Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept; it has become an indispensable force that is reshaping industries and changing how we work. As AI continues to transform workplaces across Canada, AI literacy is becoming an essential skill for non-technical professionals. Business leaders now need more than traditional leadership skills to navigate an ever-evolving business landscape.

Understanding AI fundamentals, identifying practical applications, evaluating risks, and using AI responsibly can help professionals adapt to changing business demands. Here are five AI literacy courses for non-technical professionals in Canada that help learners build practical knowledge and make informed decisions about AI adoption.

Institute	AI course or program	Key Focus Areas
HEC Montréal	Certification in Artificial Intelligence	AI strategy, responsible adoption, and business decision-making
Schulich Executive Education (Schulich ExecEd), Schulich School of Business	Applied Graduate Certificate in AI & Analytics for Leaders & AI Lab for Leaders	Hands-on AI tools, prompt writing, data interpretation, and business decision-making
UBC Sauder School of Business	AI Advantage – AI Strategies for Business Leaders	Develop an AI roadmap, lead AI transformation, and evaluate AI tools
Ivey Business School	AI Strategy for Competitive Advantage	Evaluating AI opportunities, understanding business impact, and strategic decision-making
Canadian Management Centre	Artificial Intelligence (AI) Business Essentials Certificate Program	AI readiness and governance, strategic decision-making, and organizational impact

HEC Montréal – Certification in Artificial Intelligence

The Certification in Artificial Intelligence, offered by Executive Education HEC Montréal, is designed for senior leaders and managers who want to align AI integration with business value. The six-day program, taught in French, bridges the gap between understanding AI advancements and turning them into strategic decisions, priorities, and concrete organizational actions.

Key Focus Areas:

• A practical roadmap for AI integration
• Organizational diagnostics to identify bottlenecks
• Ethical, legal, and digital responsibility considerations

Schulich School of Business – AI Lab for Leaders

AI Lab for Leaders is a professional development program offered by Schulich ExecEd (Schulich Executive Education) at York University’s Schulich School of Business. This two-day online program offers hands-on training in large language models (LLMs), and it is ideal for non-technical professionals with no prior coding experience. It focuses on helping professionals craft effective prompts, solve business scenarios, interpret data, and manage AI governance. The program also serves as a foundational core module within the 5-day Applied Graduate Certificate in AI & Analytics for Leaders.

Key Focus Areas:

• Prompt engineering and LLM applications
• Analysis and interpretation of complex datasets
• Real-world decision-making
• AI governance and responsible adoption

UBC Sauder School of Business – AI Advantage

The AI Advantage (AI Strategies for Business Leaders) program, offered by UBC Sauder Professional Growth, is an intensive two-day, in-person executive course designed to help mid- and senior-level business leaders move beyond basic AI experimentation and future-proof their leadership skills for a competitive edge.

Key Focus Areas:

• Organizational readiness assessment
• Responsible AI and risk management
• Real-world case studies

Ivey Business School – AI Strategy for Competitive Advantage

The AI Strategy for Competitive Advantage program is an executive education course offered by Ivey Business School at Western University. Designed specifically for managers, directors, vice presidents, and C-suite leaders with no technical or coding background, the 2.5-day program combines Ivey’s case-based learning with hands-on AI tools, live demonstrations, and applied strategic exercises. It equips non-technical decision-makers with actionable frameworks to evaluate AI opportunities, reshape workflows, and look past the hype to drive measurable enterprise value.

Key Focus Areas:

• Identify AI-driven business opportunities
• Understand AI’s strategic business impact
• Apply strategic frameworks to AI adoption
• Prioritize AI initiatives effectively
• Strengthen existing competitive advantages

Canadian Management Centre – Artificial Intelligence (AI) Business Essentials Certificate Program

The Canadian Management Centre’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Business Essentials Certificate Program is designed for business professionals, managers, and leaders who want a practical, non-technical understanding of AI. The 14-hour program explores generative AI, business applications, organizational readiness, and responsible AI adoption through workplace scenarios, guided discussions, and group activities. Rather than focusing on specific AI tools, the program helps participants evaluate business opportunities, understand potential risks, and contribute more confidently to AI-related decisions.

Key Focus Areas:

• Understand AI and generative AI fundamentals
• Identify practical AI applications in business
• Evaluate AI opportunities, risks, and limitations
• Understand AI governance and data requirements

Final Words

Developing AI literacy can help non-technical professionals stay competitive in an increasingly technology-driven workplace. By choosing a course aligned with their career goals, learners can deepen their understanding of AI, identify opportunities to improve productivity, and evaluate emerging tools more effectively. Investing in AI education can support professional growth and responsible innovation.