AI is fueling record-breaking valuations, trillion-dollar companies, and endless hype. But… are we living in a bubble? In this episode of Leading Change in the Wild, I dig into what’s really happening behind the scenes of the AI boom and what it could mean for leaders and organizations betting big on this technology. 📉 Here’s what I unpack: Why Nvidia’s $5 trillion valuation has leaders divided What Bill Gates and Sam Altman are saying about overhype and dead-end investments How “circular funding” between AI giants could unravel if investors start demanding returns The parallels between today’s AI surge and the dot-com bubble What business leaders can do to stay grounded and make AI work for them AI isn’t going anywhere, but the way we use it will define who thrives and who disappears when the hype fades. 👇 Let’s discuss: Do you think we’re in an AI bubble? What steps is your organization taking to ensure AI investments create real value?

An AWS outage took down apps around the world this week and it exposed a bigger question about the future of cloud, SaaS, and AI-first strategies.In this episode of Leading Change in the Wild, I break down what happened during the Virginia data center failure and what it signals for organizations that are pushing automation, AI decision-making, and cloud dependency deeper into critical infrastructure.Here is what I explore: Cloud was supposed to make uptime safer, but automation took the system down AI-first strategies are removing humans from the loop while infrastructure is getting more fragile Enterprises are rethinking disaster recovery when everything runs in the cloud Subscription fatigue is driving a return to building and hosting in-house The pendulum may be swinging back from SaaS and cloud to proprietary and on-prem My biggest question is this. If automation and cloud fail, what will still work when we have removed the human expertise that was used to manage the system?👇 I would love to hear your take: - Are outages like this a warning that we bet too much on cloud and automation? - Do you see companies starting to build in-house again instead of buying subscriptions?

Would you settle for a partial refund on a $440,000 report that used fake sources generated by AI? That’s exactly what happened in what headlines are calling “The Blunder Down Under.” Deloitte reportedly delivered a government audit built on fabricated citations, and only after being caught did they admit the “sources” never existed. In this episode of Leading Change in the Wild, Ema Roloff and Ian McCain unpack what this story reveals about the growing human intelligence problem behind our obsession with AI efficiency. Here’s what they explore:- How Deloitte’s AI blunder exposed a lack of digital literacy at the highest levels- Why “AI-first” doesn’t mean “think later”- What real accountability looks like in an era of generative tools- Why leaders need to build critical thinking alongside AI fluency This isn’t just about one consulting firm. It is a wake-up call for every organization chasing the next big tech trend without understanding the risks. 👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments:- Do you think AI tools are making us smarter or lazier?- How is your organization balancing speed with accountability? 🔔 Subscribe for weekly videos on digital transformation, AI, and the human side of technology.

The headlines say AI is taking everyone’s jobs… but the data doesn’t agree. In this episode of Leading Change in the Wild, I break down a new report from Yale’s Budget Lab that challenges everything we’ve been hearing about AI-driven disruption.  Here’s what the data actually shows:- Generative AI is shifting jobs at the same pace as past tech waves like the internet and computers- AI adoption is slowing among large enterprises because ROI isn’t matching the hype- The biggest “disruption” is happening inside the tech industry itself, not everywhere else- We’re still nowhere near the workforce shifts of the 1940s and 1950s So what should leaders do now?Invest in upskilling. Focus on digital literacy. And help your teams prepare for how AI will change their work — not if it will replace them.

Ema is joined by Nick to explore the evolving role of UX in today’s rapidly changing digital landscape. From the early days of Apple and Adobe Photoshop to the rise of user experience as a discipline, Nick shares insights on how technology, design, and human-centered thinking continue to shape innovation.

Your team is screaming for a different kind of leadership, and in this episode of Leading Change, I show you exactly what they’re saying. Instead of breaking down headlines or research, I went straight to the comment section on a recent TikTok video and asked:👉 “If you could give unfiltered feedback to leadership during a major change… what would you say?” The responses were clear, passionate, and brutally honest. In this episode, we break down: The 5 things your employees are begging you to do differently Why the “AI-first” mindset is making people feel left behind The real difference between training and change management The simple leadership habits that build trust during transformation These are the patterns I’m seeing across industries, and if you’re a leader trying to navigate digital transformation, process changes, or AI implementation… you can’t afford to ignore this feedback.

Ema is joined by Jason Schultz, Chief Innovation & Technology Officer for an AmLaw 200 firm, to explore what it really takes to drive organizational change. He shares how to identify early adopters and "fast followers," the importance of unlearning old habits, and why small wins and strong storytelling are key to sustainable innovation.

We used to own things. Now we rent them , and in some cases that includes our ability to think. In this episode of Leading Change, I unpack the subscriptionification of everything, from Netflix and workout apps to enterprise software and your favorite AI tools. What started with a $9.99 music plan has turned into monthly fees for cognition. ⚠️ I hit my limit this week after running into paywall after paywall just trying to do research.So we are talking about: Why the rise of AI is accelerating subscription culture How tools like ChatGPT and Claude are creating dependency  The growing cost of access to knowledge and cognitive outsourcing What we’re losing when we “rent” our workflows, our thoughts, and our time And most importantly, I ask the question: Are we okay with our brains being billed out monthly like software? 📌 Drop a comment —How many active subscriptions do you have right now?What’s one you can’t live without?And what are you ready to cancel in the name of taking back some ownership?

Salesforce just laid off 4,000 employees… and they’re blaming AI. In this episode of Leading Change in the Wild, Ema Roloff breaks down what’s going on with Salesforce’s massive layoffs, their new Agentforce AI platform, and the growing trend of tech leaders using artificial intelligence as both a scapegoat and a sales pitch. 🎯 Is AI truly replacing jobs… or is it just convenient PR?📉 How do these layoffs compare to Salesforce’s slowing growth?🤖 And what does this mean for your business if you're adopting AI tools? Ema dives into:- The difference between AI disruption and AI scapegoating- Why some companies may regret their AI-driven layoffs- What AWS’s CEO is saying about entry-level cuts- What leaders should do instead of slashing headcount If you’re navigating AI strategy or responsible for tech implementation, this is your wake-up call to think long-term, question the narrative, and use AI to amplify, not eliminate, your team.

Ema is joined by Jonathan Bennett, advisor to executives and founders, for a deeply insightful conversation on navigating career transitions—especially when it means stepping away from a business you’ve built.

What if the guardrails we were promised to keep AI safe… were never really built for our safety at all? In this episode of Leading Change in the Wild, I unpacks the disturbing revelations from Meta’s leaked internal document outlining how its generative AI chatbots are trained to interact, including with children. From flirtatious responses to ethical gray zones that blur dangerously close to grooming behavior, the 200+ page document obtained by Reuters raises urgent questions about what kind of oversight is really happening inside Big Tech. But this conversation goes far beyond Meta. This episode explores the broader implications:🛑 What does real transparency look like when AI enters our homes, schools, and businesses?🧠 Why are people forming emotional attachments to these tools, and how does that impact regulation?🏢 And how should leaders be vetting AI vendors to ensure ethical use, safety, and long-term trust? This isn’t just a parenting issue. It’s not just a tech issue. It’s a leadership issue and it’s time we all started demanding answers.

Ema is joined by Carolyn Hicks Jimenez, Head of Business Operations at Insurance Quantified, to talk about career development, retention, and talent building in the insurance industry. Carolyn shares her unconventional path into finance and insurance, highlighting the powerful role of rotational programs in building resilient, well-rounded professionals.

Every new generation gets labeled as lazy, entitled, or unprepared. But here’s the twist. Gen Z isn’t arguing. In fact, they’re raising their hands and saying, “Yeah…we’re not ready.” In this episode of Leading Change in the Wild, I dig into surprising data on Gen Z’s soft skills, digital literacy, and AI readiness, and why it is causing concern for employers and employees alike. From underprepared graduates to AI anxiety, we are at a crossroads that could reshape the future of work.

Ema is joined by executive coach and author Dia Bondi, who shares her proven framework for making powerful asks in your career and leadership journey. Based on her book Ask Like an Auctioneer, Dia breaks down the four essential types of asks—money, authority, influence, and balance—and how mastering them can unlock real progress for you and your team. 

In this episode of Leading Change in the Wild, we break down the recent data breach at the viral women’s-only dating app, Tea. Marketed as a platform to help women vet potential matches and stay safe, the app is now facing serious backlash after hackers accessed over 72,000 images, including photo IDs and selfies submitted for account verification. What we cover in this episode:- What the Tea App promised—and how it failed its users- Why this breach has sparked fear, outrage, and safety concerns- Whether "vibe coding" (AI-generated software development) played a role- How legacy systems and poor security practices left data vulnerable- The bigger questions this raises about trust, digital safety, and ethics in app development For anyone building, buying, or using technology: this is a cautionary tale.

Delta Airlines just made a bold AI move, and it could cost you. Literally. In this episode of Leading Change in the Wild, I break down Delta’s controversial announcement: using AI to individually price airfare based on how much you’re personally willing to pay. That’s right...your seat price could soon be set by an algorithm that knows just how badly you need that flight. What does this mean for the future of customer experience, digital trust, and responsible AI adoption? In this episode, we explore: What Delta’s CEO actually said during the earnings call How this takes dynamic pricing to a whole new (creepy?) level The backlash from senators and Reddit alike What we can learn from other brands like United, American Airlines, and even Duolingo Why this is a textbook example of just because you can doesn’t mean you should As AI adoption accelerates, businesses need to ask: are we using technology to help people, or just to squeeze more out of them?

Ema is joined by Cody Pavlat, a seasoned trainer and change leader, to explore the often-overlooked role of middle managers in driving successful transformation. They unpack how these “unsung heroes” bridge the gap between executive vision and day-to-day execution, the importance of psychological safety in leading change, and why you can’t just outsource adoption to the training team.

Should states be allowed to regulate AI, or are we risking innovation with death by a thousand cuts? In this episode of Leading Change in the Wild, I dive into the now-infamous “Big Beautiful Bill,” the 10-year moratorium on state-level AI regulation that was overwhelmingly struck down in the Senate. What’s at stake?A lot. From who gets to decide what’s ethical AI to how fast innovation can move, this debate is shaping the future of artificial intelligence in the U.S. What you'll learn in this episode: Why lawmakers pushed to block states from regulating AI for 10 years Why was that proposal rejected 99–1 in the Senate What leaders like Anthropic’s CEO are suggesting instead How this mirrors the 1990s internet boom and Section 230 What Colorado’s new AI law reveals about where we’re headed What leaders and organizations should do now to stay resilient amid regulatory uncertainty Whether you're building with AI, buying AI, or trying to understand how it will be governed, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Ema is joined by management consultant Tara, who shares insights from 25+ years of working with thousands of managers, both seasoned and accidental. They dive into why top performers often get promoted into leadership roles without the right preparation, how to support those "accidental managers," and why people skills are no longer optional in today’s workplace.

Grab your (digital) cowboy hats, because we are officially in the Wild West of AI. In this episode of Leading Change in the Wild, I’m breaking down the most important legal battles unfolding right now over artificial intelligence, ethics, and data privacy. These lawsuits aren’t just headlines. They could redefine how AI is built, used, and trusted. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why The New York Times vs. OpenAI could change what’s considered “fair use” in AI training How Reddit is taking Anthropic to court for scraping user data and what it means for social media platforms What happens when AI hiring tools are accused of bias and discrimination (Workday lawsuit) The serious risks when AI chatbots hallucinate or cross ethical lines (Air Canada and Character AI cases) The critical questions every leader needs to ask about AI accountability, bias, and consent Why It Matters:Artificial intelligence isn’t just a tech trend, it’s reshaping how decisions are made, how content is created, and how people are treated. These real-world cases show exactly what happens when innovation moves faster than ethics. If you lead teams, work in digital transformation, or just want to better understand the risks and responsibilities of AI, this is for you!