Certificate in Digital Transformation

Module Description

This module provides a structured introduction to digital transformation, examining its core components and the key drivers that are reshaping organizations. It explores how shifts in customer expectations, regulatory pressures, competitive dynamics, and technological advancements are influencing business models and operating practices. The session highlights the role of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and advanced analytics in enabling transformation, while also addressing the organizational challenges that accompany these changes. It concludes with a forward-looking assessment of future trends and the implications they hold for strategy, investment, and workforce capabilities.

Dr. Murat Kristal

Bio: Professor of Operations Management, Schulich School of Business. PhD, University of North Carolina. Founding director of Schulich’s MBAN and MMAI programs; current director of the MBA in Technology Leadership. Published in leading operations journals. Advisor on analytics, AI, and digital transformation. Recognized Top 40 Professors under 40 (2016) and Ontario Award of Excellence (2020).

Module Description

The Digital Strategy and Business Models module equips participants with the tools to design and implement digital strategies that drive organizational growth and resilience. Participants will explore digital strategy frameworks, review components of digital business models, examine case studies of digital transformations, and learn how to align digital initiatives with overarching business objectives. The module emphasizes practical application, enabling participants to assess opportunities, mitigate risks, and establish metrics to evaluate the impact of digital strategies.

Dr. Zdenek Necas

Bio: Adjunct Professor, Schulich School of Business. Holds advanced degrees from HEC Paris, IESE, INSEAD, and a PhD from Ivey, with research at Rotman and Wharton. Teaches Strategic Management; research on innovation in complex organizations. Former investment banker and strategy consultant advising multinational leaders on finance and strategy.

Module Description

This course explores how digital and physical technologies enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and integration in operations and supply chains. Covering process analysis, Lean Six Sigma, TQM and the use of new technologies (e.g., Internet of Things, Machine Learning, AI) in enterprise-level information systems, this course aims to develop a fundamental understanding of choices made by operations and supply chain managers.

Dr. Markus Biehl

Bio: Professor, Schulich School of Business. Teaches Operations, Supply Chain, Analytics, and Sustainable Management. Research on responsible business and operations–IT interface; recipient of multiple research grants and awards. Consultant on sustainable global operations. Former Associate Dean, Senator, and IMBA Director; currently Academic Director for Accreditations & Rankings.

Module Description

This module gives business leaders a practical playbook to move technology transformation from promising ideas to real, sustainable business value. Using Benefits Realization Management (BRM) as our lens, we will take a closer look at how transformation manifests across four key stages:

• Design – In the design phase, we focus on ensuring that our key decisions – such as procurement, resourcing, and risk management – are aligned to our technology transformation goals. We do this by framing benefits, beneficiaries, measures, and enabling changes required up-front. We will use Wardley Maps at a plain-English level to decide build/buy/reuse, avoid commodity traps, and procure solutions and supports that are appropriately mapped to our needs and resources.
• Build – In the build phase, we make sure that we can successfully develop the solutions and supports needed to drive change through thoughtful planning, execution, and risk management. We explore ways to balance agility and innovation with oversight in a highly regulated business environment.
• Implement – In the implement phase, we focus on making sure that the “change will take”, by treating adoption as the mechanism that realizes business benefits. We identify the business and behavioural changes needed to support successful benefits realization, and explore the various ways we can address these needs through combinations of different supports.
• Sustain/Expand – In the sustain/expand phase, we set our sights on making sure that benefits continue to be realized through our transformation work while also exploring how we can leverage success to impact a wider scope of business activities. We will discuss how to transition from pilot to program through coordinated handoffs and lightweight governance, capture lessons learned, and find new ways to leverage new people, process and technology capabilities in other areas of the organization that can benefit.

During the evening sessions, we will focus on exploring and discussing each of these phases. Saturday will be a hands-on studio where teams will run a realistic, RBC-focused case end-to-end using the techniques and approaches we’ve learned, producing simple, executive-ready outputs.

Tarun Rihal, MBA, MSc, SSBB

Bio: Ontario Public Service executive with 15+ years leading technology-driven change in regulated environments. Specializes in turning data, analytics, and AI strategies into results by bridging strategy to execution. Supports Ontario’s 30 ministries in embedding data management and AI to enhance service quality, accountability, and ROI.

Module Description

This module explores cutting-edge research and technological innovations shaping customer experience and digital marketing. Students will examine how AI advancements are being applied to better understand consumers and decision-making behavior. Dr. Rice will showcase current and emerging applications, including emotion detection, neuromarketing, biometrics, AI companions, synthetic influencers, and brain–computer interfaces. The module also presents strategies for developing new digital marketing products and services, including AI agents. Practical in-class exercises will provide students with hands-on experience using many of these technologies.

Dr. David Rice

Bio: Associate Professor of Marketing, Schulich School of Business, and Executive Director of the Future of Marketing Institute. Published over 60 scholarly papers and presented research in 20+ countries. Provides market research and strategic consulting to Fortune 100 and 500 companies, including Microsoft, Intel, Dell, Procter & Gamble, Ford, and Pfizer.

Module Description

This module examines how to establish knowledgeable, flexible, and resilient work units that can effectively respond to strategic-level changes within organizations. It will complement the technical and diagnostic skills learned in other modules. While a manager needs strong analytical skills to develop optimal solutions to problems, good leadership and communication skills are needed for these solutions to be accepted and implemented.

We will focus on effective leadership and managerial behaviors. Given that the study of leadership in organizations has steadily shifted away from the notion of leaders as omnipotent heroes and toward the concept of leaders as facilitators and influencers, we will focus our attention on these skills. Specifically, we will focus on the topics of team dynamics, decision-making, and charismatic leadership.

Dr. Kevin Tasa

Bio: Associate Dean, Academic, Schulich School of Business. Holds an MSc in Health Administration and a PhD from Rotman. Research on group decision-making, negotiation, and team dynamics; published in top-tier journals. Co-author of widely used Canadian textbooks and recipient of MBA Teaching Excellence Awards at McMaster and Schulich.

Module Description

This module explores the critical intersection between digital transformation and cybersecurity. As organizations embrace digital technologies, data-driven strategies and AI-powered solutions, safeguarding systems, data, and trust becomes a cornerstone of sustainable transformation. Participants will gain a solid foundation in cybersecurity principles while understanding how emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, both amplify cyber threats and create new defense mechanisms.

Adjunct Professor Victor J. Garcia, MBA

Bio: Faculty at Schulich since 2013, teaching Tech MBA, MBAN, MMAI, and SEEC. President & CEO of ABC Live Corporation; former CTO, Hewlett-Packard Canada. Advisor to governments and boards, co-founder of Ryerson Hispanic Student Awards. MBA with Distinction, Aston University; executive education, Columbia Business School; expert in digital transformation, AI, and cybersecurity.

Module Description

This module equips participants with the tools and frameworks to define, measure, and sustain the success of digital transformation initiatives. Through real-world case studies, expert insights, and interactive group work, participants will learn how to develop effective KPIs, implement continuous improvement strategies, evaluate ROI, and apply future-proofing principles such as modularity, AI-readiness, and composable architecture. The session culminates in a collaborative capstone where teams design and present a digital strategy using the tools and concepts covered throughout the week.

Gale Geddes

Bio: Global Head of Digital Transformation, Manulife. Digital pioneer with 30 years’ experience across Financial Services, Government, Telecom, and Retail. Expert in defining and delivering large-scale transformation programs, leveraging deep digital knowledge, a passion for exceptional customer experiences, and a commitment to aligning organizations for meaningful, results-driven transformational outcomes.

• • The program will feature a capstone project in which students will develop a comprehensive digital transformation strategy for a client organization and present their innovative ideas to an expert panel of Schulich faculty members, industry experts and RBC employees for evaluation and feedback
  • Among many key deliverables, the capstone project strategy will include recommendations on how the client might adopt and scale AI technologies to improve operations, enhance customer experience and foster innovation within their organization

• Participants who complete all modules and the capstone project receive a certificate of completion

• The Certificate in Digital Transformation will include an in-person networking session where participants connect with peers, faculty, Schulich alumni and industry leaders, fostering collaboration and professional relationships

• Participants will have the unique opportunity to attend the annual Digital Business Conference organized by the Institute of Digital Business (IDB), alongside representatives from RBC. This conference will offer an invaluable platform to explore the latest advancements in digital transformation, engage with thought leaders and network with industry pioneers shaping the future of this dynamic field