Executive judgement when AI starts acting

AI is moving beyond tools that assist people. Agentic AI systems are beginning to plan, decide, and act inside organisations. That creates both leverage and risk.

Leading with AI: The Strategy Roadmap is a four‑month executive masterclass for senior leaders who are already accountable for AI‑related decisions - and need to lead adoption with confidence and control.

Delivered by Waikato Management School Executive Education, the programme features a strong lineup of industry practitioners and contributors.

Programme overview

Dates: July to October 2026
Format: Blended (in-person, live online, and self-paced)
Investment: $9,500 (excl. GST)
Optional add-on: AI Leadership Immersion in San Francisco

Why this matters now

AI is no longer experimental. Leaders are being asked to approve AI investment, manage risk, and explain AI‑influenced decisions to boards and stakeholders - often before governance and operating models are fully in place. This programme treats agentic AI as a leadership and accountability issue, not as a technology feature.

Who will benefit from this programme?

  • C‑suite executives and directors
  • Senior leaders responsible for strategy, investment, or transformation

It's not designed for:

  • Entry‑level AI training, technical specialists, or one‑day overviews.

What you will gain:

By the end of the programme, participants will have produced:

  • A clearly articulated AI strategy, including where agentic AI will - and will not - be used.
  • Prioritised investment roadmap, with explicit trade‑offs and dependencies.
  • Board‑ready decision pack, including assumptions, guardrails, and accountability.
  • Practical governance and escalation frameworks for AI systems that can act.
  • Increased confidence to delegate work to AI without delegating responsibility.

Learn more about the programme content.

Agentic AI, woven throughout

 

Rather than isolating agentic AI into a single module, the programme integrates it across strategy, governance, execution, and leadership. You’ll learn how to:

  • Move from copilots to agents.
  • Decide what can be delegated; and what cannot.
  • Maintain human oversight and accountability as autonomy increases.

Industry practitioners

Matt Browning WEB CIRCLE

Matt Browning - Co-CEO, Incredible AI

Matt is an entrepreneur, speaker, and Innovation & Technology award winner. Read full bio.

Stephen Johnson WEB

Stephen Johnson - Co-CEO, Incredible AI

Stephen helps businesses solve complex technology problems, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. Read full bio.

Albert Bifet WEB CIRCLE2

Prof. Albert Bifet - Director, The Artificial Intelligence Institute, The University of Waikato

Albert is a world-leading expert in AI strategy and governance. Read full bio.

 

 

Nyssa Waters WEB CIRCLE2

Nyssa Waters - CEO and Founder, Possibl.ai

Nyssa is a former Google senior leader who works with boards to deliver AI-enabled transformation. Read full bio.

 

Mark Laurence CIRCLE WEB

Mark Laurence - Founder, Ten Past Tomorrow

Mark works with leadership teams to build AI literacy and drive ethical, human-centred change. Read full bio.

 

Andrew McPherson CIRCLE WEB

Andrew McPherson - AI Consultant

Andrew specialises in leading complex digital and AI-powered initiatives across large organisations. Read full bio.