Data and AI for Leaders

With no coding or programming experience required, by joining this course you will begin building a high-level of data literacy knowledge. You will also learn to weigh technologies and their potential impact and discover a confidence in numbers you didn’t realise existed.

Whichever industry you work in, data and AI literacy is fast becoming a fundamental and sought-after skill, and it’s increasingly important for decision-makers to have the ability to integrate this knowledge into the strategic choices they make.

Develop the skills needed to make impactful, data-driven decisions within your business, and build your conceptual understanding of AI and how it can be applied within your organisation.

Throughout the course, we’ll explore how data and artificial intelligence can support smarter decision-making and long-term business success.
 
We’ll cover:

• Turning data into business value - Understand how data drives performance, innovation and growth – and learn to ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, and uncover insights that lead to smarter decisions, without needing to be a data analyst.
• The power and limits of AI - Explore what AI can and can’t do. Gain a clear view of how it’s being used in business, from automation to advanced insights
• Responsible and ethical use of data and AI - Understand the risks and responsibilities that come with data and AI. We’ll look at trust, bias, fairness, and how to make decisions that are both smart and ethical
• Building a data-driven culture - Discover how to lead change in your organisation, develop data confidence in your teams, and create a culture where insight drives action
• Unlocking the toolkit of modern AI and analytics - Explore how cutting-edge techniques, from powerful data visualisations and predictive models to optimisation tools and large language models (LLMs), can transform decision-making. Learn the assumptions behind these methods and how to choose the right one for the challenge at hand

During the course, you will have a range of opportunities to get to know your class, including a course dinner which offers the chance to come together with a wider cohort of short-course learners to help expand your network.

This face-to-face course at Alliance Manchester Business School’s Executive Education Centre connects theory to practice through interactive workshops, group discussions, and guest talks from experts like Vlad Jiman (Policy Expert), Benjamin Mawdsley (City Football Group), and Joe  Loxham (Peak).

We’ll explore the cutting-edge Data Visualisation Laboratory and work with real data sets to build practical skills.

Designed to facility understanding of complex data and AI concepts, the course uses case studies, models, and dashboards to demonstrate real-world AI applications for business.

Throughout the course, you will:

• Learn from world-leading academics who combine cutting-edge research with extensive experience helping industry partners adopt and commercialise AI
• Collaborate with senior professionals from diverse industries
• Apply learning directly to your own organisational challenges
• Engage in lively discussions, workshops, and exercises that bridge theory and real-world practice

Stand-out learning features

• Applied learning - Work in an environment designed to foster active engagement, where your facilitator draws on the collective experience of your cohort to enrich the learning
• Peer knowledge exchange - Benefit from ongoing feedback and insights from professionals across sectors - helping you grow your leadership mindset and strategic marketing skills
• Reflective practice - Take a rare pause from your daily routine to reflect on your own marketing capabilities and challenges, with support from top-tier academic experts
• Professional networking - Build long-lasting professional relationships with peers from a variety of backgrounds, expanding your business network and perspective
• Personal growth - Deepen your self-awareness and discover how to sharpen your core marketing competencies in a changing business landscape
• Behavioural change - Embrace new mindsets and adopt evidence-based practices that will enhance your decision-making and managerial effectiveness

Learning continues beyond the classroom

Before, during, and after the course, you will have access to our virtual learning environment, where you’ll find:

• Pre-course preparation
• Slide decks and case studies
• Recommended readings and resources

And to support your long-term growth, you’ll continue to access these materials, plus the University of Manchester’s online library, for up to 12 months after course completion.

By the end of the course you will:

• Enhance decision-making using data and AI models
• Understand AI ethics, legal, and social responsibility issues
• Build data literacy and storytelling skills
• Learn key AI terminology and critical questions to ask
• Gain insights from real-world case studies and industry experts
• Reflect on your skills with guidance from AMBS faculty
• Identify risks and opportunities through data analysis

Plus your organisation will gain: 

• Improved data-driven decision-making across teams
• Higher productivity and performance through analytics
• Solutions for AI deployment challenges and risks
• Access to the AMBS Executive Education Network with events and professional connections

This course is ideal for general and technical managers, leaders, and decision-makers across industries who:

• Have a basic understanding of data
• Want to improve their skills in interpreting and critically analysing business data and AI models
• Aim to leverage data and AI to drive better business outcomes

No prior coding or programming experience is required; this course focuses on practical insights and strategic application.

Bringing together an exceptional amount of expertise, research and refined knowledge in the subject area of Data and Artificial Intelligence, Julia Handl, Professor in Decision Sciences, is joined by Richard Allmendinger, Professor of Applied Artificial Intelligence, and Manuel Lopez-Ibanez, Professor of Optimisation to deliver this insightful and data-focused course.

Having worked with a wide range of world-renowned organisations such as Siemens, IBM and Fujitsu, the team deliver this course based on a vast range of real-world experiences that showcase theories being put into practice.

Julia’s core methodological expertise lies at the interface between optimisation and machine learning, and she has a keen interest in the development and use of these techniques in challenging application areas.

Richard's research interests focus on the development and application of data optimisation, learning and analytics techniques to real-world problems arising in areas such as healthcare, manufacturing, economics, sports, music, and forensics.

Manuel's main expertise focuses on the application of metaheuristics, including local search, evolutionary algorithms and ant colony optimisation.

During this course, we will be joined by a number of guest speakers who will share their industry knowledge and expertise, including:

• Vlad Jiman, Group Head of Data at Policy Expert
• Joe Loxham, Software Engineer at Peak
• Benjamin Mawdsley, City Football Group

On completing the course, you’ll earn the Manchester Professional Certificate in Data and AI for Leaders, plus a digital certificate and badge you can share on LinkedIn.

Pathway to a diploma

• Complete any four short courses from our executive portfolio to earn the Manchester Professional Diploma in Leadership.
• Includes three executive coaching sessions to apply your learning and shape your personal development strategy.

Advance to the Global MBA

If you apply to the Global MBA within five years, you may be exempt from one elective (please mention this course in your application).

If you choose to stay in Manchester during your time on one of our short business courses, you can benefit from preferential rates at the Hyatt Hotel, a modern and elegant hotel located at the heart of our campus and adjoining the Executive Education centre.

Learn more about the Hyatt Hotel >>

View frequently asked questions about our short business courses here >>