Management consulting firm Kearney and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) have jointly introduced a new executive education program aimed at senior business leaders. The program, hosted by CMU’s Tepper School of Business in collaboration with Kearney, focuses on equipping executives with strategic and practical skills needed for effective implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in their organizations.
CMU and Kearney aim to equip executives with AI-driven business skills
The three-day program blends CMU’s expertise in artificial intelligence and technology with Kearney’s extensive business consulting background. Its core objective is helping executives transform AI’s potential into concrete business results, addressing both practical applications and strategic decision-making.
Ben Smith, Chair of Digital & Analytics at Kearney, noted that AI has transitioned from being merely innovative technology to a key factor driving competitive advantage. The educational initiative aims to fill the gap between academic knowledge and practical business applications, emphasizing systematic leadership changes required to leverage AI effectively and ethically.
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Key components of the curriculum include strategic AI leadership, innovation driven by AI technology, and responsible AI adoption emphasizing human-centric approaches and accountability. Faculty members include CMU experts Sean Ammirati, Professor of Entrepreneurship; Roni Rosenfeld, Professor of Machine Learning and Computer Science; and Alex John London, Professor of Ethics and Computational Technologies.
Participants will engage in interactive workshops, AI lab visits, discussions with industry experts, and practical sessions designed to help executives move beyond general perceptions about AI and toward actionable strategies. The course introduces the “AI Value Catalyst” framework, assisting executives in making informed decisions on AI implementations that deliver measurable benefits.
Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou, Dean of the Tepper School of Business, highlighted the collaboration’s goal to bridge technological innovation and business leadership, empowering executives to use AI strategically to innovate business models and improve operational performance.
The program will initially be held at CMU’s Tepper School in Pittsburgh from March 10–13, with the subsequent session scheduled in Dubai from May 11–14.
Featured image credit: Kearney
