Applied Systems Thinking for AI Leaders

Overview

Applied Systems Thinking for AI Leaders is a two day, cohort-style intensive designed for executive teams and leaders who will fund and govern AI initiatives. The program brings cutting edge cognitive science and AI knowledge to help leaders understand what GenAI is actually doing, its failure modes, and how it can affect organizational judgment when embedded in workflows. It emphasizes asking better questions about AI deployments, identifying decisional and institutional risks, and scoping AI investments to build capability across quality, agency, and performance metrics. The course is delivered in person and focuses on practical implementation patterns, governance, and organizational impact.

What it is for

This course is written for CEOs, COOs, CIOs, chief data and digital officers, division presidents, and executives who oversee AI strategy and governance. It is intended for leaders who will fund and govern AI adoption rather than configure it. Attendees do not need technical backgrounds, and the material addresses how AI technology affects a company’s judgment and decision-making at scale.

Agenda and format

The program is structured around a fundamental distinction in AI investments: AI that extends deliberate reasoning to build capability versus AI that acts as a preprocessing layer that can introduce cognitive debt. The two days include 16 hours of in-person training facilitated by professionals from Fortune 100, Defense, and Academia, plus 10 hours of optional pre-intensive distance learning. The event uses a small group, cohort style learning format, with opportunities for individual help on attendees’ own AI initiatives.

Included in the experience are a Welcome Package and a practical toolkit: three physical books, notebook and pen, and access to a structured course introduction. The format supports deep thinking in a retreat-style venue with breakfast and lunch provided, enabling participants to engage, reflect, and apply the material to real world problems. There is also a post-event package intended to sustain momentum and ensure practical implementation.

What you’ll learn

Outcomes center on the ability to interrogate proposed AI deployments, define pilots that generate evidence, and establish workable metrics that measure true ROI. Participants will learn to recognize failure modes that emerge when a system is poorly implemented and to scope AI pilots in a way that yields measurable results. The curriculum covers Systems Thinking (a structured framework for executive level analysis), GenAI specific considerations, and Cognitive Security concepts aimed at preserving decision autonomy and organizational capability.

Capability gains

The course details several capability gains, including how to evaluate AI claims in procurement settings, how to ensure AI aligns with organizational decisions, and how to test whether AI-assisted decisions can be reconstructed for regulators, auditors, or customers. It also provides tools for sustaining organizational capability, preventing cognitive debt, and designing initiatives that preserve expertise as AI is integrated into processes.

Who should attend

The program targets leaders responsible for AI governance and investment decisions. It is suitable for executives who will fund AI adoption and oversee its integration into operations. The content is designed for attendees who may bring a current or proposed AI initiative to work on during the session.

Prerequisites and includes

No technical background is required. Attendees are encouraged to bring an AI initiative to work on. The course includes a Welcome Package and a structured post-event offering, including licenses to analytics tools and ongoing support. Breakfast and lunch are provided during training, and a quiet, retreat-style venue is used to foster deep thinking and sound decision making.

FAQ and cost justification

A cost justification section explains the value of the program compared to external consulting, emphasizing the in-person, hands-on nature and long term organizational benefits. If you need more details on the cost or how it compares to alternative options, you can reach out to the organizers for tailored guidance.