Why This Newsletter? And Why Now?

Every morning when I wake up, I find my inbox full of updates on new AI models, techniques, and tools. The headlines are loud; another breakthrough is just around the corner.

And yet, in my many conversations every day with senior business executives, product leaders, and operations teams, I hear something else entirely. It’s not panic or urgency as most would expect, but a quiet, persistent question: How do we actually make use of this in a way that’s meaningful, ethical, secure, and legally compliant?

There’s hype all around, but little (practical) strategic guidance and insights for those who innovate for outcomes.

This is what keeps me inspired. It’s also what this newsletter is here to explore.

Why Me?

Over the last ten years, I’ve led Synaptiq, delivering over 250 projects for 100+ organizations across healthcare, legal, technology, government, construction, and more. Prior to that in my nearly three-decade career, I’ve held senior leadership positions at Sage Software, CEB (now Gartner), Ernst & Young LLP, and multiple venture-backed startups. Through all of that time, I’ve come to realize that more often than not, we’re fundamentally asking the wrong question.

The biggest challenge with AI isn’t whether it can do something, but whether we can do the right thing with it. And I think doing the right thing isn’t about knowing the latest AI models and frameworks, it arises from understanding context, data, culture, constraints, and most of all, consequences.

This newsletter is for business leaders like you: people who think about change, drive practical ways to improve their organizations, and carry the weight of consequences on their shoulders. I can thoroughly relate because I’m one of them. We’re expected to move quickly but think carefully. We need clarity about where AI really fits into our processes, our decisions, our priorities, and our values.

I don’t pretend that I have all the answers. But I do have stories, and real ones at that; from colleagues and clients, from wins and false starts, from industries that have made significant progress, and others that are just beginning to ask the right questions in anticipation of worthy answers.

Why Raise Your AIQ? What’s In It For You?

We are living in truly unprecedented times. A pivotal moment in history like this requires a different kind of conversation. A dialogue, I believe, that treats business leaders as central figures in shaping where this all goes, not spectators of the AI era. I passionately believe that the smartest thing we can do with AI is not to deploy it everywhere, but to apply it where it sits best.

Each time I sit down to write this newsletter, I want to offer you something that stays with you, as you are balancing value and risk. Maybe a different perspective amidst all the noise.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you continue doing the kind of work that doesn’t only make headlines, but makes all the difference for people and businesses everywhere. Please share this newsletter with your peers who are seeking thoughtful ways to make AI more practical, useful, and better aligned with business value.

Let's Chat. Contact me if you’re interested in sharing your stories or have relevant topics you’d like to learn more about.

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