The AI champion method: Finding internal advocates | Robert Mitchell (WSI)

What's the secret to successful AI adoption? According to Robert Mitchell, Chief AI Officer at WSI, it's not just about choosing the right tools, but it's about mastering a delicate balance between executive vision and hands-on experimentation. After helping countless mid-sized businesses implement AI, Robert explains why these organizations need fundamentally different approaches than enterprises, focusing on quick wins and easy implementation over maximum capability.

His conversation with Ravin on this episode of The AI Adoption Playbook explores WSI's unique dual-track implementation approach, combining executive planning with grassroots experimentation. Robert shares practical insights on building effective AI councils with representation across all business functions, ensuring that AI initiatives benefit from diverse perspectives and real-world operational knowledge.

Robert also walks through WSI’s proven framework for balancing top-down strategy with bottom-up experimentation, why SMBs require different solutions than enterprises, and how to build truly cross-functional AI governance.

Topics discussed:

• A proven "top-down, bottom-up" implementation framework that combines executive buy-in with identifying and empowering internal AI champions who can drive adoption through monthly AI Council meetings and team challenges
• Detailed ROI calculation methodology for AI initiatives, illustrated through a case study showing how 10% productivity gains on a $5M payroll can translate to $3M in additional business value at 6x EBITDA multiple
• Specific approach to AI governance using three core documents - policies for internal data usage, client data handling, and vendor data management - that must be established before any employee training begins
• Concrete example of high-ROI automation: a $20K investment to eliminate 7 days of manual accounting work monthly, improving employee satisfaction while enabling team to focus on higher-value activities
• Strategic methodology for creating "aha moments" by having employees first experiment with AI in their personal domain expertise before applying it to work processes, making adoption more intuitive
• Practical framework for quick wins: identifying 90-minute process improvements through Loom video analysis of employee pain points, then rapidly implementing targeted AI solutions