McKinsey research found that 88% of organizations now regularly use AI in at least one business function, up from 78% just a year earlier. But only about one-third of those companies have scaled AI across the enterprise, leaving a serious opportunity for rising graduates.

Modern companies drastically need AI-first managers who understand how technology can be applied across departments to achieve business objectives: a skill that requires a rare blend of data fluency and leadership skills. This is exactly the skill set that Longwood University’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a track in Data Analytics online program is designed to develop, preparing working professionals to lead teams where technology, analytics and business strategy converge.

What Is the Role of AI and Machine Learning in Today’s Business Landscape?

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to computers that can reason and learn in a manner similar to humans. Machine learning (ML) is a subset of AI in which systems improve their performance by analyzing large datasets. These technologies are reshaping dozens of business functions:

  • Finance: Fraud detection, credit risk scoring and algorithmic forecasting rely on machine learning models trained on historical transaction data.
  • Operations: Predictive maintenance, quality control and workforce scheduling all increasingly depend on AI-driven insights.
  • Marketing: Customer segmentation, personalization engines and campaign attribution models help marketers target spend more precisely.

The demand for AI and ML in business has led to a surge in data scientist roles, with this occupation projected to grow 34% from 2024 to 2034. This growth is much faster than the 3% average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

How Are Leaders Using AI to Drive Strategic Planning?

Executives use AI to make informed decisions in real time, drastically improving functions like demand forecasting, financial scenario planning, capital allocation and competitive simulation. Longwood’s curriculum prepares students for this type of fast-paced analytical rigor with two courses.

The Strategic Management course focuses on formulating and executing strategy in complex, data-rich environments, while Managerial Economics builds the foundation needed to interpret AI-driven forecasts and evaluate tradeoffs across resource allocation decisions. Together, they prepare graduates to optimize data for business use, especially for managerial decision-making.

What Ethical Considerations Come With AI Deployment?

Deploying AI systems, while effective, must also be done carefully. There are several risks inherent in most AI systems:

  • Algorithmic Bias: Models trained on skewed data can produce discriminatory outcomes in hiring, lending, pricing and customer service.
  • Data Privacy: Collecting and processing personal data at scale creates compliance risks.
  • Transparency: Many machine learning models don’t disclose why they arrive at certain conclusions.
  • Accountability: When an AI system causes harm, it’s not always clear who is responsible and how to remediate the issue.

The NIST AI Risk Management Framework provides organizations with a starting point for addressing the ethical considerations of using AI, but frameworks like these are only valuable if leadership owns the implementation. Longwood’s Ethics course addresses this issue directly, and the Social Responsibility course addresses the broader stakeholder obligations.

What Leadership Skills Are Needed to Manage AI-Driven Organizations?

Leading an AI-driven organization requires a distinct mix of technical and human skills. These four competencies are particularly important:

  1. Data Literacy: Understanding what a model does, where its data comes from and how to interpret its outputs.
  2. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Working effectively across teams to translate technical work into business outcomes.
  3. Change Management: Guiding teams through the workflow redesign that AI implementation requires.
  4. Communicating Insights: Turning complex analytical findings into clear narratives.

Longwood’s program addresses these competencies directly. The Data Visualization course trains students to communicate findings through clear, persuasive visuals that drive action, while IT Leadership develops the ability to lead technology initiatives across organizational boundaries.

Lead the Next Generation of AI-Driven Business with Longwood’s Online MBA

Goodwill is piloting an AI program that could sort billions of pounds of donations each year. It began as an incremental sorting improvement but has led the management team to question whether a company-wide redesign is necessary. Explore what you can do with an MBA in data analytics.

The data points in one direction: AI capability is spreading rapidly, but the value it delivers depends on leaders who can connect analytical insight to business strategy. Longwood University’s online MBA with a track in Data Analytics prepares rising professionals to fill this gap, combining core business coursework with applied analytics training – all delivered in a flexible online format.

Learn more about Longwood University’s online MBA with a track in Data Analytics program.