If you’re an HR manager, L&D professional, or team leader asking, “How do I actually upskill my people on AI in 2026?” this episode is your blueprint.
I’ve created a one-year AI Learning and Development Plan that you can download from my website and via the show notes on your favourite podcast platform.
The Problem Organisations Are Facing
Here’s what I’m seeing right now.
Most organisations know AI is important. They may have:
- Run a lunch-and-learn
- Sent a few people on a course
But there’s no real structure.
There’s:
- No progression
- Leadership learning different things from employees
- Very little application to real, day-to-day work
The result?
- Wasted budgets
- Frustrated employees
- Increased Shadow AI
- And you’re still no closer to being an AI-ready organisation
The 4-Quarter AI Upskilling Framework
This plan uses a phased approach across four quarters, with parallel learning tracks for leadership and staff.
Quarter One: Foundation
Everyone learns the basics—but in different ways.
- Leadership focuses on governance, risk, and strategic opportunity
- Staff focus on practical tools they can use immediately
- Organisation-wide pilots get everyone experimenting together
Quarter Two: Pilot Projects
Cross-functional teams test AI in real workflows.
You’re no longer just learning—you’re doing.
Quarter Three: Scale
What worked in the pilots is rolled out department by department.
Quarter Four: Embed and Govern
- Policies are formalised
- Measurement frameworks are introduced
- Continuous learning becomes part of how you operate
👉 Download the AI Learning and Development Plan 2026
Quarter One Deep Dive (Where Most Organisations Go Wrong)
Let’s break down Q1, because this is where success or failure is decided.
Leadership Track: Three Non-Negotiables
- AI Strategy Workshop
A minimum of half a day.
Leaders must understand:- Where AI fits into the strategic plan
- Key risks and responsibilities
- Governance and compliance
- Ongoing Learning
- This podcast: free, six minutes per episode
- The AI Marketing Playbook: low-cost frameworks leaders can reference
- Visible Leadership
If leaders aren’t using AI themselves, no one else will take it seriously.
Staff Track: Start with the Fundamentals
Begin with basic AI literacy:
- What is generative AI?
- What can it do?
- What are the risks?
Everyone needs this baseline.
The AI Playbook Diploma takes staff from a complete beginner through to advanced application in a structured way.
Then move to hands-on tools:
- Introduce AI assistants for everyday tasks
- Teach prompt engineering basics
- Encourage experimentation in a safe environment
Organisation-Wide: Run a Pilot
Choose one clear use case, for example:
- Improving internal communications
- Speeding up research
Create a cross-functional team, run the pilot, and document what you learn.
Resource Mapping: How to Make This Work
Here’s how to resource the plan properly.
Free & Low-Cost Entry Points
- AI SIX podcast – ongoing six-minute updates
- The AI Marketing Playbook – frameworks and foundations
Structured Learning
- AI Playbook Diploma
Twelve modules taking staff from basics through to advanced application.
This becomes your core curriculum.
Intensive Upskilling
- Half-day and full-day team workshops
- Ideal for:
- Q1 foundation setting
- Q2 pilot preparation
Strategic Support
- Bespoke consulting for leadership teams
- Custom training programmes aligned to real organisational use cases
The key is progression:
People start with podcasts and books.
They move into structured learning.
They apply knowledge through workshops.
Leadership gets the strategic support needed to make it all stick.
Action Steps: What to Do This Week
Here’s your checklist:
- Download the framework from the show notes
A one-page quarterly planner you can adapt for your organisation. - Audit where you are now
- Who has had AI training?
- Who hasn’t?
- Where are the gaps?
- Book your Q1 activities
- Schedule a leadership workshop
- Choose your first pilot project
- Build in continuous learning
- Subscribe to this podcast
- Get The AI Marketing Playbook into people’s hands
Final Thought
2026 is the year AI moves from “nice to have” to “need to have.”
The organisations that will thrive are the ones building capability now—
systematically, intentionally, and with a plan.
If you want help implementing this in your organisation—whether that’s workshops, the Diploma programme, or bespoke consulting—visit:
digitaltraininginstitute.ie/contact-us
About the Podcast Host
AI and Communications Specialist | Author | Podcaster | International Speaker
Joanne Sweeney is a recognised leader in digital marketing and digital transformation, specialising in the practical application of AI to enhance communication strategies. The founder of Digital Training Institute, Joanne, empowers leaders and communications professionals to leverage AI responsibly and effectively, ensuring transparency, trust, and tangible results.
She completed the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Programme in AI and Public Policy this summer before launching her fourth book AI Playbook, in September. Joanne has also published two editions of Public Sector Marketing Pro, which were preceded by her first title, Social Media Under Investigation Law Enforcement and the Social Web.
Her books have become go-to resources for governments, public sector and policing agencies, as well as marketing and communications professionals, all navigating the challenges of the changing Internet.
Joanne is the host of the AI SIX Podcast, a daily six-minute podcast which provides actionable insights, expert interviews, and practical advice to help professionals navigate the new world of work.
