Articles / ISB Leadership with AI Programme Review: Is It Worth It?
Development, Training & CoachingComprehensive ISB Leadership with AI programme review. Explore curriculum, costs, participant feedback, and whether this 20-week course delivers value.
Written by Laura Bouttell • Tue 30th December 2025
The ISB Leadership with AI Programme is a 20-week online executive education course designed to equip mid-to-senior level leaders with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to navigate the intersection of leadership and artificial intelligence—without requiring any prior coding or technical expertise. Built on the legacy of 24 successful batches and having trained over 7,500 leaders, the programme represents one of India's most established offerings in AI leadership development.
For executives asking whether they should invest ₹1,99,900 and five months of their time in this programme, the answer depends on what you're seeking. If you want hands-on technical AI skills, look elsewhere. If you want to understand how AI transforms business strategy and leadership practice, ISB's offering deserves serious consideration.
The programme's strength lies in combining leadership concepts with AI understanding—enabling participants to "execute at a leadership level with a 360-degree overview," as one alumnus described. This synthesis matters more than either component alone in today's rapidly evolving business environment.
The ISB Leadership with AI Programme is an executive education offering from the Indian School of Business, delivered online in partnership with Emeritus. It targets professionals who want to understand AI's strategic implications without becoming technologists themselves.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 20 weeks |
| Format | Online (self-paced with live sessions) |
| Fee | ₹1,99,900 |
| Prerequisites | None (no coding required) |
| Target Audience | Mid-to-senior level leaders |
| Certificate | ISB Executive Education certificate |
| Batches Completed | 24+ |
| Alumni | 7,500+ leaders trained |
This programme explicitly does not target technology professionals and engineers seeking to develop AI solutions. Instead, it serves business leaders who need to:
The distinction matters. Many AI programmes assume technical backgrounds or aim to develop technical capabilities. ISB's offering focuses purely on the leadership and strategic dimensions.
The programme is delivered through Emeritus, which partners with ISB for online executive education. This arrangement means:
Understanding this structure helps set appropriate expectations about faculty interaction.
The curriculum addresses both AI fundamentals and leadership application, structured to build capability progressively over 20 weeks.
The programme includes over 140 pre-recorded videos covering:
AI Foundations
Leadership Integration
Practical Application
Pre-Recorded Content
The bulk of learning happens through recorded video sessions. Participants access materials on their own schedule, enabling flexibility for working professionals.
Live Sessions
Weekly live sessions provide:
Important clarification: ISB faculty do not participate in live sessions. A curated panel of programme leaders conducts these sessions instead.
Masterclasses
The programme features live masterclasses specifically covering:
These sessions address the latest developments in AI, helping keep content current in a rapidly evolving field.
Weekly Assignments
Participants complete 17 assignments throughout the programme. According to alumni feedback, 16 of these relate directly to implementing and integrating AI in participants' own professional fields—making assignments immediately practical rather than purely academic.
Capstone Project
The programme culminates in a capstone project requiring participants to apply their learning comprehensively. Alumni describe this as challenging, with one participant noting they had to take on the role of "CTO of an insurance company" for their project.
The capstone tests whether participants can synthesise programme concepts into coherent strategic recommendations—exactly the capability the programme aims to develop.
Understanding the ideal participant profile helps determine fit.
The programme suits:
Mid-to-Senior Level Leaders
Professionals with sufficient organisational scope to influence AI decisions. Entry-level employees would benefit less as they lack the context to apply strategic learning.
Business-Side Executives
Those in strategy, operations, marketing, finance, or general management roles—not IT or engineering functions seeking technical depth.
Leaders Facing AI Transformation
Executives whose industries or organisations are actively implementing AI, creating immediate application opportunities for programme learning.
Career Transitioners
Professionals seeking to move into roles requiring AI literacy, such as digital transformation leadership or AI strategy functions.
Technical Professionals
Engineers, data scientists, or developers seeking to build AI systems. The programme explicitly states it's not designed for "technology professionals and engineers who want to learn and develop technology solutions."
Those Seeking Deep Technical Knowledge
If you want to understand neural network architecture, train machine learning models, or write AI code, this programme won't satisfy.
Passive Learners
The self-paced format requires discipline. As one alumnus noted, "It is a very self-paced programme. If you are up to it, if you crave learning, it works." Those who struggle with self-directed learning may find the format challenging.
Alumni feedback provides valuable perspective on programme strengths and limitations.
Strategic Perspective Shift
One participant described how the programme "completely changed the way I look at business now. I can look into what is the core purpose of the business, why they do certain things, and how different stakeholders benefit."
This strategic reframing appears frequently in reviews—the programme helps executives see business through an AI-informed lens.
Technical-Leadership Integration
A recurring strength noted: "The best part is the combination of technical and leadership concepts shared in parallel, which enables the individual to execute at a leadership level with a 360-degree overview."
This integration distinguishes the programme from purely technical AI courses or traditional leadership programmes.
Faculty Quality
Several reviewers praised specific instructors. "Dr. Lalit Sir is awesome, and the level of knowledge that I have got from him is tremendous. I will always cherish his teaching style."
Another noted: "Milind Naik's sessions were very informative and engaging. The exposure to various case studies and the different people from across industry was a great experience."
Practical Orientation
The heavy focus on assignments tied to participants' actual work contexts receives positive feedback. Rather than abstract exercises, participants apply concepts to real challenges in their organisations.
ISB Faculty Involvement
The programme materials make clear that "ISB faculty will not be a part of weekly live sessions or any other live interaction in this programme." Those expecting direct engagement with ISB professors should understand this limitation.
Self-Paced Challenges
The flexibility that enables working professionals to participate also requires significant self-discipline. Some participants may struggle without structured class schedules.
Content Currency
AI evolves rapidly. While the programme updates content and includes masterclasses on current topics, some recorded material may lag the latest developments.
Positioning ISB's offering against alternatives helps contextualise value.
| Programme | Duration | Fee | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISB Leadership with AI | 20 weeks | ₹1,99,900 | Leadership + AI strategy |
| IIM AI programmes | Varies | ₹1-3 lakhs | Often more technical |
| ISB Chief Digital Officer | Longer | Higher | C-suite digital transformation |
ISB's programme occupies a specific niche—leadership-focused rather than technical, accessible without prerequisites, established track record.
| Programme | Institution | Fee | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leadership with AI | ISB | ~$2,400 | Online |
| AI Strategy and Leadership | MIT xPRO | Higher | Online |
| AI and Analytics Leadership | Wharton | Much higher | Blended |
| AI for Business | Various | Varies | Various |
At approximately $2,400, ISB's programme represents significantly lower investment than comparable Western offerings. The trade-off involves brand recognition outside India and potentially different faculty profiles.
For Indian professionals, ISB offers:
For those prioritising global brand recognition or planning international careers, Western alternatives might justify higher investment.
Balanced assessment requires acknowledging both.
Established Track Record
With 24+ batches and 7,500+ alumni, the programme has demonstrated sustainability and iteration. Early-stage programmes lack this refinement.
Clear Positioning
The programme knows what it is—and isn't. This clarity helps participants self-select appropriately.
Practical Orientation
Assignments tied to participants' actual work contexts create immediate application value rather than abstract learning.
Comprehensive Scope
Twenty weeks allows depth across both AI fundamentals and leadership application that shorter programmes cannot match.
Accessibility
No technical prerequisites mean business leaders can participate without feeling disadvantaged by missing background.
Flexible Format
Self-paced learning with live sessions balances flexibility and structure for working professionals.
Limited Direct ISB Faculty Engagement
The faculty model may disappoint those expecting traditional business school interaction.
Self-Discipline Required
Online, self-paced format demands motivation that not all participants sustain over 20 weeks.
Technical Depth Limited
Those wanting to go deeper technically will find the programme insufficient.
Rapid Field Evolution
AI advances quickly. Some programme content may lag current developments despite masterclass updates.
Alumni Network Value Unclear
While over 7,500 leaders have completed the programme, the practical networking value of this community is less clear than traditional MBA alumni networks.
Evaluating return on investment requires considering multiple dimensions.
Direct Costs
Potential Returns
The programme creates value for participants who:
Value diminishes for those who:
Consider the ISB Leadership with AI programme if:
Consider alternatives if:
The ISB Leadership with AI programme is a 20-week online executive education course from the Indian School of Business designed for mid-to-senior level leaders. It combines AI fundamentals with leadership development, helping executives understand how to strategically incorporate AI into their organisations. The programme requires no coding knowledge and has trained over 7,500 leaders across 24+ batches.
The programme fee is ₹1,99,900 (approximately $2,400). Flexible payment options and student loans are available. This includes all course materials, access to recorded content, live sessions, masterclasses, assignments, capstone project, and ISB Executive Education certificate upon completion. No additional travel or accommodation costs apply as the programme is fully online.
No technical prerequisites are required—the programme explicitly welcomes participants without coding or technical backgrounds. It's designed for business leaders who want strategic AI understanding rather than technical expertise. Participants should be mid-to-senior level professionals with sufficient organisational context to apply strategic learning. English proficiency is necessary as all content is delivered in English.
ISB faculty created the curriculum and appear in pre-recorded content, but they do not participate in weekly live sessions or other live interactions. A curated panel of programme leaders conducts the weekly live doubt-clearing sessions. The programme includes masterclasses and content from various industry experts alongside ISB-developed materials delivered through the Emeritus platform.
The programme spans 20 weeks of online learning. Participants should expect to invest approximately 10-15 hours weekly, including watching pre-recorded content, attending live sessions, completing assignments, and working on the capstone project. The self-paced format allows flexibility, but discipline is required to maintain progress throughout the five-month duration.
Successful participants receive an ISB Executive Education certificate and gain ISB Executive Alumni status. The certificate confirms completion of the Leadership with AI programme and carries ISB's institutional recognition. Alumni status provides access to ISB's executive education alumni network, though the practical benefits of this network vary based on individual circumstances and career contexts.
Value depends on individual circumstances. The programme delivers strong returns for mid-to-senior business leaders seeking strategic AI understanding in organisations undergoing AI transformation, particularly those whose careers benefit from ISB's brand in Indian business contexts. Value diminishes for those seeking technical depth, struggling with self-paced formats, or whose roles don't involve AI strategy decisions. The ₹1,99,900 investment represents good value compared to Western alternatives with similar scope.
The ISB Leadership with AI Programme delivers what it promises: a comprehensive introduction to AI strategy and leadership for business executives without technical backgrounds. Its 24-batch track record and 7,500+ alumni demonstrate sustained market validation.
The programme excels at bridging AI concepts and leadership practice—the synthesis that matters most for executives navigating AI transformation. Practical assignments connecting theory to participants' actual work contexts create immediate application value.
Limitations exist. ISB faculty involvement is less direct than some might expect. Self-paced online learning demands discipline that not everyone sustains. Technical depth is intentionally limited.
For the right participant—a mid-to-senior business leader facing AI transformation, valuing ISB's credential in Indian business contexts, capable of self-directed learning—the programme represents solid investment. The combination of established track record, practical curriculum, and accessible pricing creates genuine value.
For those misaligned with the programme's design—seeking technical depth, requiring intensive faculty engagement, or lacking application context—alternatives better serve their needs.
The programme won't make you an AI expert. It will help you lead effectively in a world where AI expertise increasingly matters. For many executives, that distinction makes all the difference.