I recently completed an eight-week certification program through Athena Alliance on Leading AI Transformation.
I went into it expecting to deepen my understanding of AI strategy, governance, organizational design, ethics, decision-making and adoption. I did. But what surprised me most was how much the experience changed my thinking about something else entirely: leadership.
The more capable AI becomes, the more it exposes the things technology alone can’t solve — judgment, trust, courage, accountability, culture, meaning, sensitivity, creativity, human connection and our ability to lead through relentless uncertainty. The course reinforced for me that AI is no longer simply an IT initiative; it’s becoming a leadership mandate.
In my latest article, I share some of the perspectives that shifted for me over these eight weeks — including why I believe the human premium may actually increase as AI becomes more powerful, and why learning about AI is ultimately forcing leaders to get more creative and to learn more about themselves.
Perhaps the most valuable thing I came away with wasn’t more answers. It was better questions. I’d love to know which ones you’re asking right now.