Building Your Productivity Edge with AI
Gain the knowledge and skills to take you from casual AI use to meaningful productivity gains.
Unlock the Real Productivity Boost AI Can Offer
Why We Made This Program
Almost every professional we speak with is using AI in their daily work. However, most sense they're only scratching the surface of its potential. This program closes the gap, providing the practical skills and knowledge needed to unlock real productivity gains and leverage all that AI has to offer.
In two days, you will transform your use of AI from a source of answers and surface-level polish to a genuine productivity edge in every facet of work.
Who It’s For
Designed for mid-to-senior managers, directors, and functional leaders — across finance, HR, marketing, operations, legal, and general management. Public and private sector. No technical background required.
What Makes This Different
There are a lot of AI courses available. Three things set this one apart.
A full day, one-on-one application clinic
Day two is a working session. Bring real recurring tasks from your own work. A Smith faculty member specializing in AI in business gives you direct, individual guidance. You leave with approaches already tested on the work in front of you.
Faculty who actually do this work
This program is led by a Smith professor in Business and Artificial Intelligence – researching the field, supervising PhD students, and advising organizations on AI adoption. Evidence-based content, not a vendor pitch.
Immersive, peer-led learning
AI fluency is built through practice with feedback — not by reading about AI. You'll spend two days in-person, alongside peers from across industries who are wrestling with the same questions you are.
What You’ll Learn
By the end of two days you will be able to:
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Recognize what AI does well — and where it fails
Avoid common pitfalls and start getting consistently useful output. -
Pick the right tool and tier for the job
Compare ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot — and the tiers within each. -
Get exactly what you want through proven prompting
Context, persona, iteration, formatting — moving past trial-and-error. -
Use platform features most people never touch
Memory, custom instructions, files, deep research — real fluency, not surface use. -
Apply AI to the work you already do
Drafting, analysis, research, summarization, brainstorming — useful, not generic. -
Evaluate AI output with confidence
Spot hallucinations and shallow work. Know when to trust, when to verify. -
Build AI into recurring work
Meeting prep, reports, research digests — compounding time savings, not one-offs. -
Use AI responsibly and credibly
Privacy and confidentiality decisions that protect you and your organization.
Your Instructor
Stephen Thomas
Assistant Professor & Distinguished Teaching Fellow of Management AnalyticsSteve is a sought-after professor and AI expert at Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business. He has won multiple teaching awards and has a unique ability to present technical topics in an easy-to-understand and inspiring way. He has delivered AI programs to organizations all over North America and has published his original research in leading international journals.
A Recognized Symbol of Excellence
Participants who complete the program earn the Building Your Productivity Edge with AI digital badge credential.
Where You’ll Learn
Kingston - Donald Gordon Hotel and Conference Centre
We host immersive multi-day programs at this purpose-built residential learning centre at Queen’s University. It provides classrooms, on-site accommodation, and comfortable spaces for informal discussion and networking.
What's included: accommodations, all meals plus snacks, and parking.
SmithToronto
200 Front Street West, 30th Floor — in the heart of Canada's financial district. Easily accessible by GO, subway, and the PATH.
What's included: breakfast, lunch and snacks.
Group discounts & in-house delivery
Bringing a team? We offer discounts for organizations sending five or more participants. We can also deliver this program in-house, customized to your organization's specific use cases.
Contact us about a group
Upcoming Sessions
Questions about the program?
Connect with our team of advisors to ask any questions you have and learn more about Building Your Productivity Edge with AI.
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