Data Strategy: Enabling AI-Driven Competitive Advantage
Implement a Data-Driven Roadmap to Drive Business Value
Overview
UC Berkeley Executive Education’s Data Strategy online program equips professionals with the tools to lead data- and AI-enabled transformation. Through a practical, business-focused curriculum, participants explore responsible data and AI governance, modern data architectures, and analytics frameworks that support informed decision-making. The program helps leaders harness enterprise data more effectively to drive strategic growth and measurable organizational impact.
Build Data Strategy Expertise
Develop capabilities in data analytics, architecture, governance, quality, and emerging technologies to support business success.
Leverage Data as a Strategic Asset
Use data to drive AI initiatives, create competitive advantage, and unlock new sources of value.
Design Impactful Data Strategies
Connect business objectives with data initiatives that enable faster decisions and AI-driven outcomes.
Apply Modern Frameworks in Practice
Implement innovative data strategy approaches through actionable insights, real-world case studies, and practical examples.
Advance Your Leadership Potential
Position yourself to lead data-driven transformation and excel in evolving data-focused roles and responsibilities.
More about the Data Strategy program
The Learning Journey
Develop the skills to create and execute an effective data strategy through a structured three-step methodology. Begin by understanding the organizational context in which the strategy will operate, then identify high-impact data use cases that support business performance. Finally, translate these opportunities into actionable plans that drive measurable outcomes.
Capstone Strategy Project
Apply program frameworks to a real organizational challenge through a capstone project, developing a practical data or AI strategy while creating a portfolio-ready asset that showcases your strategic leadership skills.
Assignments
Apply each module’s concepts to your organization through practical assignments, gaining valuable insights from personalized feedback and peer review.
Case Studies
Explore how leading organizations have leveraged data and AI to drive transformation, innovation, and business value. Through case studies from Majid Al Futtaim, IBM Watson, RIMAC, and ShotSpotter, you will examine approaches to data governance, AI adoption, organizational change, and ethical decision-making, gaining practical insights to refine and strengthen your own data strategy.
Who's it for
The Berkeley Executive Education Data Strategy Program is designed for professionals seeking to leverage data and AI to drive strategic decision-making and business impact. The program is ideal for, but not limited to:
- Technology leaders seeking to build and scale data- and AI-driven products, implement best practices, and align data initiatives with business strategy
- Senior professionals responsible for shaping organizational strategy, driving business decisions through data and AI insights, or leading digital transformation efforts
- Consultants who advise clients on data strategy, governance, analytics, AI adoption, and enterprise-wide data solution
- Professionals seeking a career transition into data strategy, data leadership, analytics, or AI-focused roles
Want to approach your employer about supporting your development? Check out this article.
Format & Structure
Online
- You will learn how top global brands create positive results from data management, data technology, and strategic methodologies
- You will work on a capstone project that allows you to apply the frameworks and tools you have learned to a real-world challenge that your organization is currently facing
- Enrolling in the program can become your first step toward pursuing the UC Berkeley Executive Education Certificate of Business Excellence (COBE)
- World-renowned faculty and notable guest speakers
- This program fulfills four curriculum days (minimum requirement of 17 curriculum days) towards the COBE
- Upon completion of the program get awarded the Certificate of Completion from UC Berkeley Executive Education
Dates & Costs
Online
What people are saying
Get more information
How much prior experience with data, analytics, or AI do I need to benefit from the Data Strategy program?
The Data Strategy program is designed for professionals who want to make better strategic decisions with data, regardless of their technical background. While familiarity with business performance metrics can be helpful, the emphasis is on developing the ability to evaluate opportunities and lead data-driven initiatives rather than building technical solutions.
What tangible deliverables will I create during the Data Strategy program?
In addition to completing coursework, participants develop a practical data strategy roadmap through the capstone project. This may include identifying business use cases, defining governance approaches, evaluating technology options, and outlining organizational changes needed to support data and AI initiatives.
How does the Data Strategy program balance data strategy with emerging AI capabilities?
Rather than treating AI as a standalone topic, the program integrates AI into broader discussions about value creation, governance, analytics, organizational readiness, and technology infrastructure. This helps participants understand how AI can support business objectives within a larger enterprise data strategy.
What challenges are participants expected to address in their capstone projects?
Capstone projects typically focus on real organizational opportunities or pain points, such as improving decision-making, creating new data-driven products or services, strengthening governance, enhancing operational efficiency, or building a more data-centric culture.
How will the Data Strategy program help me advance my career?
The Data Strategy program equips participants with practical frameworks, strategic thinking skills, and executive-level perspectives that can support career progression into leadership roles across functions such as strategy, operations, product, consulting, and digital transformation.
Partner
UC Berkeley Executive Education is collaborating with online education provider Emeritus to offer a portfolio of high-impact online programs. These programs leverage UC Berkeley Executive Education's thought leadership in management practice developed over years of research, teaching, and application. By working with Emeritus, we are able to broaden access beyond our on-campus offerings in a collaborative and engaging format that stays true to the quality of the University of California, Berkeley.
Faculty
Richard Huntsinger
Distinguished Teaching Fellow | Professional Faculty | Operations & IT Management
Thomas Lee
Mike and Carol Meyer Faculty Fellow | Associate Adjunct Professor | Director of Data Science, Fisher Center for Business Analytics | Operations & IT Management
Certificates
Certificate of Completion
Signal your professional achievement to your network and get recognized for your completion! Upon successful completion of the program, UC Berkeley Executive Education grants a verified digital certificate of completion to participants that you are encouraged to add to your profiles.
Note: This program results in a digital certificate of completion and is not eligible for degree credit/CEUs. After successful completion of the program, your verified digital certificate will be emailed to you directly. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of UC Berkeley Executive Education.
Certificate of Business Excellence
Participants in the Certificate of Business Excellence (COBE) program will earn a mark of distinction from a world-class university, gain access to a powerful global network, and enjoy the flexibility of completing the program in up to three years. A UC Berkeley Certificate of Business Excellence allows individuals to create a personal learning journey structured by our four academic pillars to gain management essentials in Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Strategy, and Finance to drive both personal and organizational development.
