Free Online Certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Career Empowerment

A free online certificate that can aid working professionals transition to new jobs and career opportunities in the private sector and in AI-related opportunities with a business focus. Offered by the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Business and the Executive Education Office at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland.

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Program Description

This transformative course is designed for early to mid-career professionals looking to move to the private sector, or for a change in direction. The course provides an overview of Artificial Intelligence, how it is transforming functional areas in the private sector and what career opportunities may emerge during this time. Participants will explore how AI is transforming various industries, examining real-world applications and the broader implications of AI adoption in fields such as marketing, finance, healthcare, and technology. Through lectures from professors and interviews with industry experts, they will gain a deeper understanding of how AI is driving innovation, shaping job markets, and creating new opportunities across different sectors.

Given the global uncertainties in economies and the labor market, we also provide useful pointers for career empowerment, including how to navigate job opportunities, explore startups, negotiate well during challenging times and position yourself for AI-related opportunities in various sectors. This course blends theoretical knowledge with practical insights, ensuring participants not only understand AI concepts but also learn how to apply them effectively in their careers.

Participants will receive a completely free certificate in “Artificial Intelligence and Career Empowerment” from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.

Who Should Enroll?

Professionals in search of new opportunities.
Professionals looking to pivot into AI-enabled roles.
Individuals exploring independent consulting or entrepreneurship.
Experts seeking to market their knowledge as a service.
Anyone interested in understanding AI's role in business and career transformation.

Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will:

Establish foundational AI literacy and understand why and how AI solutions are being built in business.
Explore how AI is shaping career opportunities across functional areas in business.
Gain actionable strategies for career transition, job searching, and consulting.
Network with industry experts, HR professionals, and AI practitioners.

Part One: Artificial Intelligence in Business

Module 1: AI Literacy, Capabilities, Building AI Systems
Balaji Padmanabhan

What is AI and why are businesses excited about it?
Modern AI: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Building Modern AI Systems – Overview of how firms are approaching licensing specific tools or building their own
Applications in business and what’s up ahead in the near-term

Module 2: The Marketing Revolution
Bobby Zhou and Yogesh Joshi

Modern Marketing: What is it today?
AI & Marketing: Examples and lessons
Using vs building AI solutions in marketing
Lessons from business through interviews with marketing leaders

Module 3: AI and Organizations
Anil Gupta

AI’s impact on labor and jobs
How AI is impacting the act of recruiting and managing talent
Where the opportunities are today for AI within the broader umbrella of M&O
Using vs Building AI Solutions

Module 4: AI and Supply Chain
Suresh Acharya and Humberto Coronado

Overview of the modern supply chain
What some of the key issues today are when it comes to companies managing their operations and supply chain processes
How AI is impacting (or can impact) these processes
Using vs Building AI Solutions

Module 5: Responsible AI
Margrét Bjarnadóttir

Overview of fairness ideas in machine learning and AI
What Responsible AI principles are looking to achieve
Examples in healthcare and other contexts
What do people who are using or building AI systems need to keep in mind in order to build responsible AI systems?

Module 6: AI in Financial Services (Finance/Acc)
Tania Babina

AI’s impact and use-cases in the financial sector
Examples of Generative AI in wealth management or other areas
Where the opportunities are today for AI within the broader umbrella of financial services
Using vs building AI Solutions

Part Two: Career Empowerment

Module 7: Being your own startup
Oliver Schlake

Transitioning into independent consulting
Building your own brand and exploring entrepreneurial opportunities
Examples of such transitions

Module 8: Negotiating from a Position of Weakness
Rellie Derfler-Rozin and Vijaya Venkatramani

The importance of learning how to negotiate
Negotiating from a position of weakness: do’s and don'ts
Negotiating in job search contexts

Module 9: Job Search in the Age of AI
Kim Rice DeGross

Nuances of job searches and career strategies in the modern era
What to do when machines are processing your resume
Interviews with HR leaders on best practices

Module 10: Course wrap-up and the road ahead
Balaji Padmanabhan & faculty