What Participants Say About the AI for Business Leaders Program

The AI for Business Leaders program  is a collaborative, cross-company learning experience that brings together experienced leaders from different industries and functions who share a common challenge: understanding how to turn AI from a promising technology into tangible business value.

In this article, we share reflections from three Ericsson leaders who recently completed the program:

William McCann Murphy, Head of the Data Authority and Data Officer for Ericsson Managed Services, leads data strategy and data maturity initiatives that support analytics, AI, and automation across the business. With more than 30 years of experience in data and several years of hands-on involvement in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and emerging agentic workflows, he brings deep expertise in turning data and AI capabilities into operational business outcomes.

Vivek Govind Khedkar, Head of IT Solutions for Manufacturing IT Systems & Services at Ericsson, brings more than 25 years of experience in ICT, manufacturing, supply chain transformation, and smart factory initiatives powered by AI, machine learning, Industrial IoT, and advanced robotics.

Gayatri Pandey, Strategic Product Manager in Ericsson's Automation Transformation Office, leads the analytics area and works with customers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Her focus includes analytics strategy, AI adoption, and driving AI-enabled business value.

While their experiences differ, all three highlighted similar lessons about leadership, strategy, and the realities of creating value with AI.

AI Success Starts With Strategy, Not Technology

A consistent insight among participants was that successful AI adoption depends far less on algorithms and far more on business strategy, leadership, and organisational readiness.

As Vivek reflected:

"AI's real value lies not just in the technology, but in how effectively it is aligned with business outcomes."

Gayatri shared a similar realization:

"I believe only 20% of AI success is about the algorithm. The other 80% is about strategy."

William reinforced this perspective through the lens of business impact:

"Organisations need to move from hype to operational impact. AI creates value when it is deployed in the business in ways that deliver measurable outcomes."

Building the Foundations Before Scaling AI

Organisations are often eager to move quickly into AI applications while overlooking the foundations that make those applications successful. The program helped participants better understand the importance of establishing strong fundamentals before pursuing large-scale AI initiatives.

As Gayatri explained:

"Understanding the foundations of AI before focusing on applications is something many organisations miss. Investing in the foundations is essential for long-term success."

This perspective helped participants think more strategically about how AI capabilities should be developed and embedded across the organisation. 

William also highlighted the importance of distinguishing between enterprise AI and customer-facing AI products and services, ensuring that AI investments are aligned with specific business objectives and outcomes.

Learning From Different Industries and Perspectives

All three participants highlighted the value of learning alongside peers from different industries, functions, and leadership roles.

For Vivek, one of the key reasons for joining was the opportunity to learn from MIT's research and engage with a diverse cohort of leaders facing similar challenges.

William particularly valued the external perspective the program provided:

"It is always good to get an outside-in perspective. Learning from other organisations and other leaders gives you a very different view, especially because AI is moving at such a fast pace."

He also emphasised the importance of collaboration and shared learning:

"It's all about shared learning: learning from other people, understanding what works and what doesn't, and applying those lessons in your own organisation."

The exchange of experiences and real-world use cases helped participants broaden their understanding of how organisations are approaching AI adoption across industries.

From Insight to Action

A recurring theme was the practical nature of the program and its direct applicability to ongoing business initiatives.

Vivek described how he began prioritising AI initiatives based on measurable business outcomes and strengthening the foundations required for successful scaling:

"I started prioritising AI use cases with clear business outcomes that improve efficiency, quality, and decision-making."

He also focused on improving data quality, governance, and readiness while accelerating the adoption of AI tools across teams supporting Ericsson's digital transformation efforts.

Gayatri applied the program's strategic frameworks directly to her work:

"After the program, I applied the strategic roadmap framework to my work and created a roadmap for introducing AI-driven value into our analytics products."

She has since led initiatives focused on transitioning analytics capabilities from traditional dashboarding approaches toward more AI-driven value creation.

A Program Designed for Busy Leaders

Participants also appreciated the structure and flexibility of the program.

The format allowed them to balance learning with demanding professional responsibilities while still providing opportunities for collaboration, reflection, and peer learning.

William noted that the pace of AI innovation makes continuous learning essential for leaders:

"As a leader, it's important to gain different perspectives and keep learning because AI is evolving so quickly." 

He also highlighted the importance of practical frameworks that help organisations operationalise AI:

"One of the most valuable insights was understanding how to use the AI playbook in a practical way and how to deploy it effectively within a business."

The combination of expert insights, practical frameworks, and discussions with fellow leaders helped ensure that learning could be translated into action throughout the program rather than only after it concluded.

Looking Ahead

One of the most valuable outcomes of the program was gaining a broader perspective on how AI is reshaping industries and organisations. Beyond specific tools or technologies, the program provided a framework for understanding how leaders can navigate AI-driven transformation, identify opportunities, and build the organisational capabilities needed to succeed.

As Gayatri reflected:

"The program helped me understand how organisations across industries are approaching AI and applying it in different contexts. That broader perspective is something I will continue to use throughout my career."

William shared a similarly forward-looking perspective:

"The key is turning AI from hype into operational impact. When organisations combine human expertise with machine intelligence, they can create meaningful and sustainable business value."

Their experiences reinforce a common message: successful AI adoption is not primarily a technology challenge. It is a leadership challenge. Organisations that build the right capabilities, strategies, and foundations are far better positioned to turn AI into meaningful business impact.