Innovation Executive Academy

MIT Sloan School of Management

Artificial Intelligence

About Programme

Why attend Innovation Executive Academy?

The Innovation Executive Academy is an immersive 8-day program designed to help senior executives develop and sustain a strategic approach to innovation in an era of rapid technological change. Through expert-led talks, collaborative workshops, and real-world case studies, you will deepen your awareness of innovation, emerging technologies and their potential impact. Using Kendall Square as a dynamic learning environment, participants will engage in site visits to explore ecosystem dynamics firsthand and hear success stories from MIT’s innovation network. This program focuses on maintaining a forward-looking mindset—because, while technologies advance, the real challenge lies in cultivating a culture of innovation and overcoming organizational inertia.

Beyond individual technologies, the Academy equips leaders with a holistic framework for managing innovation, from small-scale experimentation to driving transformative change across an organization. You will learn how to draw inspiration from diverse ecosystems and apply those lessons to local and global contexts. The program empowers leaders to stay attuned to evolving trends and strategically integrate innovation, ensuring long-term success in a dynamic business landscape. By the end of the Academy, you’ll have actionable insights, a comprehensive perspective on innovation management, and the tools to lead with strategic clarity.

Course Topics

Programme Content

Day 1

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Definition of Innovation

Intro to Deep Techs

Walking Innovation Lecture

Welcome Reception

Day 2

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

How to Use AI for Innovation Practices

Lightning Talks on Deep Techs (Small group work)

Day 3

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Feedback Loops and Continuous Improvement

Visit 'The Engine'

Conversation with Deep Tech Start-Ups

Venture Cafe

Day 4

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Experimentation Bias

Your Internal Innovation Pipeline/System

Closing Remarks

Day 5

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Distributed Leadership (Pyramid)

X-Teams Simulation

Case Review in Teams

Closing Remarks

Day 6

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Innovation Portfolio

Three Lenses of Innovation

Closing Remarks

Day 7

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Platform Strategy

Tapping the Ecosystem

Celebratory Dinner

Day 8

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Lessons from the Ecosystem: Harnessing entrepreneurial practices

The Path Forward: Articulating your innovation strategy

Certificate Ceremony & Closing Remarks

Programme Objective

Participants will leave the I

nnovation Executive Academy

with:

A framework for innovation that can be applied across any sector.

A broader perspective of innovation viewed through 3 lenses: strategic, political, and cultural.

A concrete, personalized action plan that has been developed over the eight days.

Strategies to overcome organizational resistance to change, drawing on frameworks that foster a culture of innovation and collaboration.

The skills to align innovation with organizational goals, ensuring that incremental and transformational advances drive measurable results.

A network of like-minded leaders and experts who can continue to collaborate and learn together beyond the program.

An MIT Sloan Executive Certificate in Strategy & Innovation.

A complimentary copy of the lead faculty’s new book on

Accelerating Innovation: Competitive Advantage through Ecosystem Engagement

(published via MIT Press on April 2025)

Programme Audience

This course is designed for senior leaders—or those aspiring to senior roles—in both public and private sector organizations who are eager to drive change through innovation. Ideal participants are decision-makers seeking to shape the future of their organizations or regions by fostering a culture of experimentation and agility. Whether you lead a multinational corporation, a government agency, a growing enterprise, or a dynamic team focused on innovation, this Academy equips you with the tools to anticipate disruptive technologies, manage innovation strategically, and inspire your teams to embrace transformation.

This program is especially relevant for executives responsible for crafting innovation strategies, navigating complex technological landscapes, or aligning cross-functional teams to tackle tomorrow's challenges. Participants should come ready to engage with forward-thinking peers, dive deep into actionable frameworks, and gain new insights into managing innovation at both the organizational and ecosystem levels.

Programme Benefits

Frameworks

Explore actionable frameworks to forecast and manage innovation and potentially disruptive technologies, foster a culture of innovation-driven entrepreneurship, and drive strategic change in your organization, across industries and regions

Innovation Ecosystem

Using Kendall Square as a living laboratory, participants will engage in site visits and firsthand experiences with MIT’s innovation ecosystem, gaining practical insights from world-class experts

Accessible

This Academy is designed to accommodate the needs of busy professionals, including working parents, with a two-week structure of two 4-day sessions connected by a weekend

Thought Leadership

Gain insights from world-renowned MIT Faculty

Executive Certificate in Strategy & Innovation

This 8-day Academy confers an MIT Sloan Executive Certificate in “Strategy & Innovation”

Testimonials

"Overall, the program was good and interesting, with several valuable insights and discussions. However, the level of prior knowledge among participants varied significantly. This occasionally reduced the depth and effectiveness of some sessions, as time was spent revisiting basic concepts that had just been explained, rather than exploring topics in greater depth."

Josef T

"The course was intense, covering the key dimensions of cross-functional innovation in a corporate environment. What stood out most to me, however, was the quality of time dedicated to culture and its critical role in making change truly happen. In the end, everything comes down to people how we connect, collaborate, and lead one another. Knowing how to manage that is what makes innovation sustainable."

Renata S

"I found the MIT Executive Innovation Academy to be a truly holistic and well-designed program on innovation leadership. The course addressed innovation from multiple perspectives, covering the full spectrum from ecosystem thinking and geopolitics to very concrete aspects of corporate innovation leadership. It offered strong frameworks and plenty of food for thought, while remaining grounded in real-world application. Learning was supported through a diverse set of methods, including lectures, group work, hands-on exercises, simulations, peer reflections, and site visits. Together with world-class faculty and a highly diverse, sharp-minded peer group, this created an intellectually rigorous and highly practical learning experience. I would highly recommend this program to anyone working in or leading innovation."

Johanna L

"The Innovation Executive Academy exceeded my expectations. The program goes beyond theory and provides a clear, structured understanding of innovation as an organizational capability, not just a creative activity. What I found most valuable was the integration of strategy, leadership, technology, and ecosystems. The sessions helped me rethink how innovation should be governed, measured, and led at the executive level. The focus on portfolios, experimentation discipline, distributed leadership, and ecosystem engagement was highly relevant and immediately applicable. The faculty, cases, and experiential elements created a strong balance between reflection and action. I leave the program with clearer strategic judgment, practical frameworks, and a stronger ability to articulate and lead an innovation agenda within complex organizations. I would highly recommend this program to senior leaders who want to move from ad-hoc innovation initiatives to a coherent and scalable innovation system."

SATTAM ABDULLAH S. A

Testimonial Source