Don't Fail Your AI’s New Year Resolutions: Building the Future One Step at a Time
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The dawn of a new year feels like the perfect time for bold ambitions and sweeping declarations, doesn’t it? But in the realm of innovation and AI adoption, as in life, chasing instant transformation often leads to disappointment. Just as most New Year’s resolutions are abandoned within 8 days, many ambitious AI initiatives falter due to a lack of focus on small, executable steps.
This isn’t just a metaphor; it’s a lesson in execution. AI, the most transformative tool of our era, thrives on incremental progress. Its potential to revolutionize industries—whether through predictive analytics, enhanced customer experiences, or streamlined operations—is real, but only for those who approach it with clarity, patience, and a culture ready to embrace change. And for businesses looking to lead in an AI-first world, there’s one key takeaway: small actions drive big results.
AI and the Power of Small Steps
In the world of AI, hype often overshadows reality. Organizations dream of overnight transformation but stumble when the reality of implementation sets in. The truth is that AI isn’t a magic wand—it’s a journey. Success comes from incremental improvements, whether training better machine learning models, refining data quality, or integrating AI seamlessly into operations.
Take a page from how AI systems themselves evolve. Machine learning algorithms improve not through singular leaps but by processing data in continuous, iterative cycles. The same principle applies to organizations. Want to lead in the age of AI? Start small, iterate, and scale thoughtfully.
Culture Eats AI for Breakfast
No matter how advanced the technology, success hinges on people. Businesses adopting AI often focus on the technical aspects—choosing the right tools, platforms, and vendors. But without a culture aligned to embrace innovation, these efforts are destined to stall. As a keynote speaker on innovation, I’ve witnessed this pattern time and again: AI adoption fails when teams resist change or don’t understand how it aligns with their work.
To truly harness AI, leaders must build a culture that prioritizes learning, experimentation, and adaptability. This means equipping employees with the skills and mindset to thrive in an AI-driven environment. It’s not enough to implement AI; organizations must empower their workforce to innovate alongside it.
What Leaders Can Learn from AI’s Approach
AI provides a powerful metaphor for leadership and innovation. Just as AI models depend on consistent, high-quality data to improve, leaders must foster consistency in their strategies and actions to drive change. Here are three actionable steps for leaders looking to make 2024 the year of impactful innovation:
- Start with a Clear Use Case
Identify one high-value problem AI can solve. Whether it’s automating routine tasks or uncovering insights from data, focus your efforts where the impact will be immediate and measurable. - Pilot, Measure, Improve
Launch a small-scale pilot to test the waters. Use the insights to refine your approach before scaling. In AI, as in life, experimentation is key to progress. - Build a Learning Culture
Empower your teams to innovate by providing training, fostering collaboration, and celebrating incremental wins. AI adoption isn’t just about technology—it’s about people.
New Year’s Resolutions for AI Leaders
As we step into 2024, consider these resolutions for driving innovation and AI success in your organization:
- Be Pragmatic: Focus on achievable goals and execute with precision.
- Stay Curious: Explore emerging AI trends and find ways to integrate them into your strategy.
- Prioritize People: Innovation thrives when people are empowered to collaborate and contribute.
The Future of AI Innovation Starts with You
As a top innovation keynote speaker, I’m often asked how organizations can prepare for the future of AI. My answer is always the same: Start small. Start now. And stay consistent. The most successful organizations don’t just chase the latest trends; they build a foundation for lasting change by taking actionable steps every day.
The New Year isn’t about starting fresh—it’s about building on what you’ve already achieved. Whether you’re a leader exploring AI adoption or a professional setting personal goals, remember this: transformation is a journey of steady progress. And when you embrace this mindset, you’re not just preparing for the future—you’re creating it.
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What Alex Can Do For You
Developed and led AI and Innovation strategy for multiple Fortune 100 companies, driving double-digit revenue growth.
Over 20 years of hands-on experience driving transformative business and technology solutions for global brands like Dell, Amgen, IBM, Pfizer, and Cisco.
Recognized by Forbes as “One of the World’s Top Experts on Innovation” and named a “Top AI Keynote Speaker to Watch.”
Frequent contributor to Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Fast Company, sharing actionable insights on AI strategy, the future of work, and innovation.
What sets Alex apart from other top AI speakers and innovation experts?
With AI and innovation elevated to buzzwords, there are plenty of speakers in this space. While many offer insightful keynotes, few can bring the depth of understanding, hands-on experience, and diverse viewpoints that Alex can. Alex doesn’t just talk about AI and innovation. He’s led it at Dell, Pfizer, and Cisco. He’s sat across from C-Suite execs to build global innovation plans. And he’s resonated with audiences at Google, AWS, Disney, Coca Cola, and dozens of other companies with keynotes tailored to their unique AI opportunities. A frequent contributor to Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur, and Fast Company, Alex has been identified as a Top AI Voice on LinkedIn. He is also the author of a Wall Street Journal Bestseller, Fearless Innovation. Alex’s style is personable, approachable, and human. It’s never caught up in techspeak, or jargon so he resonates with any audience. Learn more about what sets Alex apart. Get in touch.
How does Alex customize keynotes and workshops?
No two organizations’ AI or innovation opportunities, or challenges, are the same. So canned keynotes or one-size-fits-all workshops just won’t do. Instead, Alex uses AI and data to tailor his engagements with available pre-event surveys. Analyzing responses, Alex customizes his content to address key needs and pain points, ensuring his message is meaningful. Speaking with leadership and other event stakeholders, Alex further customizes the content to ensure resonance and relevance, engaging audiences. Add it all up and you have keynotes and workshops that feel like they’ve been created for you—because they were. Learn more about Alex’s methodology. Get in touch.
What events and audiences are right for Alex?
With so much experience leading large-scale innovation initiatives, Alex is able to reach and resonate with any audience, no matter their knowledge level, industry, culture, or department. Captivating audiences from a live stage, or a virtual event, Alex is a fixture at C-Suite summits, innovation conferences, policy talks, offsites, and employee all hands meetings, plus governmental and academia events. An audience looking for fresh perspectives, real solutions, and custom content will find Alex’s keynotes engaging and actionable with ideas they can start applying right away. Curious about Alex’s recommendations for your event? Get in touch.
What companies and organizations have worked with Alex?
Alex’s roster of past clients, keynote engagements, and employers reads like a Wikipedia entry of the world’s most innovative, respected organizations. Disney, Coca Cola, ISO, AWS, Google, LEGO, CAT, IBM, Cisco, Dell, and dozens of other organizations have benefited from Alex’s keynotes, workshops, and strategic advisory services. As the former Managing Director of Innovation Strategy at Cisco, leader of global Innovation Centers and Smart City programs in 7 countries, and creator of innovation tracks for 3 Olympics, Alex’s real-world experience magnifies his impact upon any organization he partners with. Additionally, Alex has worked hands-on with governments, industry groups,startups and scaleups, plus large academic institutions, like the University of Delaware and The University of California, impacting 300,000+ students and thousands of faculty.
What topics does Alex Goryachev cover in keynotes and workshops?
While every keynote or workshop is customized to an event or audience, Alex is often requested by clients to bring a fresh perspective and real-world expertise on topics, including: AI’s impact on work and education Innovation in the age of AI Building buy-in and reducing hesitancy towards AI Policy and ethics related to AI C-Suite and leadership insights on AI Employee engagement in innovation The impact of AI on society Use cases, solutions, and strategies for AI and innovation Innovation culture and proven frameworks Reskilling and workforce preparedness Education and academia policy Government AI policy and legislation For additional topic ideas and recommendations for your event, get in touch.
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