MBA Essentials
Redefining Business Skills in the Age of AI
The Ontario Student Assistance Program is offering financial assistance to Ontario residents.
To learn more about OSAP, please refer to this Financial Aid Page.
Drive leadership decisions where strategy and AI converge
AI has shifted from being a promise of the future to the practice of the present — advancing from isolated experiments to a central force shaping organizations today. AI is redefining how organizations compete and grow. Leaders who excel are those who embed it into decisions across these domains, turning innovation into advantage and insight into measurable impact.
The MBA Essentials program, designed by the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, is a rigorous 6-week virtual learning experience that meets the growing need for leaders who can connect MBA foundations with the dynamics of an AI-driven economy.
Each week, participants explore essential MBA disciplines through a practical and AI-informed lens. They will learn to integrate mission and vision in strategy, link global trends to business planning in macroeconomics, apply investment decision rules in finance, interpret financial statements in accounting, and develop brand strategies in marketing, all while exploring ways to use AI.
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Key takeaways
This virtual learning program will enable you to:
Leverage AI to identify high-value applications, evaluate its impact on business fundamentals and drive data-informed growth
Build and apply strategic tools to define mission and vision, evaluate competitive advantage and respond effectively to disruption
Apply insights on interest rates, inflation, trade and fiscal policy to anticipate market shifts and guide business decisions
Analyze financial statements and disclosures accurately and apply reporting insights to assess organizational performance
Use investment decision rules, valuation techniques and risk frameworks to evaluate opportunities and strengthen financial outcomes
Design growth-focused marketing strategies, sharpen brand positioning, and effectively segment customers to capture value
Applied learning with AI for real-world impact
Apply strategic frameworks, including SWOT and Porter’s Five Forces, to real business world challenges, comparing which tools generate the most effective insights for decision-making
Engage with an AI strategy consultant to analyze how shifts in inflation, interest rates and recessions could affect organizational behaviour and choices, improving foresight in economic planning
Allocate a limited AI budget across strategy, finance and marketing — using trade-off analysis to justify investment decisions in competing priorities — through an AI chatbot
Evaluate the financial health of a fictional organization by analyzing balance sheets, ratios and performance benchmarks, and present actionable recommendations to strengthen outcomes
Test projects using the NPV, IRR, payback period and profitability index, gaining clarity on the implications when evaluation methods converge or diverge
Develop a proposal for a high-value application of AI in your organization by applying frameworks that connect insights across modules
Curriculum overview
The MBA Essentials program enables professionals like you to build integrated business fluency through a future-focused curriculum that reflects today’s AI-driven economy. You will strengthen your core management skills, connect strategy with execution, and learn to navigate disruption with confidence.
Your AI-driven path to business advantage
The MBA Essentials program stands out for its seamless integration of AI across the learning journey. From modelling real-world scenarios to offering personalized feedback, the program builds both business fluency and the confidence to lead in today’s AI-driven environment. By positioning AI as a decision-making partner, the program sharpens judgment, challenges strategies and tailors insights to each participant’s leadership path.
Program experience
Who should enrol?
This virtual learning program is ideal for professionals who want to build integrated business fluency in an AI-driven world. It is especially valuable for managers stepping into leadership positions, executives refreshing their knowledge, entrepreneurs scaling their ventures, and technical experts transitioning into strategy roles. This program is ideal for:
Aspiring managers aiming to strengthen their business fluency with AI, learn fundamental management principles and advance their careers with a business certificate from Rotman
Mid-level to senior professionals seeking to keep pace with evolving management trends, build on the latest advancements and step into senior management or C-suite roles
Entrepreneurs and founders looking to broaden their understanding of management and AI-driven practices, evaluate financial statements, assess investment projects and apply marketing and innovation strategies for business growth
Program faculty
Professor of Economic Analysis and Policy; Academic Director, Rotman Executive Programs
Walid Hejazi is Academic Director of Executive Programs and Professor of Economic Analysis and Policy at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. He also serves...
Assistant Professor and Director of Financial Technologies, School of Information Technology, York University
Zissis Poulos is an Assistant Professor and Director of Financial Technologies at the School of Information Technology, York University. His research focuses on applying machi...
Adjunct Professor, Marketing and Executive-in-Residence, the Rotman School of Management
Born and educated in the UK (BA Modern Languages, University of Nottingham), Simon also has an MBA from the Rotman School of Management. Marketing experience at Procter and Ga...
Professor of Accounting, the Rotman School of Management; Vice Dean, Undergraduate and Specialized Programs, University of Toronto
Scott Liao is Vice Dean, Pre-experience and Specialized Programs, U of T Distinguished Professor in Financial Analytics and Banking, and Professor of Accounting at Rotman. His...
Certificate
Upon successful completion of this 6-week virtual learning program, each participant will receive a digital certificate from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. This program also counts toward a Rotman Excellence in Executive Leadership Certificate.
Note: All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of the Rotman School of Management.
The Ontario Student Assistance Program is offering financial assistance to Ontario residents
The Ontario Student Assistance Program is now offering funding for micro-credentials, including Rotman Executive Programs. This new resource is part of Ontario’s micro-credentials strategy, helping learners access more opportunities to train or upskill for in-demand jobs through loans and grants. This funding is available for Ontario residents only with additional requirements.
Learn about OSAP funding for Ontario residents as well as the full details of the program by downloading our brochure.
FAQs
Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to us at learner.success@emeritus.org or Schedule a call with one of our Program Advisors or call us at +1 985 616 5261 (US) / +44 127 959 4639 (UK) / +65 3138 5295 (SG)
Flexible payment options available.
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