible AI sponsorship looks like in practice
• Setting oversight expectations without stalling progress

Practical Exercise: Identify the top three governance questions you’d raise before sponsoring an AI initiative.

Session 6: Close-Out — Building Your Personal Action Plan

• Consolidating two days of discussion into clear next steps
• Prioritising your organisation’s most promising AI opportunity
• Deciding whether deeper follow-up, such as the 5-day Mini-MBA, is the right next step
• Committing to specific actions for the weeks ahead

Practical Exercise: Leave the briefing with a personal action plan for the next AI decision on your desk.

Learning approach

How you will learn

Our diverse instructional approaches ensure effective learning:

– Lectures & Presentations: Engage with expert-driven, stimulating content.– Course Material: Access well-crafted supporting resources.– Group Work: Collaborate on discussions and case studies for practical insights.– Workshops & Role-Play: Participate in immersive, scenario-based activities.– Practical Application: Focus on applying theoretical knowledge in real situations.– Post-Training Support: Receive extensive support after training for skill implementation.

Discuss your requirements

Dates, duration & arrangements

Contact Ratomac to confirm dates, duration, delivery format, entry requirements and any applicable assessment or certification before booking.