WatSPEED brings industry leaders together to advance Canada’s AI readiness

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape the global economy, WatSPEED is helping Canadian business and technology leaders strategically position themselves for the future. 

The University of Waterloo’s professional, executive and corporate education arm recently convened senior leaders from across sectors for a one-day, in-person course: Operationalizing Generative AI: Executive Insights and Applications. Delivered in partnership with the iSchool Institute at the University of Toronto, the program offered attendees a practical exploration of how generative AI tools can be implemented to drive real value in their organizations. 

From left to right: Dr. Jimmy Lin, co-director of the Waterloo Data and AI Institute, Eily Hickson, head of global data and AI strategy at Sanofi, Dr. Ali Vahdat, director of Applied AI Research at Thomson Reuters Labs, and Javed Mostafa, professor and dean of Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto.

From theory to application 

Led by Dr. Jimmy Lin, co-director of the Waterloo Data and AI Institute and one of the world’s most cited AI scholars, the course examined how large language models (LLMs) can enhance productivity, support data-driven decision-making and improve client and employee experiences. 

Lin’s sessions framed prompt engineering as an emerging essential skill, comparable to the early days of digital literacy.  

“At some point, you had to learn how to search Google,” says Lin, who is also the Cheriton Chair in Software Systems at Waterloo’s Cheriton School of Computer Science. “Today, it’s exactly the same thing for prompt engineering.” 

Throughout the day, Lin emphasized the need for a culture of adaptability and lifelong learning as generative AI transforms how organizations structure work, evaluate talent and plan for the future.  

“The transformational impact of LLMs will be no less than that of the steam engine, than electricity, than the internet,” he notes. “In fact, it will probably be more.” 

Building executive AI literacy 

With participants from health care, finance, technology and government, the course fostered rich dialogue around the practical realities of AI integration, including enterprise-scale deployment, regulatory compliance and responsible implementation. 

Eily Hickson, head of global data and AI strategy at Sanofi, shared use cases spanning pharmaceutical research and development, accessibility technologies and clinical diagnostics. She highlighted how AI could help detect cancer earlier, alleviate long-term pain and enhance independence for people with disabilities.  

“If you live in the ‘scary,’ you’ll never get to the ‘good,’” Hickson says. “I’m cautiously optimistic about the benefits — from curative medicine to quality-of-life improvements.” 

She also emphasized the importance of executive alignment and storytelling in ensuring long-term AI success. 

“If you don’t have executive buy-in, you can have the best strategies, but if the mindset isn’t ready to receive them, it will fall flat,” Hickson says. “AI has to be wrapped into every layer of your business, from how you run a portfolio to how you tell your story to investors.” 

Eily Hickson shares use cases spanning pharmaceutical research and development, accessibility technologies and clinical diagnostics.

From hype to implementation: Leadership that drives change 

Designed to move beyond AI hype and focus squarely on real-world implementation, Operationalizing Generative AI equipped leaders with the frameworks needed to evaluate tools, assess cost–performance trade-offs and identify both opportunities and risks across business functions. 

In a closing panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Javed Mostafa, dean of the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto, panelists explored organizational models for AI adoption, building internal capability and managing the tension between innovation and accountability. 

“LLMs are like a bright student that hasn’t done the reading,” Lin says. “At a glance you think, ‘this isn’t bad,’ but then it completely falls apart under closer evaluation.” 

Supporting Canada’s innovation ecosystem 

“Generative AI is not just a trend,” says Aaron Pereira, executive director of WatSPEED. “It represents a fundamental shift in how organizations operate and compete. This type of programming is tailored to helping industry leaders prepare for what’s next, ensuring they have the skills and knowledge to lead through disruption.” 

WatSPEED continues to support Canadian organizations in preparing for the future of work through professional and executive education tailored to the realities of rapid technological, societal and economic change. By working closely with industry partners and drawing on Waterloo’s renowned research expertise, WatSPEED helps organizations stay competitive, resilient and future-ready. 

To learn more about WatSPEED’s innovative AI programming, visit watspeed.uwaterloo.ca.