How to Get AI Transformation Right with Victoria Pelletier

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As AI reshapes work, who’s actually getting the transformation right, and what are they doing differently?

Victoria Pelletier has a rare vantage point on that question. An author, keynote speaker, and executive coach, she spent roughly 180 days on the road last year inside CIO and CEO rooms, watching companies try to become AI native. She earned the nickname “the CEO whisperer” because she tells clients what they need to hear, not what they want to hear, and she comes at AI without a traditional tech background, which is exactly what lets her see what the technologists in the room miss.

The reframe at the centre of this conversation is deceptively simple: most companies measure AI by usage, while the ones getting it right measure outcomes, even when usage looks low. Victoria explains why so many AI transformations are failing, why the people side can’t be an afterthought, and why reimagining processes matters more than automating the ones you already have. She also gets into the harder questions this opens up, including what happens to the work and the people when the tasks get automated, and whether companies will choose to redeploy talent or simply cut it.

If you’re leading an AI initiative and want to know what separates the companies getting real value from the ones shelving projects, this conversation is a good place to start.

Full Episode

Guest Links

Show Notes

  • [00:00 – 00:25] Introduction and guest background
  • [00:26 – 02:11] Victoria Pelletier’s career and nickname ‘CEO Whisperer’
  • [02:12 – 04:02] How Victoria gets insights from clients
  • [04:03 – 05:28] Observing what’s not said in leadership
  • [05:29 – 06:24] AI transformation insights from 180 days on the road
  • [06:25 – 07:46] The failure rate of AI projects and strategic focus
  • [07:47 – 09:24] From AI usage to outcomes: a strategic shift
  • [09:25 – 11:15] Effective measurement of AI adoption and impact
  • [11:16 – 12:01] Scaling AI projects and communication strategies
  • [12:02 – 13:26] People, process, and technology in AI success
  • [13:27 – 14:43] Enabling workforce and governance around AI
  • [14:44 – 17:22] Leadership transitions and AI management
  • [17:23 – 19:08] Capability gaps in AI and leadership
  • [19:09 – 21:28] Impact of AI on organizational structure and roles
  • [21:29 – 23:54] The evolution of individual contributor roles in AI era
  • [23:55 – 27:18] Developing skills for AI fluency and human power
  • [27:19 – 29:25] Victoria’s open question on AI’s societal impact
  • [29:26 – 30:59] Global AI race and ethical considerations
  • [31:00 – 32:03] What leaders need to understand about AI
  • [32:04 – 33:14] Victoria’s upcoming book and closing remarks

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