## [Novartis US Invests in Data and AI Capabilities for 6,000 Employees](/us-en/stories/novartis-us-invests-data-and-ai-capabilities-6000-employees "Novartis US Invests in Data and AI Capabilities for 6,000 Employees") [Education and Awareness](/us-en/taxonomy/term/61) # Novartis US Invests in Data and AI Capabilities for 6,000 Employees Discover how Novartis is helping US employees build practical data and AI skills through one of its largest-ever investments in its people, featuring course material from MIT xPRO. Sep 16, 2026 The way we work is changing faster than ever before. To help employees stay ahead in this new environment, Novartis US is equipping its workforce with the skills needed to unlock the full potential of data and AI through the launch of a new learning program. Approximately 6,000 employees will complete the initial level by the end of the year. ![Victor Bultó, President, Novartis US](/us-en/sites/novartis_us/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/2026-09/Victor.png.webp?itok=xI5Fh898 "Victor Bultó, President, Novartis US") Victor Bultó, President, Novartis US“As our portfolio and the world around us become increasingly complex, our organization is becoming more dynamic, adapting in real time to new opportunities and challenges,” said President of Novartis US, Victor Bultó. “That means ensuring our people build the data and AI capabilities they need to make better decisions, work more effectively, and thrive in a rapidly changing environment.” This program is about far more than teaching employees how to use new technology. It's an unprecedented strategic investment in the future. Rather than limiting these capabilities to specialist teams, Novartis is equipping employees across the US organization with the practical skills to embrace new opportunities as technology evolves. ### Why Novartis Engaged MIT xPRO to Rethink Data and AI Learning The program includes *Data and AI Foundations: From Insights to Action*, a course developed with content from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) xPRO and tailored specifically for Novartis. Insights from MIT faculty help illustrate what may become possible when employees integrate AI effectively into their daily work. For Professor Alex “Sandy” Pentland of MIT, one of the faculty members featured in the course, the opportunity is enormous. Speaking at a US-wide internal Novartis event at the program launch in May, he said, “My colleagues have done quite a bit of research, and what we find is that when AI takes care of the busywork, it results in an increase in productivity of over 70%. That’s incredible. It means people have more time to do the things they never had time for before, and it makes work a lot more enjoyable.” The result breaks the mold of traditional online training. Rather than passively absorbing information, employees learn through a multifaceted experience that brings together leading-edge thinking from MIT faculty, perspectives from Novartis leaders, practical exercises, peer discussion, and opportunities to experiment with AI. ![Karla Feghali, Head of Data Innovation, Partnerships and Products, Novartis US](/us-en/sites/novartis_us/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/2026-09/Karla.png.webp?itok=7H_FTm8S "Karla Feghali, Head of Data Innovation, Partnerships and Products, Novartis US") Karla Feghali, Head of Data Innovation, Partnerships and Products, Novartis US“From the beginning, our vision for the program was to pair the expertise of a top university with engaging microlearning and hands-on application to drive lasting behavior change,” said Karla Feghali, Head of Data Innovation, Partnerships and Products for Novartis US, who led the development of the program. “At the same time, we recognized that understanding data is foundational to effectively leveraging AI, so we designed the experience to build both capabilities in a practical way, helping employees turn new ideas into business impact.” ### A New Approach to Hands-On, Multi-Faceted Learning: What Employees Are Experiencing Preparing its people for a new era of work meant rethinking how the learning itself should be designed. Novartis wanted employees not only to understand the foundations of data and the latest advances in AI, but also to explore what those advances mean for their own work and put new approaches into practice by applying them to real business challenges. The nine-week program enables employees to: - Understand how data and AI are transforming the way work gets done - Navigate the evolving AI landscape and Novartis' AI ecosystem with confidence - Use data responsibly and apply governance principles in decision-making - Apply generative AI and prompting techniques to enhance everyday work - Identify opportunities to automate work and learn to build AI agents to streamline processes - Work effectively alongside enterprise AI systems to unlock efficiencies ![Katie Mazuk, Chief Strategy, Platforms and Transformation Officer, Novartis US](/us-en/sites/novartis_us/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/2026-09/Katie.png.webp?itok=BU43Y7t_ "Katie Mazuk, Chief Strategy, Platforms and Transformation Officer, Novartis US") Katie Mazuk, Chief Strategy, Platforms and Transformation Officer, Novartis US“Our goal isn't to create data and AI experts overnight,” said Chief Strategy, Platforms and Transformation Officer, Katie Mazuk. “It's to create an organization where every employee feels empowered to experiment and discover better ways of working. That's what will help us achieve our ambition of becoming a truly AI-enabled organization, combining technology with human expertise to deliver even greater impact for patients.” The experience created by Novartis is interactive, with discussion forums where employees can exchange ideas and challenge one another's thinking. It offers opportunities to dive deeper in live sessions with internal and external data and AI experts. And it’s grounded in real-world examples, drawing on authentic employee stories to demonstrate how data and AI are already transforming work across Novartis. The program culminates with a capstone project where each employee designs and builds their own AI agent from the ground up. They create real-world solutions tailored to their own roles, helping to automate routine tasks and create more time for their most high-value work. ### Learning Together Creates Stronger Teams and Better Collaboration ![Three people looking at their computer screens at work.](/us-en/sites/novartis_us/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/2026-09/Three%20people%20looking%20at%20their%20computer%20screens%20at%20work.jpg.webp?itok=ZV8p5KRF "Three people looking at their computer screens at work.") The power of the program lies not only in what employees learn, but who they learn it with. Progressing through the program in cohorts, employees with varying levels of data and AI experience build a strong foundation together. By developing a shared understanding and a common language across the organization, Novartis employees are better equipped to work across teams and unlock new opportunities for innovation. The shared foundation established at this stage is just the beginning. Future learning will build on that foundation with increasingly tailored experiences for different roles and functions, reflecting Novartis' investment in helping employees with today’s skills and adapting as technology advances. ### Data and AI Skills Will Help Shape the Future of Novartis ![Two people sitting and having a conversation.](/us-en/sites/novartis_us/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/2026-09/Two%20people%20sitting%20and%20having%20a%20conversation.jpg.webp?itok=wSceyMO- "Two people sitting and having a conversation.") As technological change accelerates, one thing is clear: building the capability to continuously adapt is no longer optional. It's essential. New technologies will reshape what’s possible. New ways of working will emerge. And through this innovative learning experience, including leading-edge perspectives from MIT, Novartis is ensuring its people have what they need not just to keep pace with change, but to lead through it. Because when we lean into the future, we can not only leverage data and AI but also reimagine how we work and deliver even greater impact for patients.