Organizational AI Academy

Develop career-advancing expertise around AI in business operations

The Organizational AI Academy is an optional second-year experience for Full-Time +Flex MBA students. The Academy provides a no-code, business-focused immersive experience centered on organizational AI adoption and use. This program is built for any student, regardless of domain expertise, who wants more than surface-level exposure to AI. As the Academy’s director, David P. Darcy, once stated, “Students need more than just theory; they need practical confidence and real-world perspective.”

Four people engaged in a discussion around a table with a laptop and documents in a bright meeting room.

Gain stand-out experience applying AI in business management

The Organizational AI Academy delivers a rare, high-impact MBA experience built for business today, where AI is rapidly shaping how organizations operate, compete, and lead. In this Academy, you don’t just learn about AI’s capabilities; you’ll explore how organizations adopt AI in real business operations. From scaling AI across teams and governing its use to managing accountability and building a competitive advantage—the Organizational AI Academy gives you the leverage to lead in your career with AI expertise.

What fields are applying generative AI in business?

Take full advantage of your Kelley MBA path by leveraging the hands-on experience of the Organizational AI Academy to add depth and practical applications to your MBA major. You don’t need a technical background or coding experience, just a desire to gain real-world AI knowledge and capabilities. Typically, students from the following majors seek career development from the Organizational AI Academy:

“The Academy turned me into a sharper critic of the very thing I was learning. We didn't just geek out on what AI can do; we stared down its dark side too: black box decisions, overdependence, and the golden rule of never kicking humans out of the loop. Toss in a roster of incredible guest speakers from boardrooms to government halls who made the future of AI feel less like science fiction and more like next Tuesday, and you have got an experience that is equal parts eye-opening and career defining.”

Shreya Bandyopadhyay, MBA’26Fall 2025 Academy student

Applied curriculum

The Academy is structured in two powerful phases that give you both hands-on exposure with emerging tools and the organizational insight to apply them responsibly at scale.

Students dive directly into the most relevant generative and agentic AI platforms, gaining real experience with current tools transforming modern business. Through hands-on application, students discover how AI accelerates workflows, enhances analysis, improves productivity, and changes the way work gets done across industries. Students build practical confidence not by watching from the sidelines, but by actively working with the technologies shaping the future of business.

This phase focuses on what organizations do to adopt AI successfully, including governance, ethics, accountability, risk, and responsible implementation. Through direct engagement with industry experts and guest speakers, students will learn how AI becomes not just a capability, but a leadership advantage.

Engage in expertly designed MBA AI courses and content

One of the Academy’s defining strengths is student access. You’ll learn from guest speakers featuring leaders working at the forefront of organizational AI. These leaders bring real-world perspectives from major organizations and innovators, like IBM, Deloitte, GHX and Salesforce. With this Academy, AI feels less abstract and more immediately relevant to your career path.

Career outcomes

You'll finish your experience in the Organizational AI Academy with a strong understanding of how to implement AI in business, confidently prepared to apply your education in an AI-driven workplace and equipped with a competitive edge. Through the Academy, you'll:

Work with the most relevant AI tools in real business contexts
Understand how organizations adopt AI to improve work, decisions, and strategy
Apply AI through a no-code approach that's accessible to any MBA student
Navigate bigger questions of governance, accountability, and responsible use
Learn directly from guest speakers shaping AI adoption across industry and government
Build a personal toolkit of AI applications and takeaways for internships and post-MBA roles

Top-down view of four diverse people working together at a wooden table using laptops, notebooks, coffee, and writing materials.

Questions? Contact us.

David P. Darcy

Organizational AI Academy Director
davdarcy@iu.edu

David P. Darcy is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Operations and Decision Technologies at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University. He earned his PhD in Business Administration (Information Systems) from the University of Pittsburgh’s Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business. Before joining Indiana University, David held faculty positions at several prestigious institutions, including University College Dublin’s Business Schools (Smurfit & Quinn), University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, The Irish Management Institute, Florida International University’s College of Business, and Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business. His extensive academic background has been instrumental in shaping his multidisciplinary expertise in information systems and analytics.

David's research has been published in leading journals, such as IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, Statistical Science, and IEEE Software. His scholarly work has focused primarily on the concepts and tactics for successful IT system design and implementation, where he has contributed valuable insights into the design and execution of complex technological projects. His current research interests are centered on designing, developing, and validating engaging technology management and analytics content, with a particular emphasis on creating innovative and impactful courses that enhance student learning and engagement.

At Indiana University, David brings his wealth of knowledge and experience into the classroom, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in technology management and data analytics. His teaching philosophy is grounded in a belief that education should be interactive, practical, and intellectually stimulating. He integrates active learning techniques and case-based teaching to provide students with a hands-on understanding of real-world challenges in IT and business analytics. He has developed a reputation for being a dynamic and engaging instructor, with students consistently praising his ability to make complex concepts accessible and relevant.

In addition to his academic work, David is passionate about educational outreach and curriculum development. His efforts in this area include creating innovative educational tools and resources aimed at enhancing the student learning experience, and he actively seeks to contribute to the advancement of technology management and analytics education. With a commitment to fostering the next generation of leaders in technology and business, David’s contributions to research and teaching will continue to enrich the academic community at Indiana University.