(MEMPHIS, Tenn. – October 15, 2026) Premier leadership organization Leadership Memphis, in partnership with Vista Data, will host its AI Leadership Institute November 9-11 in Oxford, Mississippi.
The three-day program is designed to equip executives and senior leaders with practical tools to identify opportunities, apply real-world solutions and develop strategies for responsible AI adoption across their organizations.
“Leadership Memphis has always been about preparing leaders to serve this community well. We have a responsibility to do our part to ensure leaders know when and how to use this emerging technology responsibly,” said Dr. Reginald Porter Jr., president and CEO of Leadership Memphis. “AI is now one of the most important questions those leaders face, and this Institute gives them a place to work through it together, with the right guidance and the right peers.”
Participants will leave with three practical outputs to support their organization’s next AI initiative.
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Day 1 – November 9 | AI Opportunities and Risks: Participants will develop an AI opportunity brief. Facilitators will demonstrate AI-assisted research, briefing and analysis. Participants will examine common errors, data privacy risks and the need for human review. Participants will also assess potential uses against business value, data needs and risk.
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Day 2 – November 10 | Workflow Design and Testing: Participants will develop reusable prompts and a sequence of steps using approved or de-identified sample information. Participants will also test sample outputs for accuracy, usefulness and consistency.
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Day 3 – November 11 | Governance and Adoption: Participants will learn to identify who will use, oversee and approve their proposed pilot. Participants will also draft a phased plan with an owner, milestones and success measures. Peer discussion will help them refine the first steps, required approvals and review points before taking the plan back to their teams.
“Memphis has the talent and the ambition to lead in the AI era. When our region’s leaders are equipped to adopt AI thoughtfully, the benefits reach well beyond a single boardroom,” said Reggie Manning, CEO and co-founder of Vista Data. “Working with Leadership Memphis showed us how hungry the city’s leaders are for practical, hands-on AI learning. The AI Leadership Institute builds on that, and we’re proud to do it alongside a partner so rooted in this community.”
Applications are due Friday, October 30, 2026. Tuition includes guided AI Action Labs, peer learning and adoption planning. To learn more about the AI Leadership Institute and to apply or become a sponsor, visit www.leadershipmemphis.org/
About Leadership Memphis
Leadership Memphis develops, connects and mobilizes leaders to create positive change across Memphis. Through signature programs including Executive, FastTrack and the College Internship Program, Leadership Memphis equips leaders at every career stage with the knowledge, networks and experiences to drive impact in their organizations and communities. Since 1979, Leadership Memphis has been connecting, preparing and mobilizing more than 4,500 leaders and volunteers in service for the good of Memphis. To learn more about Leadership Memphis, visit www.leadershipmemphis.org.