AI Is Transforming the Future of Work: Are You Ready?

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Business leaders will need to know how to leverage benefits and assess risks of new tech tools

The integration and incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and platforms across industries and throughout the workforce has grown and is expected to increase in the years to come. A recent study found that three out of four people now use AI at work and have had to quickly adapt to adopt these new skills.

More C-suite leaders who have a solid, deep and extensive understanding of AI and its impact on business will be needed, in addition to a workforce that knows how to use AI effectively and efficiently.

What can you do now to maximize your potential in this future workplace? How can you develop high-demand skills, as well as navigate ethical challenges?

Have you thought about pursuing an MBA with specialized AI training?

By pursuing an MBA with a concentration in AI, you will gain a deeper understanding of the technology and its range of applications across many industries, such as finance, health care, banking and technology. You’ll also develop the insights to drive innovation and lead teams in tech-driven environments.

With the knowledge you gain, you can lead any organization, from a start-up to a corporation. You’ll know how to evaluate, design and implement AI strategies to improve business operations, from automating tasks and company services to complex decision-making.

Students in SHU’s MBA program can specialize in AI and learn the role it will play in the future of work and innovation, as well as the ethical and legal implications of using it in business.

“An AI concentration in an MBA empowers future business leaders to master technology, turning disruption into opportunity in a rapidly evolving landscape,” said Kanwalroop “Kathy” Dhanda, professor of management at Sacred Heart University’s Jack Welch College of Business & Technology (WCBT).

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What skills will you learn?

Earning an MBA with an AI concentration equips future business leaders with the knowledge to navigate a dynamic tech-driven business landscape. By developing a broader perspective of the challenges and opportunities that AI poses for businesses, they gain comprehensive skills to design, implement and continually refine an AI strategy that can streamline workflows, improve productivity, process data and monitor operations. With the insights they gain through AI’s forecasting capabilities, they can more quickly make strategic decisions about how to and where to invest time and resources.

Further, aspiring AI leaders can learn innovative approaches to problem-solving and ways to build collaboration among departments and business units within an organization.

In an MBA program with an AI concentration, discussion also focuses on how the technology shapes and reshapes industries and economies and the impact those changes have on society. How do you manage ethical considerations, from potential job displacement to new regulations? Coursework covers how to responsibly navigate AI’s development and application.

In SHU’s MBA program, you also will:

  • Follow a curriculum that blends AI with business and management principles
  • Gain communication skills to manage and lead teams through AI initiatives
  • Learn ethics and legal aspects of AI use and applications

What is the demand for executives with AI experience?

Jobs requiring specialized AI skills are growing 3.5 times faster than all jobs combined, according to the PwC’s 2024 AI Jobs Barometer report. Overall, all AI jobs have been growing for more than a decade, well before the launch of ChatGPT and other generative AI platforms. Other researchers have predicted that demand for AI and machine learning specialists will grow globally by 40 percent—some 1 million jobs, over the next several years.

Some of the jobs that will be in high demand include:

  • AI Project Manager
  • Chief AI Officer
  • AI Product Manager
  • Technology Innovation Manager

What is the average salary for those in AI leadership?

It’s a growing field, which means new executive roles are still being created, such as chief AI officer. But, overall, those employed as managers in computer and information systems earn about $170,000 on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with salaries in the upper end at more than $200,000.

What are other options to boosting your AI skills?

Business professionals also will increasingly need expertise and skills to incorporate AI into their daily tasks. In fact, trends indicate that developing your AI aptitude could give you an edge in the job market and help you to earn a higher wage. Adding AI skills may be right if you are a professional with a bachelor’s degree who wants to change careers or upskill, or you are a mid-level professional who wants to advance in your position.

SHU also offers a graduate certificate in AI that can help to enhance your ability to strategically use and benefit from AI. Perhaps an AI assist with number-crunching means you get that report to your supervisor a day ahead of time. Or, you know the right tool to use to identify and address a challenge at your company and propose a data-driven solution. All this leads to more efficiency and opportunities to elevate your value to your company, institution or organization.

Interested in studying AI at SHU?

SHU’s MBA program with an AI concentration or graduate AI certificate program focus on real-world AI projects and case studies, so students are prepared for real—not just theoretical—challenges and opportunities they will face in the not-so-distant future of work.

To learn more about either program, schedule a meeting with Ed Nassr or reach out at nassre@sacredheart.edu or 203-396-6877.

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