Illinois AI Leadership Sprint
ILLINOIS AI LEADERSHIP SPRINT:
Demystifying LLMs, Future Trends, GenAI Workflows and Risk Mitigation
Hands-on AI learning from experts
A one-day, in-person program on January 13, 2026, in Chicago for mid-to-senior executives led by Illinois faculty featuring peer exchanges, practical takeaways for strategy, and operating models.
DEMYSTIFY
Learn LLMs from a non-technical perspective
TRENDS
Forecast near-term AI Advances
WORKFLOWS
Utilize generative AI for workflow and teams redesign
SECURITY
Manage threats with mitigation playbooks
Our Audience and What to Expect
AI is transforming every business—but the rapid pace of technological change makes strategic decisions tougher than ever. Navigating this landscape requires understanding not just today's tools, but the fundamental principles driving AI's evolution. Designed for mid- to senior-level executives in non-technical roles who engage with AI strategy, this one-day, in-person Illinois AI Leadership Sprint offers an intimate, hands-on experience focused on real business impact and peer exchange.
Clear, plain-language sessions with leading AI faculty will demystify Large Language Models, preview near-term advances, show practical ways to reshape workflows and teams with generative AI, and provide straightforward security guidance with actionable mitigation playbooks.
Distinguished Illinois computer science faculty—active researchers at the forefront of AI development—will lead interactive discussions and case studies that translate emerging technical breakthroughs into clear choices for strategy, operating models, and governance. Their direct involvement in shaping AI's trajectory provides unique insight into which advances matter for business and which are fleeting.
The day emphasizes enduring principles and decision frameworks over specific tools, ensuring insights stay relevant as the technology evolves. Rather than prescribing today's solutions, faculty will equip you with the conceptual foundation to evaluate new AI capabilities as they emerge—enabling confident decision-making even as the landscape shifts.
Participants will leave with a shared technical vocabulary for discussing AI with engineers and vendors, practical frameworks grounded in current research, and a prioritized action plan to advance secure, high-impact AI initiatives across the enterprise.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
8:00 am-5:30pm
Siebel School of Computing and Data Science (Chicago Office)
Discovery Partners Institute
200 S Wacker Dr
4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60606
Cost: $3,000 per participant
Tuition includes all workshop materials, hands-on training with computer science faculty, and post-event support.
| 8:00-8:45 am | Breakfast |
| 8:45-9:00 am | Welcome |
| 9:00-10:30 am |
Heng Ji: Demystifying LLMs + Jerry Talton: case study |
| 10:30-10:45 am | Break |
| 10:45-12:15 pm | Gang Wang: Understanding and mitigating LLM security risks + Jerry Talton: case study |
| 12:15-1:45 pm | Lunch |
| 1:45-3:45 pm | Ranjitha Kumar: Integrating AI into your company + Jerry Talton: case study |
| 3:45-4:00 pm | Break |
| 4:00-5:00 pm | Panel |
| 5:30 pm | Dinner |
Illinois AI Leadership Sprint Faculty
Heng Ji
Heng is a computer science professor whose research interests include Natural Language Processing and its connections with Data Mining, as well as Social Science and Vision. She is an Amazon Scholar and founding director of Amazon-Illinois Center on AI for Interactive Conversational Experiences (AICE). Her research has been widely supported by U.S. Government agencies (DARPA, NSF, DoE, ARL, IARPA, AFRL, DHS) and industry (Amazon, Google, Bosch, IBM, Disney).
Ranjitha Kumar
Ranjitha is an associate professor of computer science and the director of the Innovation Leadership and Engineering Entrepreneurship program at the Grainger College of Engineering. Since 2019, she has been the Chief Scientist at UserTesting--the market leader in experience research and insights--guiding the company's AI product strategy through its IPO and acquisition by Thoma Bravo. She was previously the co-founder of Apropose, which built big-data products for UX design.
Jerry Talton
Jerry is a research assistant professor in the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science where he works on problems at the intersection of Machine Learning & Human-Computer Interaction. He was formerly the Chief Technology Officer at Carta (an $8bn FinTech company), the first Engineering Manager for Machine Learning at Slack, and the founder & CEO of a data startup backed by A16z and NEA.
Gang Wang
Gang is an associate professor of computer science with affiliate faculty appointments in both the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and the Informatics Program of the School of Information Sciences. His research interests include security and privacy, systems and networking, and data mining. His awards include NSF CAREER Award (2018), Amazon Research Award (2021), and Google Faculty Research Award (2017).
Apply for a spot today!
Click below to submit your resume/CV for the inaugural AI Executive Workshop.
Upon selection, you will receive information to register yourself and/or your team.
Questions? Please contact Professor Hari Sundaram (hs1@illinois.edu).