Dear CEO – Are Your Executives Sleepwalking into Irrelevance

Dear CEO – Are Your Executives Sleepwalking into Irrelevance

Nov 24, 2025 | AI, Blog, Business Strategy, Digital Disruption, Innovation, Intelligent Automation, Leadership

I’m consistently stunned by the passive role executives are playing in the dawn of the AI era.

As I talk to clients and peers, the same jarring pattern emerges.

Leadership is abdicating responsibility, leaving the keys to the AI revolution in the hands of others without truly understanding the implications.

It’s not about being tech-savvy; it’s about strategic foresight and safeguarding the future of their organizations.

This isn’t a matter of “catching up”.

It’s about avoiding catastrophic missteps.

Executives are handing over the steering wheel without even knowing where the road leads.

The speed and scale of the AI era is staggering.

Here’s what leadership needs to be doing, starting today:

Action 1: Educate Yourself
Carve out dedicated time to learn the fundamentals of AI beyond the hype. Understand the capabilities, limitations, and potential impact on your industry. Seek a mentor if you do not have time to help speed up the process.

Action 2: Sponsor AI Initiatives
Don’t just approve budgets; champion projects. Demonstrate your commitment to AI from the top down.

Action 3: Lead by Example
Experiment with AI tools yourself. Show your team that you’re invested in this transformation.

Action 4: Demand Strategic Alignment
Ensure AI initiatives are directly tied to your organization’s strategic goals.

Reflective Questions for Executives:

– Do you truly understand the strategic implications of AI for your industry and your organization?
– Are you actively engaged in shaping the AI strategy, or are you simply delegating responsibility?
– Do you possess the knowledge and understanding to challenge assumptions and guide decision-making around AI?
– Are you fostering a culture of experimentation and learning around AI within your organization?
– How are you ensuring that AI initiatives are aligned with your organization’s values and ethical principles?
– What are the potential risks and unintended consequences of your AI strategy, and how are you mitigating them?

Are you leading the AI transformation, or are you being carried along for the ride?

#AI #Leadership #DigitalTransformation #Strategy #Innovation #FutureofWork #DearCEO #CEO

Dear CEO – Are You Building Your AI Compass

Dear CEO – Are You Building Your AI Compass

Nov 23, 2025 | AI, Blog, Business Strategy, Digital Disruption, Innovation, Leadership

Why Every Organization Needs an AI Futures Council.

The rapid pace of AI innovation demands more than just reactive implementation.

It requires proactive foresight.

That’s where the AI Futures Council comes in.

What is it?
A dedicated, cross-functional team tasked with exploring the long-term implications of AI on your organization’s future.

What is its purpose?
To identify disruptive opportunities, anticipate potential threats, and guide strategic investments beyond the current roadmap.

What outcomes should you expect?
New product concepts, revised business models, a better understanding of emerging risks, and a more agile approach to innovation.

How should it be funded?
Treat it as a strategic investment and allocate resources similar to R&D, but with a focus on long-term horizon scanning.

Critically, the AI Futures Council shouldn’t exist in a silo; it needs to be directly tied to the organization’s strategic plan, regularly reporting on emerging trends and guiding resource allocation.

Are you ready to build a compass to navigate the AI-powered future?

Let’s discuss how your organization can establish a thriving AI Futures Council.

#AIStrategy #StrategicPlanning #Innovation #FutureofWork #AI #Leadership #DearCEO #CEO

Dear CEO – Your Gmail Emails Are Now Fueling Google’s AI – And You Might Not Even Know It

Dear CEO – Your Gmail Emails Are Now Fueling Google’s AI – And You Might Not Even Know It

Nov 22, 2025 | AI, Blog, Business Strategy, Digital Disruption, Innovation, Leadership

Big news for Gmail users.

Google is now automatically using your emails – including attachments – to train its AI models.

Yes, your emails.

Under the radar, Google has quietly rolled out changes that opt you in to allow Gmail to analyze your private messages for AI training.

While this promises smarter features like improved Smart Compose, it raises serious privacy concerns.

Here’s what you need to know:

Default Opt-In
You’re now automatically contributing your data unless you actively change your settings.

Privacy Risk: Even with Google’s promises of anonymization, many may feel uncomfortable having their private communications used for AI training.

Simple Fix
Thankfully, opting out is possible, but it requires changing settings in *two* separate locations within Gmail. (Link to article with instructions:

Your data is valuable.

If your organization uses Gmail as the email system I encourage you to investigate the implications to your business.

Don’t let it be used without your explicit consent.

If you prioritize privacy, take a few minutes to review your Gmail settings today.

By the way LinkedIn did the same thing – Opt In by Default. Expect all Big Tech firms to default to Opt In in the AI era.

#Privacy #DataPrivacy #Gmail #AI #Google #TechNews #DataSecurity #OptOut #DearCEO #CEO