Empowering the Board with AINEW

Dates
December 8–10, 2026
Cost
$8,400
CIBE Credits
3
Format
In-Person
Location
Manhattanville, NYC
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Empowering the Board with AI

Dates
December 8–10, 2026
Cost
$8,400
CIBE Credits
3
Format
In-Person
Location
Manhattanville, NYC

Overview

Boards are responsible for overseeing management, evaluating strategy, and safeguarding the organization's long-term success. Yet the information directors rely on to fulfill those responsibilities is often prepared, filtered, and presented by the very management team they are charged with overseeing. Unlike management, boards rarely have the resources to commission independent analysis or obtain timely alternative perspectives.

Empowering the Board with AI is a three-day program that explores how directors can leverage AI to bridge this information gap. Participants learn how AI can rapidly analyze public and internal information, assess competitive positioning, identify emerging risks, and introduce an independent analytical perspective into boardroom discussions across Audit, Compensation, Finance, Governance, and Risk.

This program is not about replacing director judgment–it is about strengthening it. Participants leave with practical frameworks for using AI to challenge assumptions, elevate boardroom dialogue, strengthen fiduciary oversight, and become more proactive, data-informed stewards of the organization's strategy, capital, and reputation.

Why Committee Effectiveness Matters

of executives believe the board should be using AI for oversight
99%

of directors cite the quality and flow of information from management as one of the top drivers of board effectiveness
35%
of directors cite the quality and flow of information from management as one of the top drivers of board effectiveness
72%


Impact

Empowering the Board with AI equips directors and senior executives with practical frameworks to strengthen independent oversight, challenge assumptions, and make more informed decisions in an increasingly data-driven business environment.

With Columbia Business School’s Empowering the Board with AI program, will cover topics such as:

  • Independent Board Intelligence: Develop a broader, more independent perspective by using AI to analyze public and internal information beyond management-prepared reporting
  • Enhanced Strategic Oversight: Identify emerging risks, competitive threats, and external signals earlier to support more proactive board oversight
  • Committee Excellence: Apply AI across Audit, Compensation, Finance/Deal, Nomination & Governance, and Risk Committees to strengthen oversight and improve governance
  • More Effective Boardroom Dialogue: Ask better questions, challenge assumptions with greater confidence, and elevate the quality of strategic discussions
  • Responsible AI Governance: Understand how to implement AI responsibly while addressing governance, legal, privacy, confidentiality, and ethical considerations
  • Stronger Fiduciary Leadership: Strengthen fiduciary oversight through practical frameworks that enhance board effectiveness while reinforcing—not replacing—director judgment

 

Participant Profile

This program is designed for directors, executives, and senior leaders seeking to strengthen board oversight through the practical application of AI. Participants learn how to leverage AI to enhance decision-making, identify emerging risks, and bring a more informed, independent perspective to the boardroom.

The Empowering the Board with AI program is ideal for:

  • Board directors of public, private, family-owned, and nonprofit organizations seeking to strengthen oversight, governance, and strategic decision-making through AI 
  • Committee members and chairs responsible for Audit, Compensation, Finance, Risk, and Nominating & Governance who want practical frameworks for applying AI to their oversight responsibilities 
  • Directors from non-finance backgrounds, including marketing, technology, operations, human resources, legal, and strategy, who want to strengthen their analytical capabilities and contribute more effectively to board discussions 
  • Chief executive officers and senior executives who regularly engage with boards and want to better understand how AI is reshaping governance and board oversight 
  • General Counsel and Corporate Secretaries responsible for advising boards on governance practices, AI implementation, and legal and ethical considerations 
  • Executives preparing for board service who want to develop practical AI-enabled governance capabilities before joining a board

Learning Methodology

This immersive learning experience combines Columbia Business School’s academic rigor with practical boardroom application. Through faculty-led discussions, real-world cases, and hands-on AI exercises, participants develop the frameworks and judgment needed to strengthen oversight, challenge assumptions, and make more informed board-level decisions.

  • Boardroom Case Discussions: Analyze real boardroom scenarios and strategic decisions to evaluate performance, identify risks, and challenge management assumptions using AI-driven insights.
  • Committee-Based Applications: Explore practical AI applications across Audit, Compensation, Finance, Nomination & Governance, and Risk Committees to strengthen board oversight.
  • Practical AI Demonstrations: Discover how AI tools can analyze financial, competitive, and market data to support more informed board decisions and stronger governance.
  • Peer Exchange: Engage with directors, executives, and governance leaders to exchange perspectives, compare board practices, and learn from diverse experiences.
  • Faculty-Led Learning: Columbia Business School faculty combine leading research with practical governance challenges to explore how AI is reshaping board oversight, strategy, and risk.

Program Content

Over three immersive days, participants explore how AI can strengthen board oversight across the board's core responsibilities. Each day focuses on a critical governance function, combining practical applications with real-world boardroom scenarios

Day 1 | Business Fundamentals and Audit Oversight

Understanding the Business & Competition: Participants begin by developing an independent perspective on how a company operates and competes in its market. The discussion explores core operations, strategic priorities, and current market dynamics, culminating in a competitive analysis that compares the company's positioning, strengths, and vulnerabilities relative to key competitors. AI tools are introduced to help directors synthesize large volumes of public and operational data and form a broader view of the firm's competitive landscape.

What Would the Audit Committee Do? Attention then turns to the essential responsibilities and fiduciary duties of the Audit Committee. Participants examine how AI can strengthen financial oversight, enhance risk detection, and improve monitoring of internal controls. The discussion highlights how Audit Committee chairs and members can use AI-driven insights to evaluate financial disclosures, identify potential red flags, and ask more informed questions of management.

Day 2 | Compensation and Deal Oversight

What Would the Compensation Committee Do? The role of the Compensation Committee in shaping executive incentives and evaluating performance metrics is examined through the lens of AI-enabled analysis. Participants explore how AI can help analyze compensation benchmarks, assess performance indicators, and anticipate emerging talent needs. The discussion focuses on how data-driven insights can help boards ensure stronger alignment between pay, performance, and long-term strategy.

What Would the Finance/Deal Committee Do? Major transactions and capital allocation decisions are at the center of this session. Using the theme Evaluating M&A with AI, participants explore how tools such as predictive modeling, scenario analysis, and accelerated due diligence can strengthen deal evaluation. These approaches help directors better assess transaction risks, challenge management assumptions, and provide more effective oversight of strategic investments.

Day 3 | Governance, Talent, and Risk

What Would the Nomination & Governance Committee Do? Board composition, director qualifications, and succession planning form the foundation of this discussion. Participants consider how AI tools can support talent discovery and broaden the search for qualified director candidates. Data-driven approaches can help committees identify diverse, high-quality talent and align board capabilities with the organization’s future strategic needs.

Risk Management & Barriers to AI in the Boardroom: The final sessions focus on how boards can use AI to strengthen enterprise risk oversight. Participants examine how predictive models and advanced analytics can help anticipate operational, financial, and compliance risks earlier. The conversation concludes by addressing practical barriers to AI adoption in the boardroom—including privacy, confidentiality, and governance considerations—and how directors can work effectively with General Counsel and management to navigate these challenges.

Faculty Director

Shiva Rajgopal | Roy Bernard Kester and T.W. Byrnes Professor of Accounting and Auditing at Columbia Business School Executive Education

Shiva Rajgopal

Roy Bernard Kester and T.W. Byrnes Professor of Accounting and Auditing; Chair of the Accounting Division Accounting Division

“Today, technology allows us to scale deep, fundamental analysis across organizations—but strong judgment remains essential to interpret what the data truly means.”

Shiva Rajgopal

Faculty Director

Meet Your Faculty: Shiva Rajgopal

FAQ

Certification

I’m interested in the Certificate in Business Excellence (CIBE), how do I get started?
At Columbia Business School Executive Education, you’ll be able to customize a unique learning experience by selecting programs that best interest you and are most suited for your needs. Any completed program, regardless of format (live online, in-person, or online), will count towards the Certificate in Business Excellence. 

Which programs qualify for the CIBE? 
Any completed executive education program, regardless of format (live-online, in-person, or online), will count towards the Certificate in Business Excellence. Partner programs will also count towards the certificate.

What programs are considered partner programs? 
Executive education programs developed and administered with our educational partners, bring the best of our combined knowledge, thought leadership, resources, and expertise. Kindly find a list of our partners here on our partnership page.

What are the costs of the certificate? 
There’s no set cost associated with the certificate path since you’re able to customize your learning journey with in-person and online programs (price will vary depending on the program type and length).

Are there any tuition assistance or scholarships? 
At Columbia Business School Executive Education, we offer non-degree and non-credit-based professional development programs to the global business community. As our programs are non-degree and non-credit, they do not qualify for financial aid.

How are CIBE credits determined? 
Credits for a program are determined by the program duration and total learning hours. 

Where do I find information on the credit value for a program?
You will find this information on each program page. Credits range from 0.5 credits – 26 credits per program. 

How do I get enrolled in the CIBE? 
Your certificate journey will start with your first program, and you have 4 years to complete your CIBE. You may register for any of our executive education programs on each program page. You may enroll using the “View My Application Cart” button, and the application process should take 5-10 minutes.

How do I receive credits?
You are required to fully attend a program and complete all necessary coursework in order to receive CIBE credits. Credits are only awarded after you complete a program.

How do I check the status of my Certificate completion? 
Kindly reach out to a Learning Solutions representative for any questions on the status of your CIBE credit count.

Do CIBE credits expire? 
Credits are only valid for four years. If you have not completed your CIBE within four years, we will only count non-expired credits towards your CIBE credit total.

Does the Certificate in Business Excellence expire?
Your Certificate in Business Excellence does not expire. Once you become a certificate recipient, you will join the greater alumni community at Columbia Business School.

I’ve reached 18 CIBE credits, what’s next?
Congratulations! You should receive a digital copy of your certificate at the end of your program. If you do not receive a copy from your program manager, kindly contact your Learning Solutions representative or your program manager for next steps.

Will I receive a physical certificate?
Upon completion, you will receive a secure, digital certificate through Accredible. Within the platform you will have the option to print your credential, post it to your LinkedIn feed, or display it on your profile as a certification. Please contact your program manager for the status of your digital certificate. 

How do I get access to my alumni benefits?
Once you complete your CIBE, we kindly ask for your patience as we process your alumni credentials. The processing time can take anywhere from 8 to 10 weeks long. 

Can I add the Certificate in Business Excellence to LinkedIn?
Yes! We will provide you with instructions on how to add your certificate to your LinkedIn profile after you become a Certificate recipient. 
 

Assignments

Will there be any homework or assignments?
For select programs, there will be some assignments to complete after the end of select program sessions. Assignments will typically consist of readings, self-reflections, and brief assessments. This approach is designed to help you practice your learnings.

How long will assignments take?
We do not expect that homework assignments will take up a large amount of time to complete. 

Will there be any examinations or grades?
There will be no examinations or grades for our live online programs.

Preferred Pricing and Tuition Benefits for Alumni

Are there preferred pricing options available?
Yes, preferred pricing is available for groups of two or more. To inquire, email execed@gsb.columbia.edu.

As a Columbia Business School alumni am I eligible for tuition benefit?

When you earn a Certificate in Business Excellence you will receive a 25 percent tuition benefit for full-price Executive Education in-person programs lasting three and four days and all full-price online programs. Exclusions apply**

 

Which programs do not qualify for a 25 percent tuition benefit? 

All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Columbia Business School Executive Education.

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