Architect a 90-Day AI Upskilling Program For Your Team

. AI upskilling is not merely an L&D initiative but a business strategy. Successful programs align AI skills with business outcomes such as innovation, faster decision-making, and accurate forecasting. As Nerupa Kidnapillai noted, "AI adoption is already happening inside your organizations, whether you've planned for it or not."

Designing a 90-Day AI Upskilling Program

A 90-day timeframe is optimal for moving from awareness to real capability, allowing participants to practice and apply AI skills meaningfully. The program should start with a soft launch to gather feedback and create internal advocates, followed by a hard launch at a wider scale. The focus should be on creating a shared language and building role-specific skills. "Ninety days gives you enough time to move from awareness into real capability," Nerupa emphasized.

Role-Based Learning Paths

Not everyone needs to build AI models, but everyone should work intelligently alongside AI. Developing role-specific learning paths ensures that training is relevant and impactful. DataCamp's framework identifies four key personas: business leaders, citizen AI practitioners, AI practitioners, and AI experts. Each group requires different skills and outcomes. "Treating everyone the same is the fastest way to kill adoption," Nerupa warned.

Measuring Success and Engagement

Success should be measured beyond completion rates, focusing on behavior change and business impact. The Kirkpatrick model helps track progress from engagement to business outcomes. Engagement strategies include gamification, visibility, and leadership advocacy. "Engagement doesn't come from more content; it comes from more visibility, relevance, and leadership advocacy," Nerupa explained. Celebrating progress and capturing learner stories also help maintain progress.