About
The Professional AI Management Association (PAIMA) was founded to address a critical challenge: while AI is advancing rapidly, most professionals are unprepared to use it effectively. PAIMA was created within WGU Labs as a response to this global skills gap. Incubated by WGU Labs, PAIMA combines affordability, accessibility, and practical application to deliver world-class AI education for non-technical professionals, students, and organizations.
Through certifications like Certified Prompt Engineer™, Certified Agentic System Builder™, and Certified VIBE Developer™, PAIMA is equipping today’s workforce with tomorrow’s AI skills. Backed by WGU Labs', PAIMA is building a scalable, inclusive, and globally relevant model that unites the workforce and academic ecosystems to create an AI-empowered society.
Introduction
Artificial intelligence is transforming how we live, work, and learn. Yet a persistent gap exists between AI’s revolutionary capabilities and the ability of individuals and organizations to harness them. The Professional AI Management Association (PAIMA) was created to close this gap—and transform it into a bridge to opportunity. PAIMA is an accessible, affordable, and practical platform for learners who are not technical specialists but must lead, manage, or navigate AI.
PAIMA is grounded in five core values:
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Accessible: AI education should be open to everyone, regardless of cost or background.
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Empowering: Build confidence and competence through hands-on learning.
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Guide: Serve as a trusted navigator in the evolving AI landscape.
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Innovative: Lead with the PROFIT framework, VIBE computing, and agentic systems.
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Transformational: Help individuals and organizations lead sustainable AI-driven change.
Mission
PAIMA is on a mission to democratize practical, affordable, and actionable AI education and certification. We exist to empower every individual—regardless of background or technical expertise—to confidently navigate, manage, and lead in a rapidly evolving AI world. Our goal is to close the gap between AI adoption and real-world readiness by equipping learners with the tools, frameworks, and confidence needed to thrive in an AI-powered economy.
The PAIMA Story
In the fall of 2024, a quiet frustration was building among a group of educators, technologists, and innovation leaders at WGU Labs. While the world was racing to adopt artificial intelligence—with ChatGPT headlines, AI copilots in every productivity suite, and startups promising to automate everything—most professionals were being left behind.
Executives nodded at AI presentations but couldn’t act on them. Teachers didn’t know how to integrate AI into classrooms. Corporate managers lacked the language to talk to their own data science teams. And students—especially those outside elite universities—were being prepared for yesterday’s jobs, not tomorrow’s.
The WGU Labs team kept hearing the same feedback: “We know AI is important. We just don’t know where to start.”
They launched workshops. They experimented with courses. But time and again, they saw a deeper problem: AI training was either too technical, too theoretical, or too expensive. There was no middle path. No credible, hands-on, approachable option for the millions of professionals who needed to lead AI—not build it.
That’s when PAIMA—the Professional AI Management Association—was born.
It wasn’t just another certification program. It was a movement.
The Vision Forward
PAIMA isn’t just a response to a trend. It’s a strategic investment in long-term economic mobility, digital leadership, and inclusive innovation. And with WGU Labs behind it, PAIMA is set to become the global standard for applied AI education—empowering people not just to keep up with AI, but to lead with it.
PAIMA Leadership
PAIMA is guided by a structured leadership ecosystem designed to ensure operational excellence, strategic growth, and global impact:
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Executive Team: Led by President Steven Tedjamulia, the executive team—including David Politis (SVP Growth), Jessica Cornell (SVP Alliances), and Bukola Awodumila (VP Operations)—drives PAIMA’s overall strategy, partnerships, and organizational vision. This core team brings deep expertise in AI, innovation, workforce development, and education reform.
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Resident Subject Matter Experts (SMEs): PAIMA is supported by a group of dedicated professionals known as Residents. These experts contribute to content development, training delivery, and ecosystem partnerships in specialized areas such as prompt engineering, agentic systems, AI ethics, and workforce transformation. Residents are active contributors from WGU Labs and PAIMA’s broader partner network.
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Advisory Board: Composed of distinguished volunteers from academia, business, and technology sectors, the advisory board offers guidance, governance, and thought leadership. These advisors help shape PAIMA’s long-term direction and ensure alignment with industry and educational needs.
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Chapter Leadership: Across the globe, volunteer chapter leaders play a pivotal role in building and supporting local PAIMA communities. These leaders organize events, facilitate workshops, support learners, and foster collaboration at the regional level, extending PAIMA’s impact on a grassroots scale.
PAIMA Members
PAIMA members come from diverse backgrounds—corporate leaders, university students, educators, entrepreneurs, and career professionals. Membership offers exclusive access to certifications, workshops, chapter leadership opportunities, and a global network of peers working at the intersection of AI and industry. Members are united by their commitment to becoming responsible AI leaders and driving meaningful impact in their organizations and communities.
PAIMA Volunteers
Volunteers are the heart of PAIMA’s mission. They lead local chapters, mentor learners, assist with events, and help expand access to AI training in underserved communities. Volunteering with PAIMA is an opportunity to give back, build leadership skills, and be part of a global effort to transform the future of work through AI. We welcome professionals, students, and retirees who want to contribute their time and talents to this important cause.