When it comes to artificial intelligence, the biggest risk for strategy leaders is not whether the technology is “ready” or “overhyped.” The real danger is allowing ourselves to be carried away by the pendulum swing between awe and dismissal. One moment AI is framed as an unstoppable force that will transform everything overnight, the next it is written off as a trivial tool with more marketing than substance. Neither view provides a foundation for serious strategy.
[Read more…] about Balancing Hype and Reality in AI StrategyBuilding the Ground Before Chasing the Sky: An AI Strategy for Nonprofits
The excitement around artificial intelligence has been nothing short of electric.
It has captured headlines, imaginations, and boardroom agendas everywhere. Yet, as with every wave of innovation, the early rush of enthusiasm eventually collides with reality. For many organizations, the promise of instant transformation has quickly turned into a sober recognition: the technology is dazzling, but the results often fall short of the expectation.
[Read more…] about Building the Ground Before Chasing the Sky: An AI Strategy for NonprofitsTen Questions to Ask When Hiring a Strategy Consultant
Open any RFP for consulting services and you’ll almost always find one requirement near the top of the list: “proven experience in our industry.”
It’s understandable – organizations want assurance that a consultant can speak their language, understand their unique challenges, and navigate their context.
But here’s the danger: when industry familiarity becomes the main filter, you may end up with a consultant who knows the jargon but struggles to challenge assumptions, see beyond the obvious, or design solutions that break new ground. Peter Drucker said, “The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence; it is to act with yesterday’s logic.” Industry familiarity can sometimes lock both client and consultant into yesterday’s logic.
[Read more…] about Ten Questions to Ask When Hiring a Strategy ConsultantWhen Growth Outruns Operations: Lessons from the Middle of the Work
After twenty-five years of building, leading, and refining operational engines, I’ve come to see a pattern that many miss.
It’s not something I’ve learned from textbooks or management theory. It’s something I’ve learned from being in the room, having hard, thoughtful conversations with people who are right in the thick of it – leaders, partners, funders, vendors, and community builders who are sometimes, quite desperately, trying to keep up with their own growth. And I’ve seen this not just from a distance, but in the day-to-day of my own work – most recently as the Vice President of Operations at the Ottawa Community Foundation.
[Read more…] about When Growth Outruns Operations: Lessons from the Middle of the WorkThe Opportunity Hiding in Plain Sight: The Digital Transformation Gap
Only 36% of businesses are embracing new technologies to drive digital transformation.
The statistic from McKinsey – that only 36% of businesses are embracing new technologies – reveals two realities. First, it’s a warning that many companies are lagging behind in the digital era. But second, it’s an extraordinary opportunity for those ready to embrace change and innovation.
The question is: will you lead or be left behind?
[Read more…] about The Opportunity Hiding in Plain Sight: The Digital Transformation GapThe Fine Art of Balancing Short-Term Wins and Long-Term Sustainability
In the fast-paced, ever-changing landscape of modern business, the tension between short-term wins and long-term sustainability is one of the most delicate balances leaders must navigate. Decisions made today shape the path for tomorrow, but how can we ensure that the choices we make today do not come at the cost of the future? How do we move beyond simply surviving the moment and accelerate toward sustainable growth, innovation, and impact? And in doing so, how do we protect the very things that matter most: our people, our profits, and our processes?
[Read more…] about The Fine Art of Balancing Short-Term Wins and Long-Term Sustainability
