There is no doubt AI is a core priority for most companies and CEOs I speak with, but it's often challenging for leaders to balance current business targets with the change management needed to transform your business with AI. I enjoyed speaking with John Werner about these yesterday, and shared some practices every leader should be considering. 1. Be hands on yourself. Even if you are not a technical leader, LLMs offer incredible capabilities for you to build your own AI agent. Experiencing (versus just reading about it) will help you fully grasp the power and possibilities AI can bring to your company. 2. Establish your trusted tech partners. With the rapid changes and model updates from Foundational Model companies, it's important to establish a diverse and flexible strategy for implementing AI in your company. Pick the small set of technology partners that will help your business get started, and offer the monetization model that will support the changing dynamics of the AI landscape. 3. Develop an AI first culture in your organization. Engage your employees in your AI transformation journey, help them learn by doing, create opportunity and celebrate new ways of working with AI and hire for flexibility, curiosity, adaptability. Unique ways of thinking, collaboration and determination will help employees thrive with AI and improve your overall company's performance and culture. 4. Define the right business value for your customers and company. As exciting as AI is, it will only be as valuable as it advances your company's core business. Consider what product experiences and services are now possible because of AI, and think broadly about the long term growth value it can offer your customers. As tempting as it may be, don't limit your goals to just cost cutting... as it might blindside you to potential growth opportunities.
Wonderful to host Lidiane Jones (former CEO of Slack) yesterday ... we did an interview - Lidiane has great perspective ... the questions we discussed - * As CEOs navigate macro market dynamics, how does AI play a role in their priorities? * What are you seeing as successful AI strategies from peer CEOs in the market? * What are some of the key disruptions caused by AI that will impact SaaS businesses that you expect will play a role in the near future? * What are the biggest risks CEOs and business leaders are most concerned about with AI, and what can they do to mitigate them? * How should leaders manage employee angst about job displacement caused by AI? Is there a new take emerging for talent management moving forward?
Such a grounded and practical take, Lidiane Jones. The reminder to stay hands-on — especially for non-technical leaders — is so relevant. And fostering an AI-first culture truly goes beyond tools; it's about mindset, curiosity, and inclusion. Thank you for framing the challenge with such clarity.
Lidiane Jones involving the whole team and looking beyond just cost-cutting truly makes all the difference.
The hands-on personal touch and engagement is where the growth will happen with embracing AI. I love that you focus on this-- thank you for your thoughts Lidiane Jones.
AI is top of mind for every leader, but the real challenge isn’t the tech—it’s aligning it with today’s business goals while preparing for what’s next. A few lessons: Get hands-on (yes, even non-technical execs), Lock in flexible tech partners early, and bake AI into your culture, not just your ops. Biggest pitfall? Focusing only on cost savings instead of reinventing what’s possible for customers.
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1moCouldn’t agree more! Great wisdom Lidiane