November 3–4, 2026 · Chicago

Two Days to Turn AI Into Action

The Chicago AI in Executive Search Mastermind Summit is built around learning, building and applying. Less talking about AI. More working with it.

DAY ONE
Learn
Deep hands-on AI session
DAY TWO
Apply
Tools, products & workflows
THE GOAL
Use It
Leave with practical takeaways
Day One · Tuesday, November 3

Learn. Experiment. Build.

We start together, go deep on AI, then move into smaller mastermind cohorts to apply what we learned to real executive search challenges.

01
11:00 AM

Welcome, Introductions & Summit Objectives

We’ll open by getting everyone connected, understanding where firms are today with AI, and identifying the specific challenges and opportunities participants want to tackle over the next two days.

02
Four-Hour Intensive

AI Masterclass with Joe Ewing

A four-hour, hands-on working session designed to move well beyond basic prompting. Joe will take participants deeper into how today’s AI platforms can be used to think, research, analyze, create and build repeatable workflows.

Advanced prompting & reusable instructions
Projects, agents & repeatable workflows
Research, analysis & content creation
Real executive search use cases
03
Evening

Mastermind Cohort Case Studies

Participants break into smaller cohorts and work on specific, real-world executive search case studies. Each group will identify a challenge, test approaches and develop something practical to bring back to the larger group on Day Two.

Day Two · Wednesday, November 4

Tools, Workflows & Real-World Implementation

Day Two shifts from learning about AI to figuring out exactly where it belongs inside an executive search firm — and what participants can actually put to work when they return home.

AI Platforms

Know What to Use

Practical exploration of ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot — where each shines, where each falls short, and how firms are using them today.

Search Technology

Connect the Stack

CRM and ATS platforms, sourcing tools, note takers, research tools and emerging technologies — viewed through the lens of actual search workflows rather than product demonstrations.

Workflows

Make It Practical

Translate tools into repeatable workflows for business development, sourcing, research, candidate assessment, client communication, knowledge management and firm operations.

The question we’ll keep asking: What can this actually do, where does it fit in executive search, and how can I use it when I get back to my firm?
Workflow Labs

Apply AI Across the Search Lifecycle

We’ll break the executive search process into real workflows and explore where AI can create meaningful leverage.

Business Development
Client Research
Pitch Preparation
Market Mapping
Candidate Sourcing
Assessment
Client Updates
Firm Operations
Cohort Readouts

What We Built

Cohorts will share the challenge they tackled, the tools they tested, what worked, what didn’t, and the workflow or solution they developed. The emphasis is on practical ideas other firms can borrow, adapt and improve.

01 The problem we tackled
02 The tools and approach we used
03 What worked — and what didn’t
04 How other firms can apply it
What You’ll Leave With

Not More AI Theory. A Plan.

✓ Specific AI workflows to implement
✓ Reusable prompts and approaches
✓ A clearer view of the major AI platforms
✓ Ideas tested by other search firms
✓ Practical technology recommendations
✓ A short list of immediate experiments

You shouldn’t leave Chicago simply knowing more about AI. You should leave knowing what you’re going to do differently on Monday morning.