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Home / About Dr. Eric Goodman

The people side of change has always been my work.

For more than 35 years, Dr. Eric Goodman has helped people learn, lead and adapt — as an educator, business-school dean and chief academic officer. Today he helps organizations adopt AI in a way that makes their people more capable, more confident and more valuable.

35+Years leading people through change
500K+Learners & leaders impacted
22,000+Students in the college of business he led
1,000+Online courses & programs built
Dr. Eric GoodmanFounder, Innovate AI Systems · Denver, Colorado
The story

From the classroom to the boardroom — and now to AI.

Dr. Goodman began as an educator, and he never stopped being one. As a business-school dean, chief academic officer and leader of doctoral programs, he guided a college of business serving more than 22,000 students and helped build over 1,000 online courses and programs. Along the way, he learned what makes change stick: people adopt new ways of working when they understand why, see how, and feel capable of doing it themselves.

When generative AI arrived, he saw a familiar pattern. Organizations were buying tools, and their people were being left to figure it out alone — curious, a little anxious, and unsure where to start. The technology was moving faster than the human side of the change.

So he founded Innovate AI Systems to close that gap — combining doctoral-level learning design, NLP-based communication and three decades of change leadership into a practical, measurable path to AI adoption. As you read on, you’ll notice the same idea everywhere: human intelligence first, AI to amplify it.

What I believe

Four principles behind every engagement.

Whether you lead with vision, momentum, people or proof, these are the commitments you can expect.

People

People before platforms

Tools change every quarter. Confident, capable people are the advantage that lasts.

Clarity

Clarity before speed

A clear plan, built on your real workflows, beats a rush to adopt the newest tool.

Trust

Responsible by design

Privacy, governance and human review are built in from the start — never bolted on.

Evidence

Measure what matters

Hours saved, quality kept, adoption earned — reported in terms leadership can act on.

Why we do it · The 5 Convergences

Human intelligence first. AI to amplify it.

AI doesn’t stall because the technology fails. It stalls when people aren’t led through it. Everything we do builds five human capacities — the C·A·I·R·E framework at the heart of Dr. Goodman’s keynotes — and CognitiX™ is how we build them inside your organization.

C

Clarity

Know what matters most — and what AI should never touch.

A

Adaptability

Learn and evolve faster than the change around you.

I

Intelligence

Combine human wisdom with artificial intelligence.

R

Resilience

Build the human capacity that outlasts any technology.

E

Execution

Turn possibility into measurable results.

C·A·I·R·E is why. CognitiX™ is how: Diagnose → Prioritize → Implement → Train → Optimize.

Credentials

Experience you can check.

The background behind the method — in education, business and the science of how people learn and communicate.

01Ph.D., Business Administration
02Former business-school dean & chief academic officer
03Led a college of business serving 22,000+ students
04Doctoral program leader
051,000+ online courses & programs built
06500K+ learners & leaders impacted
07NLP Master Practitioner
08Author, Business Before AI & From Teacher to Leader
09Founder, Innovate AI Systems · Co-founder, Convergence Collective AI
10Alignable Ambassador, Colorado
Speaking

Keynotes that leave rooms ready to act.

Picture your team walking out of the room with a shared language for AI, a few practical wins to try on Monday, and far less anxiety about what comes next.

Flagship

The Human + AI Advantage

Why the organizations that win with AI are the ones that invest in their people first.

Leadership

Leading Through Disruption

How leaders build clarity, confidence and resilience while everything is changing.

Strategy

Future-Proof Your Organization

A practical roadmap for adopting AI responsibly, team by team.

Growth

AI-Powered Sales & Influence

Using AI and communication science to connect, persuade and convert.

Potential

Unlocking Human Potential in an AI World

What people can become when AI takes on the work that held them back.

Recent stages

Trusted by leading rooms

The Broadmoor · PRSA Colorado · Colorado Startup Week · NARPM · Fortune 500 leaders

Read & connect

Ideas worth Monday morning.

Dr. Goodman writes for leaders who want practical, human-centered guidance — not hype.

A Colorado native and lifelong skier, Dr. Goodman is based in Denver and works with organizations nationwide. Connect with him on LinkedIn.

Start a conversation

Talk with Dr. Goodman about your AI plan.

A 30-minute strategy call to explore your goals, your biggest AI challenge and a practical next step — whether or not we work together.

Tell us your goal

Four quick fields — about 45 seconds.

Pick a time

Choose a 30-minute slot that works for you.

Leave with a plan

Your top AI opportunities and a practical next step.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Still deciding? A short strategy call will tell you whether we're the right fit — and if we're not, who is.

Who is Dr. Eric Goodman?

Dr. Eric Goodman is a human-centered AI strategist, keynote speaker and the founder of Innovate AI Systems. A former business-school dean and chief academic officer with a Ph.D. in Business Administration, he has spent more than 35 years leading change in education and business.

What is human-centered AI?

Human-centered AI is an approach to adopting AI that starts with people — their goals, workflows, skills and confidence — and uses AI to amplify human judgment rather than replace it, with responsible governance built in.

What does Innovate AI Systems do?

Innovate AI Systems helps education, eLearning and growth organizations adopt AI responsibly through AI readiness assessments, the CognitiX™ implementation method, role-based training and AI-accelerated course development.

Does Dr. Goodman speak at conferences and events?

Yes. He delivers keynotes and workshops for corporate leadership teams, associations, conferences, chambers of commerce and higher education. Email [email protected] to check availability.

Where is Innovate AI Systems based?

Innovate AI Systems is based in Denver, Colorado, and works with organizations across the United States, in person and virtually.

Human intelligence first · AI to amplify it

Let’s make AI work for your people.

Book a complimentary strategy call — or start with the free 3-minute AI Readiness Scorecard.