Build practical fluency in Agentic AI
Agentic AI for Business Sprint
Build practical fluency in Agentic AI
In this Sprint, you will build a business-focused foundation in Agentic AI and gain hands-on experience of how it works. You’ll explore how generative and agentic AI are evolving, identify valuable business applications, build a basic AI agent and multi-agent system, and understand how agents connect with your organization’s data and systems. You’ll also examine the governance, risk and adoption considerations required to put AI to work responsibly.
Throughout the Sprint, you’ll bring these elements together around a real AI use case from your own work, developing it with support from an AI Advisor and applying your learning to a potential agentic solution.
To take part in the hands-on exercises, you’ll need access to a laptop or desktop computer and a paid AI tool subscription, such as Claude Pro, ChatGPT Plus or equivalent.
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1The what: Understanding AI
- How we got from AI to generative AI to agentic AI, and what each is good for.
- How large language models actually work, and why that explains both their capabilities and their limitations.
- What an AI agent is, how it differs from a chatbot, and why agents became viable only now.
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2The why: Business applications of AI
- The four categories of generative AI use cases, with real examples at scale.
- Why your data, not the model, is your competitive advantage, and three tests for your own.
- From pilot to scaled deployment: why most pilots stall, and what it takes to move forward.
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3The how: Building with AI
- How agents plan and act: the goals, tools and permissions they need, and the loops they run.
- The different kinds of agents you will encounter, and the patterns that underpin them.
- How to connect AI to your proprietary data using retrieval-augmented generation, and where it can go wrong.
- Two live workshops: build your own AI agent, then connect multiple agents into a multi-agent system.
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4The catch: Responsible AI, regulations and governance
- The three families of AI risk, accuracy, bias and copyright, and the controls that address each.
- The EU AI Act and wider regulatory landscape: understand which AI applications may be considered high risk.
- How to build AI governance that works in practice, not just on paper.
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5The path: From strategy to implementation
- One AI strategy for one measurable task: connecting technology, value, build and governance.
- Leading AI adoption in your team: the fears, the habits, the early wins.
- What to watch next and where durable advantage will come from
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6Apply your learning to your own AI use case
Bring an AI use case from your work and develop it throughout the five units with support from an AI Advisor that remembers your progress. You’ll apply each stage of your learning to your use case, exploring how an agentic solution could work and what it would take to put it into practice.
Schedule overview
All live sessions are recorded and will be available for replay on the learning platform.
- Understand what is ‘Artificial Intelligence’ today
- Learn the difference between AI and “Machine Learning”
- Discover the different types of ML
- Get an intuitive understanding of how a Neural Network works<!– wp:block {“ref”:342059} /–>
- What can AI do for you and your business
- Taking AI from the lab to practice
- Learn about the types of problems AI can solve in real life
- Discover cutting-edge applications of AI
- AI implementation traps
- Technology and infrastructure for successful AI implementation
- Using AI for complex decision making
- The potential negative consequences of AI
- The root causes of unethical AI applications
- Regulatory landscape and upcoming developments in AI regulations
- The importance of governing AI in your organization
Power your learning with IMD’s AI Advisor
Personalized AI support integrated into your learning experience — guiding you as you set objectives, complete assignments, journal insights, and apply concepts to your work.
Real-time feedback, reflection prompts, and guidance— tailored to your role and work situation.
Prompts tied directly to your curriculum and connected through all modules, helping you create an integrated outcome by the end.
Step-by-step for structured support, Adaptive for high-level guidance.
Guidance to develop actionable plans grounded in your reality and ready to implement immediately.
“Organizations struggle to identify optimal AI strategies and how to implement them. Demystifying Machine Learning and understanding its uses and limitations is crucial to organizational success.”
Amit Joshi is Professor of AI and Strategy. He specializes in helping organizations use artificial intelligence and develop their big data, analytics, and AI capabilities. An award-winning professor and researcher, he has extensive experience of AI and analytics-driven transformations in industries such as banking, fintech, retail, automotive, telecoms, and pharma.
Joshi believes that no organization’s digital transformation is complete until they really understand their data and how to upscale…
Amit Joshi is Professor of AI and Strategy. He specializes in helping organizations use artificial intelligence and develop their big data, analytics, and AI capabilities. An award-winning professor and researcher, he has extensive experience of AI and analytics-driven transformations in industries…
Amit Joshi is Professor of AI and Strategy. He specializes in helping organizations use artificial intelligence and develop their big data, analytics, and AI capabilities. An award-winning professor and researcher, he has extensive experience of AI…
Human Resource Partner, Africa Region, ICRC, Switzerland
I absolutely love IMD learning and GABS. The opportunity to stretch my brain into new areas of learning and consider how I might apply such learning is always such a joy for me.
Engineering Manager, LEWA America, USA
Using these learning tools certainly helped me understand the material as well as being able to recall information more clearly. These topics are intense if you are new to AI, like I am, and it made it easier to follow the conversation and understand the content.
Global Channel Development Manager | Philip Morris International | Switzerland
This sprint has been essential to expand my understanding of AI, including demystifying AI, AI strategic challenges, AI business applications, driving successful AI implementation, ethical AI, regulations, and governance. I have gained valuable insights into the current capabilities of AI and its potential impact in the future. Many thanks to faculty for making the learning experience truly enjoyable.
Global Learning & Development Partner | Group HR, Holcim, Switzerland
Every learning element of Sprint is purposefully designed, making for a great learning experience.
Corporate Communications Director – Brand & Events, Givaudan, Switzerland
Sprint is packed with great information but never overwhelming. The live video sessions are a pleasure to watch.
Director Sales Operations – APAC Offshore | Vestas | India
The concepts are very well articulated, with relevant examples for easier understanding irrespective of whether one has previous know-how of the subject.
Director Process & IT EMEA | CEMEX Innovation Holding | Switzerland
The sessions around demystifying AI and machine learning were particularly helpful.
Principal Customer Success Account Manager, Microsoft, The Netherlands
Faculty’s approach to conveying complex topics is truly remarkable. It makes the learning experience very insightful, engaging and enriching. Sprint has made a lasting impression.
What is IMD Sprint?
IMD Sprint is a fast-paced online learning program delivered in short, highly engaging sessions. Each Sprint includes faculty-led, live virtual sessions (approx. 4 x 1h per week) as well as high quality pre-recorded multimedia content you can watch at your own pace. The total time commitment is approx. 1-2 hours per day over 1 or 2 weeks, depending on the Sprint. You receive IMD certification on successful completion.
How a Sprint works
After registration, you’ll gain access to IMD online learning portal to set up your profile and complete any necessary pre-work. On the program start date, you’ll be able to access the links to the live virtual sessions, review pre-recorded materials, engage with fellow participants, and work on your project (if applicable).
Interact with faculty and guest speakers
Engage with high-quality content, available to watch at your own pace
Gain insights from your cohort
Turn learning into your own action plan
