
Redefining Business Skills in the Age of AI
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.
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

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
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.
Develop mission, vision and values (MVV) statements using strategic reasoning and AI support.
Identify and protect sources of competitive advantage in real time.
Distinguish between strategy, tactics and operations for sharper execution.
Apply strategic frameworks to analyze disruption and guide decision-making.
Connect interest rates, inflation and unemployment trends to business planning.
Anticipate recessions and evaluate trade-offs in government debt and deficits.
Predict future globalization trends using historic insights.
Use AI tools to analyze macroeconomic shifts and inform strategy.
Differentiate between robotic process automation (RPA), and predictive, generative and agentic AI.
Evaluate AI’s capabilities, limitations and role in strategic planning.
Align AI types with business goals.
Identify high-value AI applications in finance, accounting and marketing.
Position AI as a strategic partner to enhance decision-making and organizational impact.
Interpret financial statements and disclosures with managerial precision.
Extract actionable insights from forecasts to guide strategy.
Apply AI tools to assess organizational financial health and performance.
Strengthen decision-making by viewing accounting through both investor and manager lenses.
Explain the functions of financial markets and the importance of transparency.
Apply investment decision rules, including the net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), payback and profitability index.
Calculate present value, cash flows and risk-adjusted returns.
Incorporate compounding and risk frameworks into financial evaluations.
Evaluate the role of marketing as a driver of growth, strategy and brand equity.
Segment customers and construct compelling brand positioning statements.
Propose vertical, horizontal and portfolio brand strategies.
Compare and apply pricing approaches to capture value in diverse markets.
Assess the value of AI for marketing.
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.
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

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...

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 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.
While there are a host of MBA programs offered by leading business schools, the MBA Essentials program from the Rotman School of Management stands out for its flexibility and focus on applied learning. It is designed for professionals and aspiring business leaders who want to strengthen their management skills and achieve their career goals without committing to a full MBA.
This 6-week virtual learning experience is ideal for managers, general managers, entrepreneurs and executives seeking to broaden their skill set in strategy, finance, marketing, macroeconomics and accounting. By integrating AI-driven insights with real-world applications, the program equips participants to make informed decisions and lead confidently in today’s dynamic business environment.
With numerous management courses available today, the MBA Essentials program from the Rotman School of Management distinguishes itself by helping professionals strengthen their management skills, pursue new opportunities and accelerate their journey toward leadership.
Through a 6-week online format, it integrates strategy, finance, marketing, macroeconomics and accounting with AI-driven insights—equipping participants to tackle business challenges, enhance decision-making, and lead confidently in a dynamic business environment.
MBA essentials programs provide the foundations of business education by focusing on core areas, including finance, strategy, operations and marketing. These building blocks are critical for professionals aiming to strengthen their management skills, expand their business fundamentals, and pursue leadership roles in today’s business world.
For professionals seeking these essentials in an applied, future-ready format, the MBA Essentials program from The Rotman School of Management offers a 6-week online management certificate experience. It combines the fundamentals of an MBA program with AI-driven insights, case studies and applied frameworks, equipping participants to design effective strategic plans, respond to evolving business challenges, and achieve their career goals in a dynamic business environment.
An MBA Essentials certificate holds value for professionals who want to strengthen their management skills, broaden their business fundamentals and demonstrate expertise in strategy, finance, marketing and leadership. For employers, it signals a versatile skill set and readiness to address complex business challenges in today’s competitive business world.
The MBA Essentials certificate program from the Rotman School of Management offers these outcomes in a flexible, applied format. Delivered over six weeks online, it combines MBA-level learning with AI-driven insights, case studies and applied frameworks, enabling participants to design effective strategic plans and translate new knowledge into measurable impact in the business environment.
An MBA Essentials online program connects business fundamentals with applied learning, enabling professionals to translate theory into real-world practice. It helps build a versatile skill set in strategy, finance, leadership and business operations, supported by case studies and collaborative projects that mirror real business situations.
For professionals seeking this depth of learning in a focused format, the MBA Essentials program from the Rotman School of Management offers a 6-week online experience. It integrates strategy, finance, marketing, macroeconomics and accounting with practical assignments and AI tools such as strategy coaches, scenario simulators and decision-making assistants. This ensures participants not only understand key concepts but also apply them to strategic plans and real business challenges.
Traditional business courses often teach subjects in isolation, focusing on strategy, finance or marketing separately. An MBA Essentials study integrates these disciplines into a single framework, helping professionals understand how different business functions connect and how this integration strengthens strategic decision-making.
The MBA Essentials program from the Rotman School of Management captures this integrated approach in a concise, 6-week online format. It brings together MBA-level foundations in strategy, finance, marketing, macroeconomics and accounting, while embedding AI-driven tools and applied assignments such as case studies, macroeconomic consultations and financial analysis. This enables participants to develop cross-functional management skills that translate directly into effective strategic plans and leadership impact in today’s business environment.
The MBA Essentials program from the Rotman School of Management strengthens your professional skill set by combining business fundamentals with strategic and analytical learning. It helps you build core capabilities in finance, strategy, marketing and leadership—equipping you to adapt to evolving roles and industries in today’s dynamic business landscape.
Delivered in a 6-week online format, the program integrates AI-driven tools and applied learning through case studies, strategy exercises and financial analysis. Participants gain cross-functional management skills, enabling them to make informed decisions, lead effectively and create measurable impact in their organizations.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how organizations innovate, compete and create value. In management learning, AI goes beyond theory by connecting business fundamentals with data-driven insights, strengthening strategic plans, testing assumptions through simulations and preparing leaders for an AI-driven business environment.
The MBA Essentials program from the Rotman School of Management integrates MBA-level foundations with practical AI applications in a 6-week online format. Participants engage with AI as a strategy coach, scenario simulator and decision-making assistant—applying it directly to business challenges so that technology becomes part of their management skill set rather than a concept studied in isolation.
When considering a master of business administration (MBA) Essentials program or similar learning experience, it is important to evaluate how the program supports your career goals and schedule while providing the flexibility to learn effectively. Many MBA programs now offer online or hybrid options that let professionals balance learning with work and personal commitments.
For business professionals seeking MBA-level learning in a more time-efficient and applied format, the MBA Essentials program from the Rotman School of Management delivers that balance. Over six weeks, it helps participants strengthen their management skills, understand business fundamentals across strategy, finance, marketing, macroeconomics and accounting, and address real business challenges and opportunities through AI-driven tools, case studies and applied assignments.
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)
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