AI ROI: Executive Strategy Session on Jan. 21
The Center for AI and the Liberal Arts, in partnership with Continuing and Professional Studies, is hosting a free, online strategy session on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at noon. The session is built for leaders, executives, and HR directors who want AI to create measurable business value, not just busywork.
Anand Rao, Director of the Center for AI and the Liberal Arts and Professor of Communication, will lead the hour-long virtual seminar: "AI ROI: Empowering Your Team to Work Smarter with AI." Expect practical guidance you can take back to your team the same day.
What you'll learn
- The "Intern" Trap: Why treating AI like a search engine breeds complacency-and how to course-correct.
- Bubble vs. Reality: How massive infrastructure spend contrasts with headlines about workforce change.
- Redefining Success: Move beyond time-savings (Hard ROI) to capture cultural innovation (Squishy ROI).
- The Transformation Loop: A framework to help your workforce adapt instead of stall.
"We are living through the largest infrastructure build-out in history, yet many companies are finding that AI adoption is yielding more 'busy work' than actual productivity," said Rao. "The problem isn't the technology-it's the management strategy behind it."
Details
- Date: Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026
- Time: Noon (1 hour)
- Format: Virtual via Zoom
- Cost: Free
Registration is required to receive the Zoom link.
What's next
This session previews the full-day Executive's Guide to AI on Friday, Feb. 6, part of the 2026 Business Acumen Series. Continuing and Professional Studies is also offering a $15 self-paced Introduction to AI covering core tools, how to critically review AI outputs, and what's coming next.
Who should attend
Executives, strategy leaders, and HR directors accountable for productivity, workforce enablement, and change management. If your team is experimenting with AI-and you're not seeing material ROI yet-this hour will help you reset the plan.
Helpful resources
Building capability ahead of the session? Explore structured learning paths for leaders and teams:
Reserve your spot, get the link, and set your team up to create real business value with AI-starting Jan. 21.
Your membership also unlocks:
