In this program, leaders learn how artificial intelligence is reshaping knowledge work, how organizations must redesign work and incentives in response, and what executive accountability looks like in an AI-driven economy.
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Format: In-person
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Dates: April 28-29/2026
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Duration: 2 days (14 total hours)
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Location: Embarc Collective
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Tuition: $3295.00
Artificial intelligence is no longer an incremental productivity tool. It is rapidly becoming a substitute for large portions of knowledge work—including analysis, reporting, coordination, synthesis, and decision support tasks traditionally performed by managers and professionals.
Most organizations are responding with pilots, copilots, and experimentation at the margins. These efforts often create the appearance of progress while avoiding the deeper, more difficult reality: AI fundamentally changes how work is designed, how value is created, and how leadership accountability must be exercised.
This executive program is designed to help senior leaders confront that reality directly.
Rather than focusing on tools or technical implementation, the program reframes AI as a strategic labor force multiplier that forces executives to rethink operating models, workforce design, incentives, governance, and leadership responsibility. Participants leave with a clearer understanding of which AI initiatives matter, why many organizations pursue the wrong ones, and what executive leadership truly requires in an AI-driven economy.
Key Takeaways
By the end of the program, participants will be able to:
- Understand why AI-driven disruption of knowledge work is unavoidable and near-term
- Explain how AI changes the economics of work, not just productivity metrics
- Recognize why traditional AI business cases and pilot programs systematically understate impact
- Identify organizational, incentive, and cultural barriers that block high-value AI initiatives
- Distinguish executive decision responsibilities from technical implementation roles in AI-enabled systems
- Reframe leadership accountability from “AI adoption” to work, workforce, and value redesign
Who Should Attend
This program is designed for:
Roles:
Executives, senior leaders, directors, VPs, and functional leaders responsible for strategy, transformation, workforce design, or enterprise initiatives
Industries:
Applicable across all industries where knowledge work, professional labor, and decision-intensive
processes are central to value creation
Situational readiness:
- Leaders sponsoring or overseeing AI initiatives
- Leaders facing workforce disruption or pressure to “do something” with AI
- Leaders accountable for long-term competitiveness, not short-term experimentation
Curriculum & Topics
Day One – The Disruption Executives Are Underestimating
Module 1: Knowledge Work Is No Longer Protected
Why knowledge work resisted automation in the past—and why that protection has collapsed.
Module 2: AI and the Economics of Work Redesign
How AI changes cost structures, quality, speed, and the allocation of human effort across organizations.
Module 3: Why Traditional AI Business Cases Fail
Why pilot-based ROI, productivity narratives, and “cost avoidance” models miss the real value.
Module 4: The Myth of Internal Readiness
Why AI transformation is not a talent acquisition problem, but an operating model problem.
Day Two – The Organizational Reality Blocking AI Transformation
Module 5: Incentives Are the Real Barrier
How managerial incentives, KPIs, and budgeting structures discourage meaningful automation.
Module 6: Why Organizations Gravitate Toward the Wrong AI Use Cases
Why copilots feel safer than agents—and why safety often comes at the expense of value.
Module 7: Executive Accountability in an AI-Driven Organization
Why AI decisions can no longer be delegated, and what leadership responsibility truly entails.
Module 8: Reframing the Executive Mandate
Shifting from “deploying AI” to redesigning work, governance, and human-AI collaboration.
Pre-Work
To maximize the value of the in-person experience, participants complete a short pre-work exercise.
Participants will:
- Identify a business or organizational process within their area of responsibility that could benefit from AI
- Describe the process, including purpose, activities, handoffs, human judgment, and pain points
- Reflect on why traditional digital or automation approaches have struggled
The pre-work grounds discussions in real organizational contexts. No technical background or AI implementation experience is required.
Faculty
Thomas Stablein, PhD - Program Facilitator
Tom Stablein, DBA is an executive, educator, and founder with more than 25 years of
experience leading digital transformation, technology strategy, and enterprise execution.
He serves as Director of the Online MS in Artificial Intelligence and Business Analytics
program at the USF Muma College of Business and brings firsthand experience scaling
AI systems from pilot to product.
Benefits for Organizations
Participants return able to:
- Redesign work processes for AI-enabled performance
- Focus investments on high-impact AI initiatives
- Remove structural and incentive barriers to transformation
- Strengthen executive accountability for digital value creation
This program supports organizations seeking to:
- Improve ROI on AI investments
- Future-proof knowledge work and leadership models
- Compete more effectively in AI-driven markets
Program Format
This program is delivered in an immersive, interactive format combining executive discussion, applied frameworks, real-world cases, and action planning. A detailed agenda will be shared with registered participants in advance.
Certificate & Pathways
Participants will receive a USF Executive Education Certificate of Completion.
Logistics
Detailed program information, including the agenda, parking instructions, and recommended hotel accommodations, will be provided to registered participants prior to the program start date.
All cancellation and substitution requests must be submitted in writing.
Cancellations
Cancellations received 14 days or more prior to the program start date will receive a full refund, minus a $250 administrative fee. Cancellations received within 14 days of the program start date are non-refundable.
Substitutions
Substitutions may be made at any time prior to the program start date at no additional cost. If pre-program assessments have already been completed, associated assessment fees are non-refundable.
Program Changes
The ƹƵ reserves the right to cancel or reschedule a program. In the event of cancellation by the University, registered participants will receive a full refund.
Group Pricing & Custom Options
Discount Eligibility
USF alumni and active-duty military members and veterans are eligible for a 10% discount on all open-enrollment programs.
Please enter the appropriate discount code at checkout. Discounts are offered in good faith. Proof of eligibility may be requested prior to program start.
Discounts cannot be combined with other promotional offers.
USF Alumni
USF alumni receive 10% off open-enrollment programs with code USFALUMNI10.
Military & Veterans
Active-duty military members and veterans receive 10% off open-enrollment programs with code MILITARY10.