In this episode of No Brainer, hosts Geoff Livingston and Greg Verdino discussed the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in business with Mike Whitaker (Whit for short), Senior Vice President of Strategy Execution and Organizational Innovation at ICF Consulting. Whit shares his insights on fostering a culture of AI adoption and offers practical advice on navigating the challenges of integrating AI into business operations.

The three discuss various aspects of AI adoption in the enterprise, including the need for both leaders and employees to engage with AI technologies to stay relevant. Whit details some of the challenges leaders face including new technology bias and the incumbent need for leaders to demonstrate AI use in their own work.

Then Whit emphasized the importance of a hands-on, continuous learning approach to AI, rather than relying solely on obsolete corporate training programs. They also explore the potential risks and real-world constraints of AI implementation, such as data integrity and resistance to change.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

03:16 Whit's Substack on AI for Working Parents

08:23 Leadership and AI Adaptation

13:57 Middle Management's Role in AI Integration

18:57 Corporate Training and AI

22:07 Practical AI Applications for Executives

28:24 Overcoming Cognitive Resistance

32:15 Healthy Skepticism and AI

37:59 Balancing AI Adoption and Investment

44:55 Leadership's Role in AI Integration

About Mike “Whit” Whitaker

Whit helps organizations and individuals realize their full potential by designing strategies, teams, and operating models that drive value and positive change. As AI rapidly evolves, Whit focuses on enabling effective Human-AI collaboration to enhance business outcomes.
As SVP of Strategy Execution and Organizational Innovation at ICF, Whit leads initiatives that foster high-value collaboration, spark creativity, and drive growth. With 15+ years of experience across energy, health, communications, and government, he specializes in:
• Advising the C-Suite on enterprise priorities and innovation strategy • Leading ICF’s centralized innovation services to accelerate growth • Designing and facilitating Spark Sessions to co-create solutions for complex challenges

Navigating AI Transitions Substack: https://mikewhitaker1.substack.com/

Whit’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelwhitakericf/

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