Gulf Coast Business Council and Southern Miss Launch AI Leadership Academy for Executives
The Gulf Coast Business Council and The University of Southern Mississippi opened the inaugural Executive Leadership Academy: Executives and Artificial Intelligence on Friday at the USM Gulf Park Campus with 28 participants from the region.
The nine-month program targets senior leaders responsible for integrating artificial intelligence into their organizations' strategy and operations. Participants will meet monthly for full-day sessions covering governance, infrastructure, innovation, workforce transformation and strategic implementation.
The academy equips executives with frameworks for evaluating AI opportunities, leading responsible implementation and making decisions about emerging technologies. Industries represented in the cohort include healthcare, shipbuilding, finance, banking and government.
What the Program Covers
The opening session addressed organizational readiness, governance frameworks and responsible implementation. The curriculum focuses on how leaders can use AI to improve decision-making, drive innovation and manage emerging risks.
Executives who complete the academy will develop practical tools for their organizations and strengthen collaboration with senior leaders across the Gulf Coast region.
Organizations in the Inaugural Cohort
- AnderCorp
- Bass Tactix Outdoors Ministries
- Coastal Mississippi
- Hancock Whitney Bank
- Humane Society of South Mississippi
- Ingalls Shipbuilding
- Lynn Meadows Discovery Center
- Memorial Health System
- Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
- Mississippi Power
- MS-AVCRAD - Mississippi Army National Guard
- Office of U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith
- Scarlet Pearl Casino
- Southeast Commercial Real Estate
- Singing River Health System
- To The Rescue Bookkeeping LLC
- Treasure Bay
- William Carey University
Why This Matters for Executives
Jamie Miller, president and CEO of the GCBC, said the academy represents a strategic investment in regional leadership. "Through this academy, GCBC is helping equip Gulf Coast executives with the insight, tools and peer network they need to lead confidently, responsibly and strategically as AI reshapes our business landscape," Miller said.
Dr. Greg Bradley, executive director of Executive Education at Southern Miss, said technology alone does not create transformation. "Through this academy, The University of Southern Mississippi and the Gulf Coast Business Council are bringing together forward-thinking executives to ensure our region is not simply reacting to the AI revolution but helping lead it," Bradley said.
For more on executive-level AI strategy, see AI for Executives & Strategy.
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