Feb 18: Masai, India’s fastest growing outcome-driven education platform, has partnered with the Indian Institute of Management Ranchi (IIM Ranchi) to introduce an Executive Certificate Programme in Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence for aspiring and mid-career managers. The six-month, fully online programme will commence on March 14, 2026, and is designed to blend management fundamentals with applied analytics and AI capabilities in response to evolving enterprise requirements.
The programme is being launched against a backdrop of rapid enterprise adoption of artificial intelligence in decision-making and operations. According to Deloitte’s AI Report 2024, nearly 80 percent of business leaders globally believe AI will be a key driver of competitive advantage over the next few years. Industry estimates from MarketsandMarkets further indicate that the global market for AI in business analytics is expected to reach $16.5 billion by 2027, reflecting rising corporate investments in data platforms, automation and predictive intelligence. As organisations embed AI across functions ranging from finance and supply chain to marketing and customer experience, demand is growing for managers who can combine analytical understanding with strategic execution.
Designed for working professionals from varied academic and functional backgrounds, the programme provides strategic foundations in business analytics and artificial intelligence to enable data-driven decision-making at scale. It covers the full analytics lifecycle — from business problem framing and data management to predictive modelling and AI-led decision systems — alongside practical training in SQL, Python, statistical methods and machine learning. The curriculum also emphasises responsible AI deployment, data governance and the ability to communicate insights through structured business storytelling. Participants will work on industry-contextual projects and case studies across banking, retail, operations and digital platforms, preparing them to lead analytics initiatives that support digital transformation and long-term business value creation.
The programme is open to a wide pool of learners, including technology professionals seeking to move into managerial roles, non-technical professionals looking to build analytics fluency, business owners and entrepreneurs aiming to leverage data for growth, as well as students and early-career professionals interested in pursuing careers in business analysis and data-driven management.
Prateek Shukla, CEO and Co-Founder of Masai, said,
“We are seeing a structural shift in how companies evaluate managerial talent. Across BFSI, consulting, consumer internet and manufacturing, analytics and AI are no longer specialist functions but core to business planning, risk management and growth strategy. This partnership with IIM Ranchi allows us to bring together academic depth and industry-relevant execution to build managers who can work confidently with data, question assumptions, and lead technology-driven change inside organisations.”
Amit Sachan, Professor, Operations Management and Dean (Executive Education & Consultancy), IIM Ranchi, added,
“Management education today must go beyond functional expertise. Managers are increasingly expected to interpret complex datasets, engage with AI-led systems and translate analytical output into strategic decisions. This programme has been structured to develop that intersection of quantitative understanding and leadership judgement, enabling participants to contribute meaningfully to boardroom discussions and operational outcomes.”