AISG - AI Strategy & Governance: Transforming Your Organization the Right Way

Program Description

This executive workshop guides participants through the critical steps required to build a strong AI foundation within their organization. The program is designed for leaders across functions and industries who are responsible for shaping AI strategy and preparing their organizations to integrate AI tools effectively. The program supports organizations beginning their AI governance journey as well as those seeking to evaluate their current approach against emerging best practices. Participants will leave the program with a practical action plan to make their organization AI-ready.

Participants will learn to:

• Develop practical AI governance structures
• Align AI initiatives with strategic business goals
• Evaluate organizational readiness for AI integration
• Lead AI transformation responsibly, strategically, and effectively

Without active leadership oversight, AI may evolve organically within the organization, creating the potential for loss of company information, damaged brand, duplication of effort, and resistance to implementation.

Outline

Day 1 (September 9): AI Governance and Strategy Foundation

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Coffee & Continental Breakfast

9:00 AM – 9:15 AM Program Opening (Dr. Aldas Kriauciunas)

9:15 AM -12:30 PM AI Governance (Instructor: Dr. Cheri Speier-Pero)

This session equips senior leaders with the principles and practices needed to understand the risks associated with AI and to lead responsible AI implementation. It explores how to ensure that AI algorithms process data transparently to mitigate bias, promote fairness, and ensure AI systems support equitable outcomes. The session also introduces frameworks for ethical AI governance, helping leaders align innovation with organizational values, stakeholder expectations, and emerging regulatory standards.  Finally, the session introduces governance structures and leadership actions that support the organizational changes required to successfully adopt and create value from AI.

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Lunch

1:30 PM – 4:30 PM The Four Lenses for Understanding AI Strategy (John Rood)

To lead effectively in the age of AI, executives must view technology through four essential lenses. First is Strategic Value Creation—AI should be tied directly to business outcomes, not just operational efficiency, with a clear line to growth or competitive advantage. Second, leaders must prioritize Human-Centric Integration, ensuring AI augments rather than replaces human insight and creativity. Third, Cultural and Ethical Impact must be considered, as AI can shift workplace norms, introduce bias risks, and challenge trust. Finally, a mindset of innovation and experimentation is essential, since AI’s rapid evolution demands continuous experimentation and organizational agility. These four lenses will help leaders evaluate automation, workforce transformation, organizational agility, competitive positioning, and data-centric decision-making.

Day 2 (September 10): AI Implementation Plan

8:00 AM – 8:30 AM Coffee & Continental Breakfast

8:30 AM - 11:45 AM Developing an AI Governance Rollout Plan (John Rood)

Successfully integrating AI into an organization requires more than implementing new technology. Leaders must think critically about the best opportunities for AI within their organization. In this workshop, John will introduce the 5-step model for rolling out a "minimum viable governance" process within 90 days.

11:45 AM – 12:45 PM Lunch

12:45 PM – 4:00 PM From Data to Decisions: Governing the AI Pipeline (Dr. Lu Zhang)

This session equips senior executives with a practical understanding of how data powers artificial intelligence and how algorithm design shapes business outcomes. It walks participants through the AI pipeline—from data collection and model training to the integration of AI outputs into organizational decision-making. Executives will examine how to assess data reliability and representativeness, including issues such as bias, missing data, and overfitting, and what these mean for trust in model predictions. Key concepts such as data validity, machine learning, and neural networks are introduced to build a shared technical vocabulary. The session ultimately strengthens leaders’ ability to govern AI by enabling more effective engagement with technical teams and more critical evaluation of AI-driven decisions.

Audience: Senior executives and leadership team members

Dates: September 9 & 10, 2026

Location: The Michigan State University Henry Center: 3535 Forest Rd, Lansing, MI 48910

Program Fee: $2,250 (Register by August 10th for a $400 early bird discount).

For More Information: Contact Program Director Dr. Aldas Kriauciunas, kriauci1@msu.edu or 517-353-5664

Key Learning Objectives

1. Evaluate AI Risks and Regulatory Requirements
Participants will be able to identify and explain key risks, ethical considerations, and emerging regulations related to AI, and describe how to implement responsible governance practices.

2. Apply the Four Lenses of AI Strategy
Participants will learn to analyze and guide AI initiatives using four strategic perspectives—value creation, human-centric integration, cultural and ethical impact, and innovation mindset—to ensure long-term organizational benefit.

3. Ensure the Proper Data Foundation for AI Systems
Participants will develop a practical understanding of how data, algorithms, and machine learning shape AI-driven business outcomes in order to critically evaluate AI decisions, assess data reliability and bias, and engage more effectively with technical teams.

4. Design an AI Rollout Plan Aligned with Business Priorities
Participants will collaboratively create a step-by-step implementation plan for integrating AI into their organizations, identifying high-impact opportunities and setting short-term goals for AI readiness.

5. Lead Cultural and Organizational Change to Enable AI Adoption
Participants will be able to recognize the cultural, ethical, and structural shifts required for successful AI adoption, and outline leadership actions to foster innovation, trust, and employee engagement throughout the transformation

Faculty and Speakers

Cheri Speier-Pero

Dr. Cheri Speier-Pero is the Ernst & Young Professor in Accounting and Information Systems Emeritus at Michigan State University's Broad College of Business, where she teaches enterprise systems, business analytics, and executive education. She holds a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from Indiana University. Her research on technology use, predictive analytics, and decision-making has earned support from the National Science Foundation, Department of Homeland Security, IBM, and Dow Chemical. She has consulted for organizations including Hertz and Nokia.

Lu Zhang

Lu Zhang (PhD) is a Professor in the School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University. Dr. Zhang earned her master’s degree and Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University. She teaches technology and business strategy within the School of Hospitality Business. Dr. Zhang’s research mainly focuses on consumer experiences with emerging technologies. Her work has been published in leading academic journals such as Journal of Service Management, Journal of Business Research, and International Journal of Hospitality Management. Her research contributions have been recognized with multiple awards, including the 2019 Robert Johnston Award presented by the Journal of Service Management, and the John D. and Dortha J. Withrow Endowed Emerging Scholar Award. Beyond her academic work, Dr. Zhang also maintains a strong engagement with professional organizations and plays an active role in executive education initiatives.

John Rood

John Rood is Founder/CEO of Proceptual. Proceptual provides AI training, governance, and compliance solutions. Proceptual has worked with clients from startup through Global Fortune 50. John is a multi-time startup founder, with a previous exit in EdTech. He is the author of Beyond the Exit, the story of what 70 founders did after selling their business. He is a proud graduate of Michigan State as well as the University of Chicago.

Additional Information

Cancellation within 15 days of the program start date will be limited to emergency situations and may result in a 10 percent cancellation fee. Participant substitutions are welcome at any time prior to the start of the program. If a registered participant does not attend and does not notify us in advance, they will be charged the full fee.

For more information, please visit our FAQ Page or contact the Program Director, Aldas Kriauciunas, at kriauci1@msu.edu or 517-353-5664.