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AI Power: Putting People, Platforms, and Politics to Work
| Program Time/Dates Spring 2026 Dates Announced Soon |
Program Format Live Online |
Application Deadline TBD |
Tuition and Payment Deadline TBD |
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Certificate of Participation: |
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A four-session, live online executive program on how leaders convert AI into organizational advantage—by aligning people, platforms, and governance.
Overview
AI is changing how decisions are made—and who makes them. Across sectors, managers are discovering that AI doesn’t just automate tasks; it reshapes power itself. This live, interactive program helps leaders understand what AI power is, how to get it, and how to use it responsibly. Participants explore how AI pre-empts the future, how to turn foresight into advantage, and how to align human judgment with machine intelligence in fast-moving organizations.
Through four dynamic sessions, participants engage directly with Columbia faculty and peers to analyze cases from healthcare, finance, and public safety. Each session combines faculty insights, peer collaboration, and practical frameworks to turn foresight into advantage. By the end of the program, participants will know how to lead confidently in a world where machines think first—but people must still decide what matters.
Program Details
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- Master the six engines of AI power to drive innovation and organizational performance.
- Anticipate and overcome resistance to AI adoption using proven frameworks.
- Build executive and team support for responsible AI transformation.
- Strengthen leadership capacity to govern AI systems that balance speed, fairness, and control.
- Develop actionable roadmaps for integrating AI power into daily decision-making.
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- Leaders driving digital or AI transformation within their organizations.
- Executives and managers seeking to align people, platforms, and policy.
- Public-sector and industry professionals advancing AI governance and culture.
- Teams responsible for AI adoption, innovation, or analytics strategy.
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This program welcomes professionals across sectors who lead, influence, or support AI-related decision-making, strategy, or innovation. No technical background is required—just curiosity and readiness to lead responsibly in the AI era.
Please submit your application. If you are a returning user, sign in with your existing account; if you are a first-time user, please create an account. Note: for all certificate and non-degree programs, please select the Executive Education application (not the general SIPA application).
Curriculum
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Sessions |
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Class |
Understanding AI Power - The Next Wave of Management Learn the six engines of AI power and how supercognition and pre-emptive power redefine leadership and decision-making. |
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Class |
Managing Resistance and Building Legitimacy Identify sources of resistance and apply frameworks from Gourville, Moore, and Davenport to build trust and secure adoption. |
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Class 3 |
People, Platforms, and Power - Organizing for AI Advantage Design the right sponsorship, governance, and team structures to align data, people, and platforms. |
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Class 4 |
From Pilot to Practice - Leading AI Transformation Move from proofs and pilots to practice. Learn to fast-lane experiments and embed AI values into culture and performance metrics. |
Methodology
The program is highly interactive, combining short lectures, real-world cases, live discussions, and collaborative exercises. Participants engage in peer learning and apply Columbia frameworks directly to their organizations. Each 3-hour class includes:
• Faculty lecture and discussion
• Case study application
• Breakout group exercise
• Reflection and synthesis
Learning Objectives
• Explain and apply the concept of AI power to leadership and management challenges.
• Diagnose resistance and design strategies to overcome it.
• Build coalitions that bridge organizational, technical, and political boundaries.
• Lead responsible AI adoption that balances fairness, efficiency, and legitimacy.
Key Topics / Areas of Concentration
• The six engines of AI power
• Pre-emptive power and supercognition
• Managing resistance to AI adoption
• AI strategy, governance, and legitimacy
• Building sponsorship and coalitions
• Culture, ethics, and accountability in AI transformation
Program Format
Format: Live Online
Duration: Four 3-hour sessions (12 hours total)
Schedule: Offered sequentially
Certificate: Awarded upon completion of all four classes.
Special Program Features
• Live engagement with Columbia faculty and global peers.
• Real-world cases across healthcare, public safety, finance, and industry.
• Downloadable templates and frameworks (AI Decision Audit, Power Map, Resistance Model).
• Personalized feedback from faculty.
• Cohort-based discussions and collaborative labs.
Program Director and Faculty
The director of the program, Zachary Tumin, is an Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs and the Director of Executive Programs in Advanced Technologies at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affair. At SIPA, he teaches management and technology courses. His recent books include: Precisely (Columbia University Press, 2023); and AI: The New Face of Power (scheduled, Columbia University Press, 2027). He posts current thoughts to his Substack, “AI: The New Face of Power”, Columbia’s Academic Commons, and his LinkedIn page.
Professor Tumin has extensive experience in public service and academia and has served in various capacities at the Harvard Kennedy School, including for the Belfer Center’s Project on Technology, Security, and Conflict in the Cyber Age and the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. Previously Professor Tumin worked as Deputy Commissioner for Strategic Initiatives for the New York City Police Department; as Executive Director of the Division of School Safety for the NYC Department of Education; and as Chief Administrator of the Information Services Division for the Office of the New York State Attorney General.
Zachary Tumin
Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs and Director of Executive Programs in Advanced Technologies, Columbia SIPA
Contact
The Picker Center for Executive Education
Laura McCreedy
Manager of Executive Education
[email protected]
Columbia University | SIPA
Picker Center for Executive Education
118th Street, Room 400
New York, NY 10027
P: +1 212-854-0791