John Burrows
Senior Lecturer
John Burrows
Lead for Connection: Build Your Social Capital Strategy in the Age of AI
Harness the human advantage to lead, influence, and inspire in an AI-powered world.
Next Session
October 7-October 9, 2026
View All Dates
Location/Format
In Person
Gleacher Center, Chicago
Investment Fee (in USD)
$7,500 USD
Questions? Connect with our enrollment advisors.
Next Session
October 7-October 9, 2026
View All Dates
Location/Format
In Person
Gleacher Center, Chicago
Investment Fee (in USD)
$7,500 USD
Questions? Connect with our enrollment advisors.
Lead for Connection: Build Your Social Capital Strategy in the Age of AI is designed for leaders who recognize that the future of work will be shaped not only by advances in technology, but by the strength of the relationships that drive collaboration, trust, and organizational performance.
Drawing on pioneering University of Chicago Booth research, this three-day program explores how human, social, and AI capital work together to create lasting organizational value. Through research-based insights, organizational network analysis, practical tools, and peer discussion, you will learn how to cultivate stronger collaboration, build more resilient networks, and lead effectively in a workplace where humans and intelligent systems increasingly work side by side.
Based on Social Capital at Work: Building the Hidden Asset that Drives Trust, Engagement, and Performance (Simon Acumen, 2026) and co-delivered by authors John Burrows and Seth Rachlin, this program translates the book's research and evidence-based framework into practical strategies leaders can immediately apply within their organizations.
This program serves as an elective to:
By attending this program, you will explore key themes in:
- Understand the Future Workforce
Examine how AI is reshaping work, decision-making, and organizational dynamics—and where human connection becomes a competitive advantage.
- Diagnose Your Organization's Social Capital
Apply the authors' Eight Plays framework and organizational network analysis to identify trust gaps, silos, key influencers, and hidden organizational risks.
- Design Stronger Networks
Learn how to build the relationships, bridges, and collaborative structures that improve coordination, innovation, and performance.
- Lead Human + AI Systems Effectively
Develop approaches for integrating AI into workflows while preserving accountability, judgment, shared context, and trust.
- Turn Insight into Action
Create a personalized 90-day action plan to strengthen social capital and improve outcomes within your team or organization.
- Expand Your Executive Network
Build lasting relationships with peers facing similar leadership, workforce, and transformation challenges.
Who Should Attend
Mid to senior leaders seeking to strengthen trust, collaboration, and organizational performance in an AI-enabled workplace. Participants typically include business unit leaders, functional executives, HR and talent leaders, transformation leaders, strategy executives, and managers responsible for leading teams through change.
Download the program brochure for in-depth insights into who should attend, participant profiles, and the ideal candidate.
Faculty Teaching This Program
At Booth, our distinguished faculty exemplify dedication and expertise, bringing deep passion to their teaching. Their steadfast commitment extends beyond traditional instruction, focusing on empowering every Executive Education participant, across all programs and global campuses, to achieve their professional and leadership goals.
Seth Rachlin
Co-Author, Social Capital at Work
Seth RachlinPractitioner Insights
Learn Directly from Industry Practitioners
This program brings the curriculum to life through the perspectives of experienced executives and practitioners. Select sessions may feature guest contributors who share real-world insights into leadership, strategy, and decision-making at the highest levels.
Program Outline
- Explore how AI is reshaping work, leadership, and organizational performance
- Understand the relationship between human, social, and AI capital
- Examine where AI can strengthen—or erode—trust, collaboration, and shared context
- Learn why organizational performance depends on technology and relationships working together
- Learn the fundamentals of organizational network analysis (ONA)
- Map formal and informal networks within your organization
- Identify silos, hidden influencers, structural gaps, and single points of failure
- Assess where social capital is strongest—and where it is most vulnerable
- Apply the first four Plays to strengthen relationships, influence, and connection
- Learn how organizations intentionally create trust, collaboration, and serendipity
- Leverage the second four Plays to make social capital a strategic asset and address real organizational challenges.
- Understand boards as networks of relationships and influence
- Explore how social capital shapes governance and decision-making
- Examine the role of networks in M&A success and integration
- Apply social-capital insights to organizational and leadership challenges
- Learn approaches for managing and measuring social capital
- Connect social capital to engagement, belonging, collaboration, and performance
- Build a business case for investing in organizational relationships
- Design workflows that leverage AI while preserving accountability and trust
- Create decision-making processes that maintain judgment and shared context
- Establish norms that strengthen collaboration in AI-enabled workplaces
- Learn where AI should—and should not—sit within critical workflows
- Develop a personalized 90-day action plan
- Receive peer and faculty feedback on your priorities
- Translate program insights into measurable business outcomes
- Activate a network of peers committed to strengthening social capital
Advance Registration Benefit
Fall 2026 offerings of this program include an advance registration benefit when you register by the specified date. Discount is applied during the registration process.
October cohort: $7,500 USD ($7,000 if registered by September 1, 2026)
Upcoming Sessions
Program dates are subject to change.
Download Brochure
Download the program brochure for in-depth insights on who should attend, a schedule preview, past participant profiles, location highlights, networking opportunities, and what to expect. When doing so, you’ll also receive an editable justification letter to help you make the case to your employer for your attendance.
All fields required.
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Frequently Asked Questions
In this section, you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions about Chicago Booth Executive Education programs.
Frequently Asked Questions