Rochester-area executive education adapts to AI and leadership demands

As artificial intelligence reshapes the workplace, and business challenges grow more complex, executive education programs are evolving to prepare leaders for what’s next.

Rochester-area higher education leaders say today’s executive education extends beyond traditional business disciplines, placing greater emphasis on critical thinking, coaching, collaboration and experiential learning to prepare leaders for a rapidly changing business environment.

“The two biggest trends I see today would first, be what I’d call ‘whole person’ development, and second, ‘future proofing,’ preparing leaders who invest in capacity building — continuous learning and growth, for themselves and for the people of their organizations, as key to agility and innovation in an environment of rapid, continuous change,” said Carol Shuherk, Ph.D., faculty director of leadership integration at the University of Rochester‘s Simon Business School.

Shuherk said executive education has expanded beyond strengthening traditional business disciplines such as finance, marketing, operations and business strategy. While those foundational skills remain essential, today’s leaders increasingly need communication and collaboration skills to navigate artificial intelligence, uncertainty and a workplace where no single person has all the answers.

“A continuous learning and growth mindset — for self and employees, and communication skills that empower and collaborate, vs command and control, are key to leading for the agility and innovation required today,” Shuherk said.

Shuherk said artificial intelligence is also elevating the importance of trust in leadership. She pointed to a recent Forbes Business Council article on leading an evolving workforce in the age of AI that echoes many of the leadership practices emphasized in executive education today, including self-awareness, coaching and mentoring, personalizing work and building a culture of continuous learning.

“How do you lead with empathy? The answer reflects emerging leadership trends: know yourself- strengths and areas for growth; personalize work; coach and mentor vs simply supervise; build a culture of continuous learning and growth,” Shuherk said.

Those changing expectations are influencing not only what executive education programs teach, but also how they are delivered, according to Molly McGowan, Ph.D., co-director of EMBA & Executive Education Programs at Rochester Institute of Technology’s Saunders College of Business.

“People don’t necessarily want to just dig in immediately to a full program,” McGowan said. “They’re testing the waters in more bite-sized chunks with more affordability.”

McGowan said business schools are responding by expanding executive education beyond traditional degree programs with shorter certificate offerings and more flexible delivery options.

As RIT developed its new women’s leadership certificate program, the university surveyed prospective participants and found that more than 75% preferred a hybrid format, reinforcing the demand for learning that combines online convenience with in-person collaboration.

While artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly important part of executive education, McGowan said leaders must also develop the judgment to use those tools effectively.

“You can use AI to be efficient and to even be a thought partner,” McGowan said. “But at the end of the day, you have to be able to have strong critical thinking skills to make good decisions.”

Those priorities are reflected in Saunders’ recently refreshed Executive MBA curriculum, which was redesigned with input from alumni and industry leaders.

The updated program threads artificial intelligence throughout its coursework, adds a dedicated course focused on using AI tools and agents, introduces a special topics course on leading through executive challenges featuring C-suite executives, and includes a new week-long entrepreneurial experience.

Beyond the Executive MBA, RIT is also expanding its executive education offerings with new certificate programs. Its eight-week management leadership certificate builds skills in coaching, strategic communication, strategic thinking and critical thinking while allowing participants to work in teams to solve a real-world business challenge.

“I think people are looking for meatier experiences like that, where they’re not just absorbing information and learning it, but where they’re actually applying it,” McGowan said. “Finding ways to give people the knowledge and the content, but then giving them an opportunity to apply it, I think is key.”

While coursework provides the foundation, Joellen Maples, Ph.D., dean of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education at St. John Fisher University, said leadership is ultimately developed through experience, reflection and relationships.

“Coaching and mentoring are often where leadership learning becomes leadership practice,” Maples said. “Coursework provides research, theory, and frameworks, but coaching and mentoring help professionals apply those concepts to the real challenges they encounter every day.”

“Technical competence is still expected, but it is no longer sufficient,” Maples said.

Employers increasingly seek leaders who can build trust, navigate uncertainty and make ethical decisions while creating workplaces where employees feel valued and engaged.

“The best leaders today combine analytical thinking with empathy,” Maples said. “They understand how to build high-performing teams, manage organizational change, understand and utilize AI, and cultivate cultures where people can thrive.”

She said leadership development is also becoming more personalized and immediately applicable, with professionals looking for learning they can put into practice right away. Increasingly, leaders must collaborate across industries and disciplines as organizations face more interconnected challenges.

“Our philosophy is that leadership develops through reflection, feedback, and authentic relationships,” Maples said. “Whether through faculty mentorship, executive coaching, employer partnerships, or cohort-based learning, we intentionally create opportunities for students to learn from experienced leaders while building networks that continue well beyond graduation.”

Caurie Putnam is a Rochester-area freelance writer.