Stop leaving AI value on the table. Our on-demand courses and executive workshops are built on the proven LEAD Framework™—teaching you to govern AI adoption, not just deploy it.
Unlike tech-focused training or vendor-sponsored workshops, we provide independent, governance-first AI education. You'll learn to evaluate use cases critically, ask the right questions of vendors, and build defensible AI strategies aligned with your company values.
Led by Former Senior Agency Official for Privacy & Chief Privacy Officer | JD | AIGP | CIPM | 15+ Years Federal Compliance Experience
Boards and executive teams are being asked to approve AI investments, assess vendor contracts, and oversee AI governance, often without the literacy needed to ask the right questions.
Gartner reports that 85% of AI projects fail due to poor governance and unclear use cases
Companies waste an average of $15M annually on AI tools that don't deliver ROI
73% of executives cite "lack of AI understanding" as their biggest barrier to adoption
AI regulations are accelerating: EU AI Act, state-level privacy laws, industry-specific compliance requirements
Getting ahead now means you can govern AI confidently, avoid costly mistakes, and maximize ROI from day one.
Strategic AI education and advisory services designed for leaders who need results, not tech jargon
Self-paced learning for busy professionals
Master AI fundamentals, governance frameworks, and vendor evaluation—at your own pace. Our courses are built on the LEAD Framework™ to ensure you can lead AI initiatives confidently.
Interactive sessions for leadership teams
Bring your board or executive team up to speed with customized, interactive workshops. We focus on strategic decision-making, risk assessment, and building consensus—not technical implementation.
Self-paced learning for busy professionals
Master AI fundamentals, governance frameworks, and vendor evaluation—at your own pace. Our courses are built on the LEAD Framework™ to ensure you can lead AI initiatives confidently.
Interactive sessions for leadership teams
Bring your board or executive team up to speed with customized, interactive workshops. We focus on strategic decision-making, risk assessment, and building consensus—not technical implementation.
Unlike tech-focused AI training, we teach you to govern AI adoption—not just use the tools.
Our proprietary LEAD Framework™ ensures your AI strategy aligns with company values, delivers measurable ROI, and meets regulatory requirements.
Learn what AI actually is (and isn't), how it works, and where it creates real business value. No technical jargon—just clear explanations designed for business leaders.
Not every AI use case makes sense for your organization. Learn to evaluate opportunities through the lens of your business goals, ethical standards, and realistic ROI expectations.
We don't sell tools. We teach you evaluation criteria so you can assess any vendor or platform critically—and make adoption decisions that serve your organization's needs, not a vendor's sales goals.
Build defensible AI strategies that address bias, privacy, compliance, and ethical concerns. Learn to articulate AI decisions to boards, stakeholders, and regulators with confidence.
When you work with UpwardAction Advisory, you'll gain the strategic AI literacy to:
Your challenge:
Oversee AI investments and assess vendor proposals without technical expertise—while ensuring ethical, compliant, and strategic adoption.
How we help:
Your challenge:
Make confident decisions on AI strategy and vendor selection while aligning initiatives with business outcomes and avoiding costly mistakes.
How we help:
Your challenge:
Train your teams on AI literacy and governance so you can develop new advisory services and differentiate your firm in the market.
How we help:
Your challenge:
Understand the AI regulatory landscape and build governance policies while training teams on ethical AI use within professional standards.
How we help:
Unlike tech-focused AI training or vendor-sponsored workshops, we provide independent, governance-first AI education.
TC (Tonya Custis) is a former Senior Agency Official for Privacy and Chief Privacy Officer with 15+ years of federal compliance experience. She holds: Juris Doctor (JD), Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional (AIGP) certification, and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) certification.
Translation: You're learning from someone who has eliminated federal compliance backlogs, built consensus across resistant stakeholders, and navigated complex organizational change at the highest levels.
We don't sell tools. We teach you to evaluate them critically.
No vendor partnerships. No product commissions. No hidden agendas.
Our training focuses on governance principles and evaluation frameworks that work regardless of which AI platforms you choose—or whether you adopt AI at all.
Learn to ask the right questions BEFORE you sign contracts—not after.
Most organizations discover governance gaps, ethical concerns, and ROI mismatches AFTER they've invested time and money. We help you identify these issues upfront, saving you from costly mistakes and vendor lock-in.
Our proprietary methodology ensures your AI strategy aligns with company values, ROI expectations, and regulatory requirements.
The LEAD Framework™ has been tested across industries, adapted for different organizational cultures, and proven to help leaders make confident, defensible AI decisions.
Training designed for executives, board members, and professional service leaders—not technical teams.
We translate AI concepts into strategic decision-making frameworks. You won't leave our workshops knowing how to code—you'll leave knowing how to govern.
We've been in the rooms where hard decisions get made.
TC's federal service included eliminating compliance backlogs under tight deadlines, building governance frameworks across resistant stakeholders, and advising leadership on high-stakes privacy and regulatory issues.
This isn't theoretical training—it's practical wisdom from someone who has done the work.
Every workshop and course is customized to your industry, organizational culture, and current AI maturity level. Here are sample topics we cover:
Note: For legal-specific CLE courses, visit LawyersLaunchpad.ai
See TC in action—watch these featured training videos on AI governance fundamentals.
Before investing in full training programs, watch these featured videos covering essential AI literacy topics for boards, executives, and professional service leaders. Each delivers practical insights you can apply immediately.
Key Takeaway: Learn the 3 critical questions every board member should ask before approving AI investments—and why most boards miss these entirely.
Key Takeaway: Discover how to evaluate AI vendor claims critically and identify red flags before signing contracts.
Key Takeaway: Understand our proprietary methodology for technology-agnostic AI evaluation and governance.
Access our complete video library with 10+ training videos covering AI literacy, governance frameworks, vendor evaluation, and regulatory compliance.
All videos are free—no email required
These free videos are just the beginning. Our full courses and executive workshops provide comprehensive training on the LEAD Framework™, governance strategies, and vendor evaluation techniques.
Absolutely not. Our training is designed for business leaders, board members, and executives—no coding or technical expertise required. We translate AI concepts into strategic decision-making frameworks. If you can ask good business questions, you can govern AI effectively.
No. We're proudly technology-agnostic. We teach you evaluation criteria so YOU can assess any tool or vendor critically—not promote specific products. We have no vendor partnerships, no product commissions, and no hidden agendas. Our only commitment is to your organization's success.
We focus on governance, not just tools. While others teach “how to use ChatGPT,” we teach you to:
Our training is led by someone with real-world compliance and governance experience at the federal level—not just AI enthusiasm.
Yes. While our LEAD Framework™ is universal, we tailor examples, use cases, and governance considerations to your specific industry, regulatory environment, and organizational culture. We've worked with professional services firms, corporate boards, legal departments, and government agencies—each with unique needs and concerns.
Yes. Select courses through our LawyersLaunchpad.ai platform are CLE-certified. These courses cover AI literacy fundamentals, ethical considerations, the BRIEF prompting methodology, and client advisory strategies—all designed specifically for legal professionals. Contact us for details on current CLE offerings.
We regularly publish insights on AI governance, responsible adoption, and strategic decision-making for leaders. Here are our latest resources:
A practical checklist for board members overseeing AI investments, covering risk assessment, vendor evaluation, and governance frameworks.
Learn why awareness-building isn't enough—and what leaders actually need to govern AI effectively.
Step-by-step guidance on evaluating AI vendors and use cases without getting lost in technical jargon or marketing hype.
Understand how European AI regulations impact U.S. companies—and what your organization should do now.
Why asking the right questions BEFORE signing contracts saves organizations millions in wasted AI investments.
Don't let AI decisions be driven by vendor pitches, hype cycles, or fear of missing out. Build the strategic AI literacy you need to govern confidently.
Schedule a complimentary 30-minute strategy call to discuss your organization's AI literacy needs, governance challenges, and training goals. No sales pitch—just strategy and clarity.