Editorial
The AI conversation is no longer just about tools or technology. It’s about leadership. AI is now the litmus test for whether leaders are prepared to shape agile, inclusive and future-proof organizations — or whether they’ll fall behind as their competitors race forward.
The data tells a clear story: AI adoption is accelerating at breakneck speed. McKinsey’s recent global survey, “The State of AI,” found that 78% of organizations are using AI and 71% are using generative AI regularly. In addition, 92% plan to increase their investment in GenAI over the next three years. Yet, behind these statistics is a quieter trend: hesitation, skepticism and inconsistent adoption — especially among women and historically underrepresented groups.
Here’s the truth: AI is transforming the way business gets done, with or without you. Will your people feel part of this revolution or sidelined by it?
AI Hesitation Is a Culture Issue, Not a Tech Problem
The narrative that AI hesitancy is only about fear of job loss is too narrow. A lack of cultural readiness is more likely stalling progress at your organization.
Do you have visible leadership commitment? When executives passively delegate AI adoption to IT departments rather than actively championing it, employees may perceive the technology as a niche initiative rather than a company-wide transformation.
Are teams invited to co-create AI? If employees are simply handed AI tools without context, training or discussion, they may struggle to see the value of these innovations. A culture of co-creation — where teams are involved in shaping AI strategies — builds ownership, trust and long-term engagement.
Are organizations framing AI as a human accelerator? If AI is positioned merely as a tool for automation and cost-cutting, employees may see it as a threat rather than an opportunity. Instead, organizations should present AI as a tool that enables greater creativity, problem-solving and efficiency.
When employees don’t see themselves in the AI journey, they disengage. And worse, when certain groups (like women) adopt AI at significantly lower rates, as Harvard Business School reports, your organization risks embedding those disparities into the very systems meant to make work more efficient and innovative.
The New Mandate: Leaders Must Be AI Culture Builders
“AI is not just the next big thing — it’s the thing. At Walk West, we’ve seen firsthand that organizations thriving today are those where leadership doesn’t just adopt AI but embeds it into their culture. Leaders who treat AI as a transformational driver rather than a technical add-on are the ones who will create companies built to lead the future,” said Greg Boone, CEO of Walk West, a digital marketing and branding agency in Raleigh, N.C.
Forget the idea that AI is just a “tech rollout.” To create a growth environment where employees are excited to learn how AI can help them succeed, leaders must become AI culture architects. Here’s what that means:
1. Build AI Literacy AND AI Identity
Teaching teams how to use AI is only the first step. People also need to understand how AI fits into their professional identity. This means helping every employee, from the skeptical to the enthusiastic, see AI as a career catalyst. Leaders should personalize the “why” behind AI for each role, illustrating how it will elevate their impact and make their work more fulfilling.
2. Make AI a Team Sport
Too often, AI adoption is fragmented. Some teams experiment quietly, while others avoid it altogether. Instead, turn AI into a collaborative effort. Invite employees to shape how AI is piloted, refined and scaled. Make AI experimentation part of team meetings, hackathons or innovation labs. When people feel they are building the solution, they’ll invest in it emotionally.
3. Center Inclusion at Every Stage
A Deloitte study echoes Harvard Business School's findings: women are still less likely to use AI tools than men. Underrepresented groups also face barriers in accessing the training and sponsorship needed to thrive in an AI-powered workplace.
To break this pattern, organizations can track employees’ AI usage and comfort levels by demographic. Mentorship and peer-learning groups can make building AI skills seem easier and less overwhelming. Ensure AI steering committees and pilot teams include diverse voices, so all employees see role models who are leading the AI transformation. AI that is designed and driven by a narrow segment of your workforce will never fully serve your organization — or your customers.
AI Done Right = Engagement + Resilience
When integrated thoughtfully, AI does more than boost productivity. It creates:
- More engaged teams, free from repetitive tasks and empowered to innovate.
- More equitable systems, where AI enhances — not amplifies — human diversity.
- More resilient organizations, adaptable to whatever the next disruption brings.
To create a fertile environment where AI knowledge can grow and flourish, leaders must frame AI as an opportunity. Employees should be invited to help create a smarter, more inclusive future for the organization.
A Lesson About Technology and Change
In the early 2000s, I was an expert at designing and executing marketing strategies that got results. I was the queen of tri-fold brochures. A career change took me out of the industry for a few years, and when I returned to the field, everything had changed. My expertise was rooted in an analog world, and now, digital marketing was the new norm. I had to hustle to upskill and rebuild my relevance.
I still remember the sting of being left behind, but it taught me a hard lesson about change. Technology doesn’t wait, and neither will AI.
The Cost of Standing Still
Let’s be blunt: leaders who hesitate to implement AI risk more than lost efficiency — they risk cultural erosion and competitive irrelevance.
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Imagine telling a client, stakeholder or potential hire that your organization is “waiting to see how AI plays out.” Meanwhile, your competitors are already using AI to streamline operations, personalize customer experiences and unlock new revenue streams.
This is your organization’s inflection point. Will you help your employees use AI to reach new heights? Or will you watch from the sidelines as others seize this opportunity?
Editor's Note: Read more about the cultural aspects of AI adoption below:
- Big Tech Bets Billions on AI, But Adoption Is Still Slow — Companies like Microsoft, Google and Salesforce are betting the house on generative AI, yet adoption rates lag far behind the investment. Here's why.
- Employees Are Using AI, They Just Aren't Telling You — Generative AI offers employees a chance to bypass mind-numbing tasks. If you think they’re not using it, you’re taking a big gamble. Here’s how to fix that.
- What AI Upskilling Looks Like at Every Level of the Organization — A 3-tiered approach to AI upskilling for leaders, managers and individual contributors.
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