UC Berkeley SCET and Engineering Professional Education Launch AI Leadership Accelerator to Bridge the Executive Innovation Gap

New three-day intensive empowers global leaders to move beyond AI hype and drive measurable business transformation through strategic implementation roadmaps.

BERKELEY, CA — February 1, 2026 — The UC Berkeley Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (SCET), in collaboration with Berkeley Engineering Professional Education, today announced the return of its popular program, the AI Leadership Accelerator. This high-impact, three-day, in-person program is designed specifically for executives and senior leaders who need to pivot from AI experimentation to scalable enterprise strategy.

Taking place April 13–15, 2026, on the UC Berkeley campus, the accelerator offers a unique blend of academic rigor, including SCET’s Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship pedagogy, and insights from industry leaders.

While many organizations are currently “AI curious,” few have successfully integrated artificial intelligence into their core business models to drive ROI. The AI Leadership Accelerator addresses this readiness gap by focusing on strategic decision-making rather than technical coding. Participants will emerge with a customized AI strategy roadmap, specifically tailored to their organization’s goals, risk tolerance, and data readiness.

The curriculum is divided into three critical phases: Framing the Future, Building Readiness, and Driving Execution. On Day One, leaders explore the evolving AI landscape and ethical governance. Day Two focuses on organizational change management and infrastructure, including a live showcase of generative AI tools. The program concludes on Day Three with a focus on ROI frameworks and the finalization of a strategic enterprise toolkit.

“The challenge for today’s executive is no longer just understanding that AI is important, but knowing where to invest and where to wait,” says David Gallacher, SCET Industry Fellow and Program Faculty Director. “We’ve designed this accelerator to give leaders the frameworks they need to align AI initiatives with long-term value creation, ensuring they aren’t just following trends, but leading their industries.”

The program features an elite roster of faculty and industry pioneers, including world-renowned AI researcher Pieter Abbeel, Director of the Berkeley Robot Learning Lab. Joining him are guest speakers such as Ali Ghodsi, CEO of Databricks, and Olaf Groth, CEO of Cambrian.ai. This blend of academic experts and practitioners ensures that participants receive insights that are both scientifically grounded and battle-tested in the global marketplace.

Applications for the April 2026 cohort are now being accepted on a rolling basis. For more information on the curriculum, faculty, and enrollment details, visit the AI Leadership Accelerator official site.