When senior executives from global payment platforms, major media organisations, international consulting firms and Fortune 500 technology companies all commit to the same AI leadership programme, that signals a shift in how organisations approach AI leadership and strategic transformation.
These leaders are positioning themselves alongside the 4% of organisations that have developed cutting‑edge AI capabilities and consistently generate significant value, while the majority continue to struggle to realise tangible returns.
They’ve chosen the LSE AI Leadership Accelerator’s inaugural cohort, launching this August, to develop the strategic capabilities, leadership confidence and ethical frameworks required to lead AI transformation at scale. These executives understand that those who can guide organisations through the complexities of AI today will shape competitive advantage for years to come.
The next intake in October 2025 is the final opportunity this year to join the programme. With demand growing and places limited, now is the time to assess: can you and your business afford to wait?
Who's already committed: The founding leaders
This is not just another executive education programme. It’s a practical, career-focused accelerator designed to equip you with the leadership mindset, frameworks and tools needed to confidently shape your organisation’s AI agenda. In just six months, you’ll be prepared to present credible AI strategies to boards, drive cross-functional buy-in, and navigate complex implementation challenges
The inaugural cohort spans an extraordinary range of senior roles and industries:
- Technology & Engineering Leaders driving AI adoption across global platforms and engineering teams, implementing everything from coding assistants to next-generation infrastructure strategies.
- Financial Services Executives at major payment processors and insurance organisations, developing AI frameworks for transaction security, risk modelling and operational efficiency.
- Strategic Consultants from leading firms, building AI strategy frameworks and best practices to guide client transformations across sectors.
- Media & Communications Leaders transforming newsrooms and content workflows, exploring how AI can enhance editorial output whilst maintaining professional standards.
- Supply Chain & Operations Executives implementing AI for logistics optimisation, risk mitigation and operational visibility in global commodity markets.
- Business Transformation Leaders designing AI-driven commercial strategies and building organisational capabilities for sustainable AI adoption.
- Military & Defence Specialists bringing unique perspectives on AI applications in security contexts whilst transitioning into civilian AI leadership roles.
- International Executives navigating career transitions and bringing cross-border experience in AI governance, compliance and strategic implementation.
This founding cohort represents the leaders who recognised early that AI success requires strategic leadership capabilities, not just technical knowledge. Rather than just discussing AI possibilities, these executives are gaining the tools and insights to drive tangible, organisation-wide transformation.
The transformation this Accelerator delivers
- From AI Uncertainty to Strategic Clarity: Participants will emerge as executives who can evaluate AI opportunities with precision, distinguishing high-impact initiatives from expensive experiments.
- From Pilot Paralysis to Scaled Success: They will become leaders who move beyond endless pilots to systematic implementation, with frameworks for measuring ROI and demonstrating value to stakeholders.
- From Change Resistance to Transformation Mastery: They will develop capabilities to navigate organisational dynamics, address workforce concerns and drive adoption at scale.
- From Following Trends to Setting Direction: They will position themselves as the strategic voices their organisations rely on for AI decision-making and competitive positioning.
The Accelerator: Strategic leadership, not technical training
The LSE AI Leadership Accelerator is explicitly designed as a leadership programme, not a technical course. While most AI education focus on coding or data science, this Accelerator tackles the deeper and often overlooked barriers to AI success: leadership capability, organisational culture, and strategic clarity.
As Dr. Dorottya Sallai, Associate Professor (Education) of Management at the LSE Department of Management, explains in a recent LSE webinar:
"With generative AI and AI more generally, it's more complex because it is not like traditional technology; it will impact a lot of different aspects of the organisation — the decision-making processes. The biggest issues are the psychological dimension, the cultural dimension, and the leadership dimension."
This complexity is precisely where the Accelerator adds value. The programme equips participants with the leadership mindset and decision-making tools needed to address AI’s organisational, ethical, and cultural implications – areas often underestimated in traditional AI training.
As Dr. Sallai further emphasises:
"With every digital transformation, it all depends on the people. You can introduce a new system, but if people don't use it, or they revert to the old systems, it's not going to work. My advice would be — equip yourself with the knowledge."
That foundation is strengthened by LSE’s unique blend of academic rigour and industry relevance. The programme draws on LSE's social science expertise and integrates insights from leading industry practitioners. Subject matter experts from Deloitte’s Office of Generative AI and Innovation and Venture team, Inchcape Digital, Thredd, and other leading AI consultants contribute specialist knowledge, ensuring participants gain insight from across the AI ecosystem. Upon completion, participants earn an LSE certificate, backed by practical frameworks proven in enterprise transformation contexts.
Four strategic leadership lenses: The programme framework
The curriculum is built around four executive perspectives that successful AI leaders master:
1. Machine Learning Strategic Evaluation
- Learn how to evaluate AI strategically – not just what it is, but where and how it creates organisational value.
- Assess readiness and understand core AI technologies in a business context.
2. Business Strategy & Investment Cases
- Develop investment-ready business cases, lead from pilot to scale, and demonstrate measurable ROI using proven frameworks.
3. Human Dynamics & Change Leadership
- Navigate resistance, drive adoption and align stakeholders.
- Address the human aspects, including trust issues and workforce concerns that derail most implementations.
4. Executive Productivity & Performance
- Use AI to enhance leadership impact whilst ensuring ethical usage and regulatory compliance to reduce organisational risk.
The unparalleled support system
One year of individual executive coaching
What sets this programme apart is the individual executive coaching that every participant receives. This isn't group mentoring – it's personalised, one-to-one coaching that continues for up to 12 months, extending well beyond the 6-month programme completion.
Your dedicated executive coach will work with you on:
- Strategic thinking and communication for AI leadership contexts
- Emotional intelligence and influencing skills for technology adoption
- Leading high-performing, cross-functional teams through transformation
- Building leadership presence and influence in AI-driven organisations
Premium peer network access
The August cohort is creating what will become an influential network of AI transformation leaders. Future October participants join this growing community of practitioners who are shaping the next decade of business transformation across industries.
Evidence-based learning: Research-informed approaches
The programme draws on extensive research to inform practical application:
Organisational effectiveness: Research by Boston Consulting Group indicates that high-performing organisations focus on fewer, strategic opportunities whilst investing systematically in change management. IBM's 2024 study found that 47% of companies report achieving positive ROI from AI projects, with implementation approach being a key differentiator.
Operational impact: Case studies from Microsoft's enterprise customer research demonstrate measurable improvements across organisations implementing AI strategically, including enhanced resolution rates for customer inquiries and significant process efficiencies.
Change management: Academic research indicates that organisational change saturation presents significant challenges, with successful AI adoption requiring structured approaches to address resistance and build capability systematically.
Your final opportunity this year: October 2025
Last intake: October 2025 marks the final opportunity this year to join the LSE AI Leadership Accelerator. The next intake will not open until 2026.
Why now: With AI leadership capabilities increasingly shaping strategic direction across industries, this is a timely opportunity to build the skills and frameworks that will define your impact in the years ahead.
The opportunity: Join 30 carefully selected senior leaders in developing the frameworks that separate AI leaders from AI followers.
Programme structure:
- Duration: 6 months of structured learning + 6 months extended coaching support
- Cohort size: 30 senior leaders maximum for optimal interaction and networking
- Investment: £7,995 including all materials, individual coaching and premium networking opportunities
- Format: Fully online, part-time (5-8 hours weekly)
- Certificate: Certificate of Competence issued by The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
What you'll join:
- 4 Comprehensive leadership courses over 6 months
- 12 months of individual executive coaching (6 sessions during + 6 post-programme)
- Weekly live sessions and expert Masterclasses
- Access to the growing network of AI leadership practitioners
- Practical frameworks and tools for immediate organisational application
Key dates:
- Application deadline: 13 October 2025
- Programme commencement: 20 October 2025
An opportunity to lead
The LSE AI Leadership Accelerator is designed for senior professionals ready to lead AI transformation with clarity, confidence and credibility. The inaugural cohort reflects the calibre of leaders this programme attracts—those committed to shaping meaningful change across their organisations and industries.
As demand for AI-literate leadership accelerates, many executives still feel underprepared to navigate this complexity. October 2025 marks your final opportunity this year to join a growing network of leaders developing the strategic capabilities that will define success in the years ahead.
Apply now for the October 2025 LSE AI Leadership Accelerator.
Applications close on 13 October 2025.