About the Program
What is The Impact Initiative?
The Impact Initiative is a 6-month AI leadership program designed for supervisors and managers who want to understand AI deeply enough to lead through the changes it brings. This isn't a technical bootcamp — it's a reading-and-discussion journey through the ideas, debates, and practical skills that will define the next decade of leadership.
Roughly 10 participants meet monthly to discuss carefully curated readings — from foundational AI research to practical guides for working alongside AI systems. Each month builds on the last, moving from “what is this?” to “what do I do about it?”
How It Works
Monthly Readings
Two to three readings per month — essays, papers, lectures, and one book. Each is chosen to give you a different angle on the same big question.
Group Discussion
Monthly sessions where we dig into the readings together. The goal isn't consensus — it's developing your own informed perspective.
Progressive Depth
We start with foundations, move through competing visions and risks, debate the big questions, then get practical. Each month builds on the last.
Capstone Project
In Month 6, each participant presents their AI leadership plan — a concrete proposal for bringing AI into their team's work.
About the Instructor
Rod is a technology leader who believes the most important thing about AI isn't the technology itself — it's what thoughtful leaders do with it. He created The Impact Initiative because he saw a gap: plenty of AI courses teach you how to use tools, but very few help you develop the judgment to lead through a technological sea change.
This program is part of HR's Leadership Academy, reflecting the belief that AI literacy is now a core leadership competency, not a technical specialty.
Walsh College Partnership
The Impact Initiative is offered in coordination with Walsh College, bringing academic rigor and institutional support to what is fundamentally a practical leadership development experience.