AI Masterclass in partnership with the Financial Times
A two day LBS programme helps senior leaders turn generative AI insight into practical strategy
London Business School has launched the AI Masterclass in partnership with the Financial Times, staging a two day executive programme which took place between 16 to 17 March 2026, bringing together leading academics, journalists and industry experts to help organisations cut through the hype surrounding generative AI.
Designed for senior executives, the masterclass combines the School’s academic rigour with the Financial Times’ global editorial insight to explore how AI is reshaping competition, organisations and leadership. Through expert sessions, fireside conversations and panel discussions, participants will examine how companies can unlock real business value from generative AI while navigating ethical, regulatory and geopolitical challenges.
The programme opened with “Decoding Generative AI”, led by Nicos Savva, Professor of Management Science and Operations at London Business School, offering a practical explanation of how the technology works and how organisations can apply it.
A fireside conversation between Zoe Coutinho, Product Director at the Financial Times, and Michael G. Jacobides, Sir Donald Gordon Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at London Business School, explored how the 137 year old Financial Times has embedded AI into its products, including the generative AI powered Ask FT service.
Later sessions focused on turning use cases into tangible results, led by Associate Professor Keyvan Vakili, and a panel discussion on the real adoption and impact of generative AI in today’s market moderated by John Thornhill, Innovation Editor at the Financial Times.
On the second day, Professor Michael G. Jacobides led sessions examining how disruptive AI could become and how organisations can harness its power, before a fireside discussion on leadership in the age of AI with Herminia Ibarra, Charles Handy Chair in Organisational Behaviour.
The programme concluded with a panel on the global constraints shaping AI adoption, including regulation, ethics and geopolitical tensions, moderated by John Thornhill and Professor Michael G. Jacobides.
Together, the sessions aim to give leaders a clear and evidence based understanding of what generative AI can and cannot do, while equipping them with practical frameworks to guide strategic decisions and organisational transformation.