Business Leadership Meets AI Innovation

Lead the AI Revolution With William & Mary

Most organizations have already deployed AI tools. However, there aren’t enough leaders who know how to use these tools strategically.

The Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William & Mary built its MBA in AI for Business Leaders specialization to solve this issue.

This Online MBA program is designed for working professionals who are ready to lead digital transformation and AI initiatives at the highest levels of their organizations. Whether you’re managing a team, running a business unit or advising the C-suite, this specialization gives you the strategic fluency to turn AI from a buzzword into a business advantage.

The curriculum focuses on AI for business leaders, not coders or data scientists. You’ll be equipped with the AI decision-making skills today’s most competitive organizations demand.

Online MBA in AI Program Details

The AI for Business Leaders specialization is an optional pathway for students in William & Mary’s nationally recognized Online MBA program.

AACSB-accredited degree
49 credits total
- 8 specialization credits
Asynchronous online courses
1 weekend residency
No GMAT or GRE required

“You won’t lose your job to AI, but you may lose it to someone else who has mastered AI. A Mason School education develops exactly the sorts of broad, creative and critical-thinking abilities, communication abilities, and ethical mindsets that will utilize and augment AI; skills that will not be replaced by AI.”

– Dean Todd Mooradian, T.C. and Elizabeth Clark Professor of Business Administration

Online MBA in Artificial Intelligence Specialization Curriculum Overview

The AI for Business Leaders specialization within William & Mary Mason’s Online MBA program is designed to give business leaders a working command of artificial intelligence, not as a technical exercise, but as a strategic capability. The curriculum pairs AI fundamentals with real-world business applications, preparing you to lead AI initiatives from ideation through implementation. The specialization is composed of two, 4-credit courses totaling 8 credits, and can be completed online alongside your core MBA coursework.

BUAD 6012: Artificial Intelligence for Business Leaders (4 Credits)

This is a comprehensive course focused on strategy and designed to equip students with the knowledge and tools to integrate artificial intelligence into organizational decision-making. Participants will explore foundational AI concepts—agentic AI, machine learning, deep learning and data analytics—and gain a clear understanding of how to identify high-impact AI opportunities across diverse business functions. Through case studies, ethical frameworks and hands-on activities, the course will introduce the opportunities and challenges of AI adoption and align AI initiatives with organizational goals. The course will cover responsible deployment, risk management and leadership strategies for fostering an AI-ready culture. Students will emerge with a practical AI roadmap and the ability to drive innovation, efficiency and competitive advantage in their organizations.

BUAD 6002: Data-Driven Organizations in Dynamic Business Environments (4 Credits)

This course provides business leaders and professionals with the knowledge and frameworks to build and lead data-driven organizations. While covering key technical concepts, the focus is on how to align data initiatives with business goals, develop a data-centric culture and leverage analytics for effective decision-making. The course will utilize case studies, frameworks and practical tools to help students understand how organizations can successfully integrate data into their operations and strategy. Students will be equipped to make informed decisions about data initiatives, collaborate effectively with technical teams and drive data-led transformations.

Why William & Mary Mason School of Business for AI Leadership

The Mason School of Business is not simply a business school that offers AI coursework. It is one of the nation’s most forward-thinking institutions, preparing business leaders for an AI-powered world. AI isn’t a module or an elective here. It is embedded in the DNA of how faculty and staff teach, research and innovate.

The AI Everywhere Initiative

William & Mary Mason’s AI Everywhere Initiative is a school-wide commitment to integrating generative AI into every aspect of business education, from undergraduate programs to executive MBA courses. The initiative was established to ensure that graduates don’t just know AI exists, but understand its limitations, its biases and how to leverage it responsibly. Supported in part by the Pulley Innovation Fund, AI Everywhere encompasses faculty training, AI-powered teaching methodologies, cross-departmental collaboration and research-driven insights. Every department has AI representation, ensuring that this isn’t a siloed initiative. Rather, it’s a transformation of the institution itself.

The Mason School of Business’s First-Ever AI Day

In 2025, William & Mary’s Mason School of Business hosted its inaugural AI in Business Education Summit, the school’s first formal AI Day, where faculty, students and industry leaders gathered to showcase groundbreaking AI projects, research and real-world business applications. The event reflects the Mason School of Business’s commitment to making AI education visible, collaborative and connected to industry. It is also a signal to students: this is a school that treats AI as a living, evolving discipline, not a static course topic.

Named a Celonis Academic Center of Excellence

The Mason School of Business has been recognized as a Celonis Academic Center of Excellence, one of a select group of institutions worldwide distinguished for integrating process mining and data-driven business operations into the curriculum. This designation reflects the school’s commitment to connecting students with industry-leading tools and methodologies, and to preparing graduates for the operational realities of digital transformation at scale.

AI Is Woven Into Every Program, Not Just This One

What sets the Mason School of Business apart from programs that bolt AI onto a traditional MBA is the depth of integration across every discipline. From marketing to finance, from entrepreneurship to supply chain, AI is embedded throughout the curriculum. Faculty across the school are actively conducting AI research, piloting new AI-enhanced pedagogies and receiving AI Innovation Grants to reimagine how they teach. When you pursue the AI concentration, you’re not stepping into a silo. You’re entering an ecosystem where AI thinking permeates everything.

What You’ll Be Equipped to Do

Graduates of William & Mary Mason’s Online MBA with an AI for Business Leader specialization leave the program ready to lead, not just participate, in the AI transformation of their industries. Here is what you will be positioned to do:

Identify AI opportunities across business functions, from marketing and operations to finance and human resources, and build the business case for strategic investment
Lead AI implementation ethically and responsibly, applying governance frameworks that account for bias, transparency and accountability in AI-driven decisions
Build a data-driven, AI-ready organization by designing the structures, cultures and workflows that allow teams to act on AI-generated insights with confidence
Manage AI risk and governance at the enterprise level, including regulatory compliance, model interpretability and stakeholder trust
Drive competitive advantage through AI strategy, translating emerging AI capabilities into market-facing initiatives that differentiate your organization from the competition
Communicate AI insights to non-technical stakeholders, such as boards, clients and cross-functional teams, with clarity, credibility and strategic purpose

diverse team of 4 meeting with whiteboard in the background

Meet the Faculty Shaping AI Business Education

The strength of William & Mary’s Mason School of Business AI specialization lies in its faculty, who are scholars and practitioners actively shaping the conversation around AI in business, not just teaching it. Below are two of the leading voices who bring this concentration to life.

Rachel Chung, Ph.D.—Bridging the AI Knowledge Gap

Faculty
AI Specialization | Business Analytics

Professor Rachel Chung has earned national recognition for her work in AI business education—specifically for her ability to make artificial intelligence accessible and actionable for non-technical business professionals. At a time when many AI courses assume a background in data science or programming, Professor Chung builds bridges. Her teaching philosophy centers on the idea that business leaders don’t need to build AI systems; they need to understand them well enough to lead the people and organizations that do.

Her published contributions on AI fundamentals have made her a go-to resource for students and practitioners seeking a clear, jargon-free entry point into AI literacy. Through her courses, students develop the confidence to engage with AI tools, evaluate AI-generated outputs critically and ask the strategic questions that matter most in high-stakes business environments.

Areas of Expertise: AI literacy for business leaders, AI fundamentals, digital transformation, business strategy

Monica Tremblay, Ph.D.—The Human Side of AI

Hays T. Watkins Distinguished Professor of Business
AI Specialization | Business Analytics

Professor Monica Tremblay is one of the most respected voices in the field of ethical AI and organizational transformation. Her work sits at the intersection of technology, human judgment and organizational culture, uniquely positioning her to prepare business leaders for the complexities that accompany AI adoption.

Her ongoing research, including collaborative work on enhancing predictive models in high-stakes sectors like the juvenile justice system, reflects her conviction that AI must be grounded in human expertise and ethical judgment. “AI is not a separate discipline,” she noted. “It’s a tool that enhances everything we teach at the business school.”

Professor Tremblay is also a leading advocate for expanding AI accessibility in the classroom. Her machine learning courses are specifically designed to eliminate the technical barriers that have historically excluded non-technical students from data-driven education, enabling all students, regardless of background, to engage meaningfully with AI concepts and contribute to data-driven problem-solving.

Areas of Expertise: Ethical AI, responsible AI deployment, machine learning, business analytics, organizational culture, AI transparency and trustworthiness, data-driven decision-making

How the Specialization Fits Into the Online MBA

The AI for Business Leaders specialization is one of nine available specializations within William & Mary’s Online MBA program, giving you the flexibility to tailor your degree to your career goals without stepping outside the program structure. You’ll complete the AI concentration courses alongside a rigorous set of core MBA courses covering strategy, finance, marketing, leadership and operations, ensuring that AI expertise is anchored in a full-spectrum business foundation.

AI Leadership in Action: Inside the William & Mary Classroom

At the Mason School of Business, AI is not a subject to study in theory. It’s a tool you practice with, debate and apply to real business challenges from day one. Here is a closer look at what that looks like inside the classroom.

Personal Branding with AI | Professor Dawn Edmiston

CONTEXT: In today’s AI-saturated job market, professional differentiation requires more than a polished résumé. It requires strategic use of the tools shaping how talent is discovered and evaluated.

METHOD: In Professor Dawn Edmiston’s marketing course, students use generative AI tools, including Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity Pro, to enhance their professional presence on LinkedIn. Students craft compelling value statements, brainstorm thought leadership content and analyze industry trends to sharpen their positioning. Importantly, the exercise does not end at output generation. Students are challenged to critically evaluate the ethical implications of AI-assisted content creation and to balance efficiency with authenticity.

OUTCOME: Students leave with both a stronger LinkedIn presence and a nuanced understanding of how AI shapes professional communication and where human judgment must take the lead. This exercise reflects a broader principle: AI fluency and critical thinking are inseparable.

Negotiation Simulations with AI | Professor David Long

CONTEXT: Persuasive communication and negotiation are among the highest-value skills for any business leader, and they are also among the most difficult to practice in a traditional classroom setting.

METHOD: Professor David Long integrates ChatGPT’s voice interaction tool to create real-time business simulations that challenge students to think on their feet. In one notable exercise built around a Boeing change management case study, students used AI-powered dialogue to explore leadership decisions, cultural challenges and communication strategies under pressure. Students could customize AI responses to simulate different executive stakeholder profiles, sharpening their ability to adapt messaging, manage difficult conversations and refine negotiation tactics in dynamic environments.

OUTCOME: As Professor Long explains, “By integrating AI simulations and interactive role-playing into our coursework, we’re helping students refine their ability to think on their feet, adapt their communication strategies and navigate complex negotiations—skills that are critical in today’s fast-paced business environment.” Students emerge from these exercises with practical, transferable skills for real-world professional interactions.

Strategic Case Analysis | Professor Phil Wagner

CONTEXT: Strategic analysis requires students to synthesize complex information, structure coherent arguments and communicate recommendations with precision—skills that AI can support but not replace.

METHOD: Professor Phil Wagner’s Vision 2026 case study integrates generative AI as a learning accelerator, not a shortcut. Students collaborate on real-world business cases aligned with William & Mary’s Vision 2026 pillars—water, democracy, data and jobs—and use AI tools to explore concepts, stress-test arguments and receive iterative feedback on their thinking before finalizing their presentations. The process is deliberate: AI cannot generate graded content, but it serves as a powerful sparring partner for refining analysis and communication.

OUTCOME: Students deliver polished, research-driven presentations that demonstrate both strategic depth and AI literacy. The exercise models how AI can serve as a force multiplier for human analysis, amplifying rigor without replacing the judgment and creativity that define strong business leadership.

AI Classroom Applications | Professor Jamie Diaz

CONTEXT: As AI tools become embedded in business operations, students need hands-on experience applying them in contextualized, professionally relevant settings.

METHOD: Professor Jamie Diaz integrates AI classroom applications that give students direct experience with AI-enabled workflows across business functions. Students engage with AI tools in ways that mirror how organizations are deploying them, exploring applications in decision support, content generation, data interpretation and process optimization. The focus is on developing students’ ability to evaluate AI outputs critically and integrate them meaningfully into their work.

OUTCOME: Students develop practical AI fluency that is grounded in a business context, preparing them to step into organizations and immediately contribute to AI-enabled teams and projects. Professor Diaz’s classroom reflects the Mason School of Business’s broader commitment: AI education is experiential, not just theoretical.

AI in Business Education: Innovation With Human Insight

At William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business, AI is more than a trend—it is a tool for innovation, problem-solving, and strategic thinking. These faculty conversations explore how students are learning to use AI responsibly and effectively while strengthening the human skills that technology cannot replace.

Professor Monica Tremblay on AI Leadership

Video Transcript

Monica Tremblay: Well, I mean, the most obvious one is the advent of large language models and AI tools. And I know that there’s quite a bit in the press that programmers aren’t needed anymore, data scientists aren’t needed anymore. I don’t believe this to be true. I just think that we can become much more productive with them, but they won’t replace us. At least my experience using these tools is that they don’t really solve the problem, but they can be a great research assistant or programming assistant where you bounce things off of it. What’s really changing is how I program my classes now. So simple things, I’m just gonna assume that you’re gonna use an LLM for... So like, do I teach you the code of how I load this data? You should understand that you’re loading the data, but rather than getting stuck in the syntax of the language, you can ask an LLM for the syntax of that language and then use it. Or if you get an error code, use an LLM to troubleshoot why that error code is there. Where you get lost is if you don’t understand what’s coming back, you can go down this black hole of just craziness and what comes back is just trash.

It doesn’t really work or it doesn’t do what you think it does. So it still requires somebody that understands how to program, knows how to program. I just think that the level of what we’re able to produce just gets a lot higher. So what I’ve started to incorporate in my classes is sort of examples of where I would use an LLM if I were stuck. I’m doing it much more in my face-to-face classes because I’ve had to pivot pretty quickly. But my goal is now to incorporate it in the online classes as well and into my lectures. It just becomes a tool, just like every other tool we’ve had in the past, like Google and spellcheck, that we use to do our job.

What role will AI play in the future of business analytics? Professor Monica Tremblay discusses why large language models are enhancing—not replacing—technical expertise and how students can learn to use AI effectively in real-world problem-solving.

Professor Phil Wagner on AI Leadership

Video Transcript

Phil Wagner: Nothing has driven as much organizational change this fast as AI. There have been a host of inflection points that organizations and the organizational enterprise have had to encounter and adjust and pivot, but really nothing quite like this and certainly nothing at the speed and scale as sort of the unrolling of generative AI and automation as it currently stands. So we convened early. I’ll never forget the very first time I heard about generative AI was at a William & Mary faculty meeting. And it blew my mind. I was like, surely this is not... Like ChatGPT, what? What? And so somebody was presenting in that meeting and they said, whip out your computer and try it. And I did. I was blown away. Shortly after ChatGPT became a household commodity, we convened a committee, an AI council to really look at how does this impact academic integrity.

That’s really where the first conversations were. That’s a boring conversation. So we have a good system in place. One of the things that I pride the William & Mary experience on is it’s not one that you can just get through by using AI. There are some universities where that is the case. This isn’t one because you’re not just a number; you’re not one of a thousand in a class. You’re known. We have a relationship with you. And our curriculum is industry-responsive. So you’re not gonna be able to just use AI to get through. We didn’t want the conversation to stop or start just there. So we then started to look at how are we meaningfully infusing AI into the curriculum and what does that mean? Now, if you’re in organizational behavior like me, that means something very different from my faculty colleagues who are in ops or information systems.

So there’s the business of AI and sort of thinking about coding and what’s under the hood. And then there’s the practical applications that surround that. I think we do both and prepare students with both of those domains very well. I’m particularly interested in thinking about how we bring AI in to be sort of an everyday assist to routine tasks. I mentioned teaching in the management communication space. There are many routine communication tasks for which AI is a wonderfully appropriate partner in crime. It’s a good opportunity to now step back and think, okay, just because you can use it, should you? And so if the wave one was academic integrity and wave two was better adoption across our platform, I think we’re in wave three currently where we’re internally ideating and also communicating with our students and hiring partners and industry partners.

Where is this going? What are the boundary conditions? Doesn’t that sound like a wicked problem of its own making? We’re kind of practicing what we preach. We’re being agile. We’re adapting as the context demands. We’re not gonna assume that what we put into place today is necessarily gonna apply two years from now. And we’re okay with that. And so, again, AI is multidimensional. It’s not going anywhere, but we are. And so we’re really excited as we move forward to integrate it well with the right boundary conditions in place so our students know how to use it well, but also stop short of using it to do everything, because the human still matters.

What does it mean to lead responsibly in the age of AI? Professor Phil Wagner explores how William & Mary’s Online MBA helps students understand both the business applications of AI and the human judgment required to use it effectively.

Professor Jamie Diaz on AI Leadership

Video Transcript

Jamie Diaz: AI is addressed throughout our curriculum. My course specifically focuses on accounting analytics and information systems, and we do address AI specifically in my course, mainly looking at it from different perspectives. We have learners from all different walks of life. Some of them are career changers, some of them are already working in the accounting field, and so people have naturally very different perspectives on AI and different levels of exposure to AI. So I try to engage the students in conversation about those perspectives and kind of where the sticking points might be, what the anxieties might be around incorporating AI into accounting practice, as well as ethical use of AI, which I think is something that across higher ed is very important to us and across accounting practice as well. So accounting is something that relies a lot on professional judgment, and that is something that is hard-won over years of careers and personal development, and it is important that we find ways to incorporate the use of AI in an ethical way into our professional practice.

From career changers to experienced professionals, every student brings a unique perspective on AI. Professor Jamie Diaz shares how William & Mary fosters thoughtful conversations around AI, ethics, and the future of accounting leadership.

Professor Guillermo Rodriguez-Abita on AI Leadership

Video Transcript

Guillermo Rodriguez-Abitia: We have to understand that about three years ago we didn’t talk about this, right? We had AI. We used AI, but not as strongly as today. It got us by surprise with ChatGPT and all the revolution. So the option of ignoring it, was never there. So what we’re doing is we’re integrating AI activities in all the classes. And what we’re doing is basically making sure that they know how to use them because the employers have asked us to teach them how to use it. So rather than saying, “Avoid ChatGPT,” and make sure they understand the concepts. Yeah, sure. You have to have the concepts. Those are most important, which also ties a little bit with what we were talking in the last question. You have to know the basics. If you know the basics, the tools are going to change, but the basics are the same, right? In this case, what happens is that we want to teach them the basics, but it’s not anymore that I’m going to teach you how to code and ask you to code, but instead I’m going to teach you how to code, then I’m going to ask you to code and ask AI to code, and then I want you to compare and explain to me the difference and why one is better than the other.

That way, you’re not just going to go through using AI, but you need to know how AI works. When to believe AI and when not to believe AI. It’s very easy to make AI pretty much give you false results. There was one that I don’t know if it works anymore yet. A quick example: if you ask ChatGPT, “How many R’s are there in strawberry?” and it will tell you, “Oh, there are three R’s,” right? And then you say, “You’re wrong.” And it’ll say, “Oh, I’m sorry. You’re right. It has four R’s.” And then you say, “You’re wrong again.” “Oh, yeah, you’re right. It has two R’s.” And they probably already corrected that, but just like that example, there are many ways in which you do inputs that will give you false results. So the first thing you need to learn is how much can you trust what AI is producing and how can you improve or use AI to improve your own work rather than do your work? And that is the difference. So that’s what we’re trying to do. Incorporate activities that involve AI in every class that is going to teach them how to use it properly, not to substitute the knowledge that they need to have.

At William & Mary, AI is not replacing learning—it’s enhancing it. Professor Guillermo Rodriguez-Abitia shares how students are taught to work alongside AI tools, compare results, and think critically about the accuracy, ethics, and real-world applications of emerging technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

What companies hire MBA graduates with AI expertise?

MBA graduates with AI expertise are actively recruited by companies across nearly every major industry, from technology firms and consulting giants to healthcare systems, financial institutions and consumer goods companies. Organizations like McKinsey, Deloitte, Amazon, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase and Google consistently seek leaders who can bridge the gap between AI capability and business strategy. Beyond big tech, companies undergoing digital transformation, in sectors like manufacturing, logistics, retail and healthcare, are hiring AI-literate MBAs to lead change management, data strategy and innovation initiatives. Based on labor market trends, demand for business professionals who understand AI is growing faster than the talent pipeline can fill it, making this specialization a strong differentiator in any job search. Explore career outcomes at William & Mary.

Are MBAs with an AI specialization worth it?

Yes, an MBA with an AI specialization is one of the most strategically valuable credentials you can earn in today’s business environment. The combination of an accredited MBA and applied AI expertise positions graduates for leadership roles that are both high-demand and high-compensation. As AI reshapes industries at an accelerating pace, organizations increasingly need leaders who can connect AI capabilities to business outcomes, not just technologists who build models. An AI-focused MBA provides that connective tissue: strategic thinking, organizational leadership and AI fluency in one credential. William & Mary Mason’s program adds further value through AACSB accreditation, a nationally recognized faculty, and a stackable pathway to an MS in Business Analytics that can extend your credentials efficiently. Learn more about the Online MBA at William & Mary.

Can an MBA in AI boost my salary?

An MBA in AI can increase earning potential, particularly for professionals moving into senior leadership, strategy or operations roles. Individual outcomes will vary by industry, role and experience. The AI specialization at William & Mary’s Mason School of Business is designed to prepare graduates for exactly the kinds of roles—chief digital officer, vice president of strategy, director of data and analytics, AI product manager—where compensation reflects strategic impact. Beyond base salary, the MBA credential itself is associated with meaningful long-term earnings growth. See how William & Mary supports your career advancement.

Who is eligible for an MBA in AI?

No technical background is required to pursue the MBA in AI specialization at William & Mary. The program is designed for business professionals, not data scientists. Eligibility for the Online MBA requires a completed undergraduate degree and professional work experience; no GMAT or GRE score is required for admission. The AI concentration courses are built from the ground up for business leaders, with faculty specifically skilled in making AI concepts accessible to students without programming or data science backgrounds. Whether you’re a marketing manager, a healthcare administrator, a finance professional or an entrepreneur, this specialization is designed to meet you where you are and take you where you want to go. Review admissions requirements and start your application.

An Education That Pays Off

Graduates of the William & Mary Online MBA report an average salary of $135,879.¹ Build your brand with a university known for breaking barriers, championing integrity and channeling academic grit since its inception.

The Raymond A. Mason School of Business imparts essential business knowledge and builds the dynamic mindset necessary to lead in today’s challenging and rapidly changing business environment. As an online graduate business student, you will:

✓ Graduate with the perspective to envision and enact positive change
✓ Access mentorship and experiential learning opportunities
✓ Receive personalized career support
✓ Build a lasting network to bolster your career for years to come

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