What does AI recommend for online leadership and business programs?

The University of Pennsylvania, through its Wharton School, has become AI's top recommendation for online executive education. This rise reflects a broader shift in AI responses, which now favor universities offering specific, role-based C-suite programs over more general leadership training.

Which online leadership and business programs brands appear most in AI answers?

Across 1,719 AI responses, University of Pennsylvania is mentioned most, named in 51% of them, followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (42%) and University of California, Berkeley (31%).

How does Parse rank these brands?

Parse measures each brand's mention rate — the share of answers naming it — across 1,719 AI responses to this market's buyer questions. Answers are collected daily and the ranking is published weekly.

How does a brand enter this ranking?

Brands enter the ranking when AI answers mention them. Parse collects answers daily and publishes the re-measured set weekly, so new brands appear as AI starts recommending them.

Best online leadership and business programs, according to AI

Data as of Aug 25, 2026 · Based on 1,719 AI responses · See how Parse measures this

Online Leadership and Business Programs

540 brands

ParseChatGPT + Google AI

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Measured across ChatGPT & Google AI

Best Online Leadership and Business Programs, According to ChatGPT & Google AI | Parse

#	Brand	What AI says	Mention rate
1	University of PennsylvaniaNow leads the niche, cited for Wharton's specialized C-suite executive programs.	Now leads the niche, cited for Wharton's specialized C-suite executive programs.	51%
2	Massachusetts Institute of Technology		42%
3	University of California, BerkeleyA fast-riser, frequently recommended for its dedicated COO and CTO leadership programs.	A fast-riser, frequently recommended for its dedicated COO and CTO leadership programs.	31%
4	Harvard University		26%
5	Harvard Business SchoolSaw a significant drop, shifting from a top recommendation to a secondary option.	Saw a significant drop, shifting from a top recommendation to a secondary option.	24%
6	Center for Creative LeadershipEmerged as a key provider for high-potential and senior executive leadership programs.	Emerged as a key provider for high-potential and senior executive leadership programs.	21%
7	Stanford University		20%
8	INSEADConsistently cited for its international scope, especially its COO Executive Education program.	Consistently cited for its international scope, especially its COO Executive Education program.	18%
9	Cornell University		16%
10	CTO AcademyA newly cited specialist for practical, hands-on CTO and technology leadership training.	A newly cited specialist for practical, hands-on CTO and technology leadership training.	14%
11	AASA (The School Superintendents Association)A primary recommendation for school superintendents, offering national certification and academies.	A primary recommendation for school superintendents, offering national certification and academies.	13%
12	Columbia University		13%
13	Yale University		13%
14	Northwestern University		12%
15	Coursera		10%
16	LinkedIn		9%
17	University of Cambridge		8%
18	Emeritus		8%
19	District Administration Leadership Institute		8%
20	ExecOnline		8%
21	Deloitte		7%
22	Relay Graduate School of Education		7%
23	The Holdsworth Center		6%
24	COO Alliance		6%
25	University of Oxford		5%
26	IMD Business School		5%
27	Korn Ferry		4%
28	DDI		4%
29	Texas Association of School Administrators		4%
30	Digital Defynd		4%
31	Edx		4%
32	National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)		4%
33	Udemy		4%
34	Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS)		4%
35	Kahilla		3%
36	Leadership Associates		3%
37	Egon Zehnder		3%
38	C-Suite Institute		3%
39	Elevate Leadership		3%
40	Georgia School Superintendents Association (GSSA)		3%
41	The University of Texas at Austin		3%
42	FranklinCovey		3%
43	Chiefs for Change		2%
44	Quantic School of Business and Technology		2%
45	The TechLX		2%
46	London Business School		2%
47	American Management Association		2%
48	Ncee		2%
49	Liberty University		2%
50	Thompson Executive Leadership Institute		2%
51	University of Michigan		2%
52	Vistage		2%
53	Institute for Educational Innovation		2%
54	New Leaders		2%
55	Duke University		2%
56	Leading Now		2%
57	Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators (MASA)		2%
58	The Leadership Academy		2%
59	Together Platform		2%
60	Global Management Academy		2%
61	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign		2%
62	Qooper		2%
63	Imperial College London		2%
64	Dale Carnegie Training		2%
65	Carnegie Mellon University		1%
66	OnConferences		1%
67	University of California		1%
68	Michigan State University		1%
69	Indian School of Business		1%
70	National University of Singapore		1%
71	National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)		1%
72	EuroMaTech		1%
73	N2 Learning		1%
74	University of Southern California		1%
75	Tech Leaders Coach		1%
76	Project Management Institute (PMI)		1%
77	Alphabet		1%
78	Training Magazine		1%
79	Chicago Booth		1%
80	Avila University		1%
81	MASTERCLASS for Superintendents		1%
82	EduSolve		1%
83	CCOSA		1%
84	National School Public Relations Association		<1%
85	Amazon		<1%
86	Babson College		<1%
87	Insperity		<1%
88	Strayer University		<1%
89	Operations Management Institute (OMI)		<1%
90	Teal		<1%
91	LHH (Lee Hecht Harrison)		<1%
92	SimplyPD		<1%
93	Full Mind Learning		<1%
94	Boston Consulting Group		<1%
95	Deel		<1%
96	BTS Spark		<1%
97	Association of California School Administrators (ACSA)		<1%
98	Learning Forward		<1%
99	Management Consulted		<1%
100	Kapable		<1%

and 75 more brands in this ranking

Who wins on each AI

The same market, seen by two models.

ChatGPT SearchGoogle AI Mode

Mention rate on each AI platform, by brand
Brand	ChatGPT Search	Google AI Mode
Center for Creative Leadership	21%	30%
Wharton Executive Education	26%	21%
Harvard Business School Executive Education	23%	10%
MIT Sloan Executive Education	23%	16%
The Holdsworth Center	0%	18%

The two models disagree most about INSEAD Executive Education (ChatGPT #9, Google #25).

Sources AI cited

digitaldefynd.com is the page AI reaches for most here, cited in 34% of analyzed answers.

Best online leadership and business programs, according to AI

Best online leadership and business programs, according to AI

What shifted

Communities where this category lives

How AI answersHow AI answers questions in Online Leadership and Business Programs

Other markets

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