Is making 2026 the year you finally learn how to properly use AI in your career your New Year’s resolution? If so, keep reading. I have a simple solution.
In this episode, I’m speaking directly to you about something I’ve spent years building: my Professional Diploma in AI Marketing.
If you’ve been listening to this podcast and thinking “I really need to get serious about AI”, consider this your sign.
Why This Diploma Exists
Let me explain why I created this programme.
Over the past two years, I’ve trained more than 3,000 people in AI. I’ve spoken on stages in 17 cities. And I’ve seen the same challenges come up again and again.
People know AI matters.
They’ve experimented with ChatGPT.
But they haven’t embedded AI into their real workflows.
They’re dabbling, not implementing.
And honestly, I understand why. The AI landscape moves fast. There’s constant noise. It’s hard to tell what’s genuinely useful and what’s just hype.
That’s why I built a structured diploma. Not a one day workshop or a surface level overview, but a programme that takes you from:
“I’ve heard of AI”
to
“AI is embedded in how I work.”
The diploma is built around my Know It, Use It, Govern It framework:
- Know It: Understand what AI actually is and how it works
- Use It: Apply AI practically in marketing and communications
- Govern It: Use AI ethically, legally, and responsibly
Most training programmes cover just one of these.
This diploma covers all three.
What You’ll Learn
This is where the substance comes in.
You’ll learn how large language models actually work, not to turn you into a data scientist, but so you understand what these tools can and can’t do. That understanding is the foundation of using AI well.
You’ll learn:
- Proven prompting frameworks
- How to build Custom GPTs for your own workflows
- How to evaluate which AI tools are worth your time and budget
- What RAG and AI agents are, and where this technology is heading
On the governance side, we cover:
- AI ethics and bias
- Copyright and data privacy
- Responsible AI use in real world marketing and communications
This isn’t abstract theory. It’s practical, professional guidance for people who need to use AI properly.
And throughout the diploma, everything is applied directly to your own work.
This is about implementation, not ideas.
By the end, AI won’t just make sense to you.
It will be embedded in how you work.
Who This Diploma Is For
This programme is for marketing and communications professionals who are ready to move beyond dabbling.
- Public sector professionals will find it especially relevant, with built in focus on accuracy, transparency, and accountability
- Professional services, including legal, accounting, and consulting, will learn how to use AI without compromising professional standards
- Business owners and agency leaders will gain the skills to deliver AI powered services
- Team leaders can use this diploma to create a shared AI framework and common language across their organisation
What you need to bring:
- Curiosity
- Commitment
- A willingness to do the work
What you’ll leave with:
- Real, usable AI capability that sets you apart in your field
Final Thought
The next intake starts 31 January, and places are limited so I can give every participant proper attention.
Here’s what I believe:
AI plus you should be greater than you alone.
But that only works if you invest in learning how to use AI properly.
Not just playing around.
Not just watching tutorials.
But actually building the skills.
My Professional Diploma in AI Marketing is how you do that. Know It, Use It, Govern It. Twelve modules. Practical implementation. Recognised qualification.
Next intake: January 31st. Go to publicsectormarketingpros.com/professional-diploma-ai-marketing or digitaltraining.ie to learn more and apply.
This is your AI advantage. Take it.
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 that provides actionable insights, expert interviews, and practical advice to help professionals navigate the new world of work.
