Ruth Ellen Heaton is a leader defined by curiosity and a love of learning. Across her career, she has embraced new challenges, sought fresh perspectives, and approached every experience as an opportunity to grow. From telecom to strategic consulting, she has seen firsthand how innovation reshapes the way businesses operate.
Despite her decades of experience, she believes her most important quality is not expertise, but curiosity. She continues to seek new knowledge that allows her to adapt and guide others more effectively. “It’s important to be a learn-it-all, not a know-it-all,” she says.
Why Learning Never Ends for Leaders
For Ruth Ellen, going back to structured study after years in leadership was not a step back; it was a step forward. She enrolled in the Certificate Program in Artificial Intelligence for Business Strategy by Johns Hopkins University to expand her ability to connect business priorities with emerging technologies.
Her decision reflected a larger principle: leaders must invest in their own growth if they want their teams to innovate. “None of us knows exactly what’s coming next. The only way to prepare is to keep learning,” she shares. For her, the program was a way to sharpen strategic thinking in the age of AI while modeling the same lifelong learning mindset she encourages in others.
Translating Strategy Into Technology
Ruth Ellen Heaton has always bridged the gap between business and technology. While leading business projects and working with technical teams, she discovered how AI tools could also enhance her own learning and decision-making. This gave her a clear perspective on how technology can empower non-technical professionals.
The program built on this experience, providing her with frameworks and vocabulary to engage confidently with leaders across functions. “Even though I won’t be coding AI models, I needed to understand their capabilities so I could tie strategy to technology effectively,” she explains. She has already applied these learnings to client projects, seeing measurable results.
One of her biggest takeaways was understanding the wide applicability of AI. “Many think AI is only for developers, but that’s not true,” she says. From project management and customer success to sales, finance, and operations, she sees AI streamlining workflows and freeing businesses to focus on innovation.
Leading Teams Into the AI Era
For Ruth Ellen, learning AI strategy was not only about her own growth. It was about equipping her teams and clients with the tools and confidence to embrace innovation. She believes leaders must create an environment where people feel empowered to explore new ideas, and AI is a powerful enabler in that process. Her biggest insight is that AI is not about replacing jobs; it is about enabling growth. “AI is a business tool. It helps us dream bigger, offload tasks that don’t require human attention, and focus on what humans do best: innovate,” she reflects.
When asked what advice she would give to professionals considering the program, she says, “Do it, and when you do, make the most of everything offered. You’ll come out miles ahead of what you expected.”
