As artificial intelligence (AI) technology continues to shape higher education, institutions encounter significant challenges in its implementation. While the potential benefits and risks of AI in education are becoming increasingly recognized, there remains a limited understanding of how educational leaders can effectively implement and support AI initiatives at the institutional level, harnessing its advantages while mitigating risks. This study examines how higher education lead-ers navigate AI integration, focusing specifically on strategies for empowering stakeholders and addressing challenges during the implementation and confirmation stages of AI technology integra-tion. The literature explores how AI technology, as a recently influential innovation, is reshaping higher education through its diverse capabilities, applications, and associated risks. To provide his-torical context, the literature traces higher education's evolution, illustrating how its purpose and functions have continuously adapted to societal and technological shifts. This review also identifies a significant research gap regarding practical leadership approaches to AI integration in higher edu-cation institutions. A qualitative case study methodology employing Stake's (1995) constructivist approach explored AI implementation within a bounded system of a private research university in Atlanta, Georgia, selected for its active campus-wide AI initiative. A purposive sampling approach was employed to select nine participants who hold administrative leadership roles across various academic disciplines and are actively engaged in AI advancement within the university's AI initia-tive. Data collection consisted of online questionnaires with close-ended questions, documents, and semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis identified patterns across transcribed interview data through two coding cycles to extract key themes related to implementation strategies and challeng-es. The study identified three emerging themes: capacity building, vision and alignment, and im-plementation (strategy and structure). These findings offer valuable insights for higher education leaders by demonstrating practical leadership approaches for empowering stakeholders and identi-fying areas that require increased attention to ensure effective AI implementation. The uncertainties and complexities inherent in AI integration may be addressed through this practical guide, which enables educational leaders to develop well-structured, actionable strategies, navigate associated challenges, and establish frameworks for the responsible and effective integration of AI in higher education.