Book on AI Leadership for Corporate Boards

AI Leadership for Corporate Boards – Leading Responsible AI for Value Creation

Artificial intelligence is reshaping every corner of business — from strategy and innovation to ethics and sustainability. For boards, it is no longer enough to understand the technology. They must learn to lead through it.

Our new book, AI Leadership for Corporate Boards – Leading Responsible AI for Value Creation, published by Springer Nature, is written for directors and executives ready to take that step. It offers a practical, research-grounded guide to integrating AI into governance and strategy, balancing innovation with accountability.

Building the AI Leadership House

We liken board leadership of AI to building and maintaining a strong house.

The foundation must be solid — based on accountability, competence, and clear board roles.
The walls represent operational guidance — ensuring that AI is used effectively, ethically, and in alignment with company purpose.
The roof is strategic — connecting AI to leadership, talent, transformation, and long-term value creation.

Without all three, the house of responsible AI collapses — innovation without ethics becomes fragile, and governance without insight becomes hollow.

The Boards 4AI Leadership Matrix

At the heart of the book lies the Boards 4AI Leadership Matrix, a framework designed to help boards assess, guide, and supervise their organization’s AI capabilities.
It builds on six years of research and dialogue with leading Nordic and international companies, expanding on the earlier two-pillar governance model (guidance and supervision) to include a third strategic layer — focused on business strategy, leadership, talent, and transformation.

The matrix provides boards with:

Tools to evaluate AI maturity and readiness
Questions to guide discussion and oversight
Principles to align AI development with sustainable value creation

As AI continues to influence every aspect of corporate life, this framework helps boards act as anchors of responsibilityand catalysts of innovation.

Context, Collaboration and Authors

The book is authored by Fernanda Torre, Liselotte Engstam, and Professor Robin Teigland, with a guest contribution by Professor Stanislav Shekshnia (INSEAD).
It builds on foundational work begun in 2018, supported by Vinnova – Sweden’s Innovation Agency, and developed in collaboration with Chalmers University of Technology, Digoshen, Next Agents, and Combient.

This updated 2025 edition, supported by the Swedish Internet Foundation, responds to the accelerating convergence of AI, sustainability, and leadership, integrating insights from Boards Impact Forum, INSEAD, MIT CISR, and MIT CSAIL — making it one of the most timely and actionable resources for corporate boards navigating the AI era.

The Imperative of AI Leadership for Boards
The Boards 4AI Strategic Leadership Framework
AI Strategy, Leadership, Talent & Workforce, and Transformation
Board Accountability, Role, Competence & Structure
Oversight of AI’s Dual Impact on Sustainability
Board Guidance of AI Operational Capabilities
Board Supervision of AI Governance Capabilities
Boards 4AI Matrix – A Tool for Developing Board AI Capabilities
The Future of Board Work and Call to Action

Join the Launch Breakfast & Panel – November 28, Stockholm

To celebrate the launch, Boards Impact Forum invites board members and leaders to a morning of insight and dialogue:
📅 28 November 2025
📍 Internetstiftelsen, Hammarby Kaj 10D, Stockholm

The event includes:

A keynote by Professor Stanislav Shekshnia (INSEAD)
A presentation by the authors
A panel with experienced non-executive directors reflecting on responsible AI leadership
Breakfast and networking

🔗 Register and learn more here.

Endorsed by Global Leaders

A diverse group of global board and academic leaders have endorsed the book for its depth and practicality:

“AI has the potential to transform governance and drive its value creation. Boards need to both question their own effectiveness and competencies, and engage in revisiting the company’s strategy, capabilities, performance management, leadership, and culture. This book rooted in academic research validated extensively across companies provides a practical approach to both.”
— Luisa Delgado, Chair at Swarovski; NED at INGKA/IKEA, DIA Group, Fortum and Telia

“This insightful book is for all board leaders, The perspectives offered will enrich your thinking about AI in your own context. ”
— Paul Halpin, Portfolio Director and Board Chair

“The strength of this book lies in its holistic view – combining strategy, people, technology and purpose. Its not just about AI , its about the future of leadership”
— Helen Wiseman, President, INSEAD International Directors Network (IDN), an dIndependent Non-Executive Board Chair

“Transformation starts among us in the Board. We have to understand AI through curiosity, inspiration and how employees and technology work together. That’s why this is a must read for all my Board colleagues.”

— Lars Husberg, Chairman of the Board in three family-owned enterprises

“Europe must match the U.S. in AI urgency—and boards are on the front line. While 66% admit they don’t know enough, 60% are eager to learn. This book delivers what’s needed: a clear, actionable playbook for future-focused governance and AI value and oversight.”
— Patricia Barata-Rodrigues, Independent Non-Executive Director & Committee Chair; co-Founder, InfraNEDS

“Finally, a book that bridges academic insight and boardroom action. It provides forward-thinking with a grounded approach. And, this isn’t just a book—it’s a playbook. From board composition to talent strategy and AI supervision, the guidance is clear, current, and actionable. This is about the future of board leadership.”
— Rolf Pfeiffer, Managing Partner, S&P Executive Advisory Partners; Chair, Common Purpose Germany; Vice-Chair, BCCG Foundation

“This book stands out for its holistic perspective. It goes beyond technology to adress strategy, ethics, sustainability, operations and leadership – guiding readers on how to lead iota the future, not just how to manage AI”
— Fennemiek Gommer, Chair & NED; PInnovation Adviser

“At INSEAD AI, we’ve seen firsthand how unprepared many boards are for the pace and complexity of today’s AI challenges. This book is more than a roadmap; it’s a boardroom compass.”
— Robert Maciejko, Co-founder, INSEAD AI (Alum-led)

“Whether you are a seasoned board member, a corporate secretary, or a C-suite executive navigating the future of intelligent enterprise, AI Leadership for Boards is an indispensable compass. It is not only a governance guide; it is a call to responsible stewardship in a world where the stakes have never been higher.”
— Prof. Dr. Dominique Delporte-Vermeiren, Founder, House of Deep Tech; EIC Board Counsellor; Independent Board Director

“An essential compass for board directors navigating the AI age. This book doesn’t just raise the right questions, it equips boards with the frameworks, language, and tools to lead AI responsibly, strategically, and sustainably.”
— Francesco Burelli, IDP-c, NED and Partner, Arkwright

“In this fast-moving technology environment, boards need a practical AI framework to help guide direction. This book delivers that framework.”
— Stephanie L. Woerner, Principal Research Scientist and Director, MIT Center for Information Systems Research

“Modern boards need to replace the “oversight” mindset with a “board-work” mindset. With rising regulartory scrutiny and rapid AI advances, boards need more than earners – they need direction. This book delivers both.”
— Monica Lagercrantz, Serial entrepreneur, Founder BoardClic and Lagercrants Associates. Co-founder Lagercrantz & Lombardi Advisers

“Board members who want to recognise AI’s potential to help them prepare for and engage in substance, well-informed and strategically focused discussions will find this book extremely helpful”
— Steen Buchreitz Jensen, CEO Scandinavian Executive Institute and Board Member

“Timely and a must-read, this book offers essential guidance for boars navigating the complex realities of AI. It aligns powerfully with the vision of The Future Boardroom – empowering directors to lead with purpose, courage and sustainable impact”
— Helle Bank Jørgensen, Global Managing Director, Board Development, Board Intelligence and Founder, Competent Boards

“An insightful and timely guide that bridges the gap between AI innovation and responsible corporate governance – essential reading for every board, no matter the size of your company, your industry or what country you’re living in”
— Jacob Stengel, Managing Partner & Global Head of Board Practice at InterSearch & Chair of Board Network – the Danish Professional Directors Association

AI leadership begins in the boardroom.
This book offers a compass, a structure, and a call to action — helping boards build a house of governance strong enough to hold both innovation and integrity in the age of intelligent enterprise.

Read sample and buy it at amazon

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About Digoshen

This blog post was originally shared at the blog of Digoshen www.digoshen.com, and the blog of the Digoshen founder www.liselotteengstam.com,

At Digoshen, we work hard to increase #futureinsights and help remove #digitalblindspots and #sustainabilityblindspots. We believe that Companies, Boards, and Business Leadership Teams need to understand more about the future and the digital & sustainable world to fully leverage the potential when bringing their business into the digital & more sustainable age. If you are a board member, consider joining our international board network and master programs.

Welcome to also explore the Digoshen Chatbot on AI Leadership for Boards and Boards Impact Forum, where the Digoshen Founder is the Chair.

Find a link to Digoshen Chair Liselotte Engstam Google Scholar Page and how the Digoshen Chair have contributed to AI Value Creation.

You will find more insights via Digoshen Website, and you are welcome to follow us on LinkedIn Digoshen @ Linkedin