In this episode, I am joined by Dr Alexandra Dobra-Kiel, Innovation and Strategy Director at Serviceplan Group and member of the Advertising Association’s AI Task Force.
Together, we explore why AI adoption must go far beyond implementation and why organisational culture, leadership vulnerability and strategic clarity are essential to making AI work for people, not just systems.
Alexandra offers a timely and thought-provoking analysis of how businesses can avoid superficial rollouts and instead embed AI in a way that delivers sustainable value.
🎯 In this conversation, we cover:
Why 77% of employees are anxious about AI taking their jobs and how leaders should respond with honesty and dignity
The difference between automation and augmentation and why we need a talent reboot, not a talent reduction
The importance of psychological safety and a culture that encourages openness, experimentation and risk-taking
Why “boring tasks” are often critical for learning, and removing them may unintentionally damage development
How leaders must demonstrate humility and vulnerability to build trust in AI
The traps of ego-driven resistance and incremental thinking and how to escape them
Why governance should be a tool for growth, not just compliance
How to ensure AI adoption reflects both human strengths and AI limitations
Whether you're a senior leader, strategist, policymaker or innovator, this episode offers practical insights for shaping the future of work with AI.
Chapters
00:00 Understanding AI Adoption vs. Implementation
02:58 Factors Influencing AI Adoption in Workplaces
05:52 Motivating Employees to Engage with AI
09:06 The Future of Jobs in the Age of AI
11:40 Balancing Ethics and AI Deployment
14:39 Evolving Business Models with AI
17:57 Spotting Opportunities in AI
20:43 Assessing Organisational Maturity in AI
23:33 Innovating While Achieving Operational Efficiencies
26:30 Prioritising AI Adoption in the Boardroom