Most organizations can describe the change frameworks they use, but execution remains the real challenge. This session explores how AI tools, from structured prompting to advanced output formats, can transform strategic work, closing the gap between analysis and action. Drawing on two years of lessons learned working with teams on strategy, we'll walk through practical applications of technology-enhanced frameworks like Kotter's 8-Step Model and show how living, data-driven systems are replacing static planning documents.

Learning Objectives:

• Trace the evolution of change management frameworks from early industrial science through to today's real-time adaptive strategy approaches.
• Identify three common problems teams face when executing strategic plans — the Time Tax, Tower of Babel, and Set-It-and-Forget-It problems — and practical solutions for each.
• Apply structured prompting techniques (such as the COSTAR framework) to get more effective, actionable outputs from AI tools in strategic planning contexts.
• Demonstrate how AI can support specific steps of Kotter's 8-Step Change Model, including vision development, stakeholder communication, and consolidating input from diverse teams.
• Evaluate ethical considerations for integrating AI into change management work, guided by commitments such as human-first decision-making, bias reduction, and transparency.

Matt Dirks is an experienced operations professional from Winnipeg, Canada, with a career spanning corporate environments and startups including Skip The Dishes, where he was employee #4, managing operations while scaling from 300 to 70,000 users.

With deep expertise in operational process design and AI implementation, Matt currently serves as Managing Partner at Neralake, where he is leading a team developing an accessible strategic planning and execution tool that democratizes high quality planning for small businesses and non-profits. Matt's consulting work through Alignex Operations, Blueprint Inc and ShiftFlow Innovation has allowed him to explore operations transformation across multiple sectors. He holds an MBA from Australian Institute of Business, a certification in AI Product Design from MIT XPro and is particularly passionate about leveraging AI to solve practical organizational challenges.

When not working with a team of individuals much smarter than him, Matt enjoys quality time with his partner and two young sons exploring Manitoba's natural landscapes.

We look forward to seeing you at our virtual event on May 5^th.      

Event Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Location: Online (link to be emailed to attendees prior to the event)

Agenda:

• 12:00 pm    Speaker presentation
• 1:00 pm      End of session

Fees:

• $10 for Pre-Registered PMI Manitoba Members and Students
• $35+GST for Pre-Registered Non-Members

Event Info:  

• Registration closes Monday, May 4, 2026, at 5:00 pm 
• Event attendance is worth one (1) Ways of Working Professional Development Unit (PDU) 
• No refunds. Substitutions permitted providing the substitute is eligible for the same price.

Please email if you have any questions regarding:

• This event, Director of Monthly Programs -monthlyprograms@pmimanitoba.org
• Registration, IT Director, communications@pmimanitoba.org

PMI Manitoba Chapter no longer issues invoices for monthly program events. Registration can be paid through Debit or Credit Cards. 

Register!