Pivot or Perish: Executive AI Training Workshop

Event Description

Welcome to Pivot or Perish: A High-Impact Executive AI Training Experience!
The future of leadership is AI-enabled—and it’s arriving faster than most leaders are ready for. That’s why this one-day intensive workshop is structured around the proven Crawl, Walk, Run, Fly framework from the AI Executive Training Program.

This event is not just a talk—it’s a hands-on, strategic training designed for executives, nonprofit leaders, and entrepreneurs who want to take action, not just take notes.

What You’ll Experience

This workshop is built around the acclaimed Crawl, Walk, Run, Fly framework from the AI Executive Training Program, offering a progressive path from understanding AI fundamentals to deploying practical tools for innovation. Each stage is grounded in real-world executive application:

• Crawl – Context & Clarity:
  Begin with a guided exploration of the AI landscape—its history, major players, current news, and ethical considerations. This stage sets a strategic foundation, helping you see where your organization fits in the broader AI movement.
• Walk – Hands-On AI Use:
  Get up and running with tools like ChatGPT. You’ll learn how to prompt effectively, experiment with real examples, and begin building confidence in using AI for communication, content, and research.
• Run – Build Your AI Stack:
  Move beyond ChatGPT. Discover how to select and integrate other AI tools into your workflow based on your needs. You’ll learn how to construct a personal tech stack that enhances productivity and aligns with your leadership role.
• Fly – Create & Launch with AI:
  Step into the maker mindset. Explore how today’s tools allow leaders to code without being coders—whether it's building a custom dashboard, automating a task, or experimenting with vibe coding. You'll complete a simple build and leave with a real, AI-powered creation.

You’ll leave with a clear roadmap for how to evolve your organization’s AI capacity—and your leadership—with confidence.

Why You Should Attend

• Gain a competitive advantage in a rapidly transforming landscape
• Learn to use AI as a strategic partner—not just a tool
• Network with forward-thinking peers who are navigating the same transitions
• Leave with AI toolkits, dashboards, and frameworks you can use immediately

Why This Matters Right Now

The urgency to understand and implement AI isn’t coming from futurists—it’s coming from today’s top CEOs:

“AI usage is now a fundamental expectation of everyone at Shopify.”
— Tobi Lütke, CEO of Shopify

“AI will likely change some aspects of nearly all jobs. To keep up, workers will have to add skills and learn as never before.”
— Business Insider, summarizing insights on AI's impact on the workforce

“Within a year, AI proficiency will become an absolute necessity at Uber.”
— Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber

“Artificial intelligence, deep learning, machine learning — whatever you're doing, if you don't understand it — learn it. Because otherwise, you're going to be a dinosaur within three years.”
— Mark Cuban, Entrepreneur and Investor

From performance reviews to hiring freezes, leading companies are restructuring their operations around AI. The message is clear: You’re either adapting or falling behind, so 'Pivot or Perish'.

This workshop was built to help you do the former—intelligently, ethically, and strategically.

ALSO: Check out the Pivot or Perish AI Workshop Assistant, a custom GPT here to help you with anything related to the Pivot or Perish: Executive AI Training Workshop. https://chatgpt.com/g/g-6740b83246ec8191b39662d0a67eada4-pivot-or-perish-ai-workshop-assistant

Your Instructor: Mark Cardwell

Mark Cardwell is a nationally recognized strategist, creative leader, and AI integration specialist. With over 30 years of experience in marketing, nonprofit leadership, and executive consulting, Mark brings a unique blend of vision, practical expertise, and storytelling to every session he leads.

He currently serves as Interim Executive Director of the Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations (OANO) and is the founder of Cardwell Communications, an AI-first consultancy helping mission-driven leaders adopt future-ready strategies.

Mark has trained hundreds of professionals—from nonprofit boards to corporate executives—on how to meaningfully integrate AI into operations, team culture, and strategy. His signature AI Executive Training Program is known for its Crawl, Walk, Run, Fly framework, making AI adoption approachable, practical, and powerful for leaders at every stage.

He believes this moment in history calls for bold, imaginative leadership—and he's here to guide you through it.

Why Pivot or Perish?

Mark Cardwell’s ethos behind Pivot or Perish is grounded in the belief that leadership must evolve at the speed of change—or risk irrelevance. He sees artificial intelligence not as a threat, but as an invitation for bold reinvention. At the core of his work is a deep commitment to empowering mission-driven professionals to embrace uncertainty with clarity, creativity, and courage. Mark believes that the future belongs to those who are willing to unlearn old habits, reimagine their roles, and actively shape what comes next. Pivot or Perish isn’t just a workshop—it’s a wake-up call, a framework, and a proving ground for the kind of leadership tomorrow demands.