AI Readiness - NextLevel x Northeastern Miami Course
As a participant in the NextLevel program and a member of our broader small business (SMB) community, we are pleased to invite you to an exclusive opportunity to earn a Northeastern University digital badge at no cost through the College of Professional Studies.
You are invited to apply for AI Readiness, a three-week, applied workshop designed for small business owners, operators, and leaders seeking a clear, practical understanding of artificial intelligence and how it can responsibly support real business decisions.
No technical or coding skills are required to participate.
This course meets participants where they are. Whether AI feels unfamiliar or overwhelming, it builds on intuitive leadership instincts while introducing structured, real-world frameworks for evaluating AI use in business.
Course Overview:
Start Dates: March 12, 19, and 26, 2026
Format & Structure
Week 1 (In Person – 90 minutes, on campus): Foundation Building
Understanding what AI is — and what it is not — with a focus on generative AI and large language models. Participants assess personal and organizational readiness and identify one real business challenge that may benefit from AI support.
Week 2 (Optional Online – 60 minutes): Application & Reflection
Participants explore strong vs. weak AI use cases and learn a simple, structured approach to clearly frame business problems before applying AI tools. Guided exercises support refining a vague request into a clear, focused prompt.
Week 3 (In Person – 90 minutes, on campus): Synthesis & Peer Learning
Participants refine a well-structured prompt or clearly defined AI use case tied to a real business scenario. The session concludes with a discussion of guardrails, risks, and responsible implementation.
Key Topics:
AI vs. automation vs. analytics vs. generative AI
What large language models actually do (in human terms)
Why many AI initiatives fail
Personal and organizational AI readiness
Framing problems using role, context, and intended outcomes
Identifying viable, low-risk AI use cases
Writing structured, reusable prompts
Digital Badge Credential
Participants who attend the two in-person sessions and actively engage throughout the program will receive an AI Readiness digital badge issued by Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies — a verifiable micro-credential that can be shared on LinkedIn, your website, or digital resume.
There are no graded assignments and no technical deliverables. The badge reflects applied participation and structured thinking.
Instructor: Susan Gracia, Senior Associate Director of Data Literacy, Northeastern University
Susan leads the creation and execution of Northeastern’s university-wide data literacy program, developing learning pathways, assessments, learning paths, and certifications while fostering data community across the university. She previously served as an Assistant Teaching Professor in the MPS in Data Analytics and EdD programs at Northeastern University and as an Associate Professor at Rhode Island College.
Her work focuses on helping professionals build clarity and judgment — not just technical familiarity — when working with emerging technologies.
Application Deadline: March 5, 2026
Participants are expected to attend all three sessions and actively engage in discussion and exercises.
Spots are limited. If you are interested, we encourage you to apply early.