Hi {{ subscriber.first_name }}, The hype around AI is deafening. But few conversations cut through the noise like the one I had on The World Class Leaders Podcast with Chris O’Neill, former CEO of Evernote, current CEO of Growloop, and board member at GAP. What stood out wasn’t just his experience in tech leadership. It was his ability to reframe the real challenge of AI adoption: it’s not the tools. It’s the mindset. Here are some key insights that emerged from our deep dive: 1. In the AI era, everyone becomes a leader. Chris made a provocative observation: “Even individual contributors will become managers of agents.” In other words, employees now need to manage AI like they would manage a team—setting expectations, giving context, offering feedback. 👉 Implication: Leadership skills like clarity, direction, and communication are no longer exclusive to managers. They’re becoming baseline competencies for anyone working alongside AI. That’s a seismic cultural shift. 2. The fastest teams will win—but speed alone isn’t enough. Chris redefined speed as “velocity”—a combination of speed and direction. Moving fast in the wrong direction is useless. And too many companies still confuse motion with progress. 👉 His antidote? Set “North Star” objectives rooted in the physics of your business. Then test ideas in low-risk “end-to-end loops,” compound learnings, and scale only what works. This isn’t about big-bang transformation. It’s about building momentum through fast, focused experimentation. 3. The biggest risk? Doing nothing. Here’s the reality most boards and exec teams avoid: inaction is a bigger risk than trying and failing. But the danger is often hidden behind status quo bias. Chris advises reframing risk altogether. 👉 Ask: What’s the risk of not moving fast enough? What happens if we miss the curve? The best leaders simulate these scenarios—and act before it's too late. 4. Culture is not the casualty of innovation—it’s the enabler. Fast-growing teams often sacrifice culture for pace. Chris challenges this with a powerful point: “Velocity is a habit. Culture shouldn’t slow you down—it should fuel the right kind of speed.” What does this mean in practice? 👉 Teams that are clear on purpose, customer-centric, and unafraid of failure adapt faster—and build sustainable performance as a result. 5. Curiosity and vulnerability beat AI expertise. One of the most practical takeaways: You don’t need to be an AI expert to lead through AI. But you do need humility. Chris shared how he once interviewed 10 top CTOs before hiring one—because he didn’t know what to look for. The same applies to AI. 👉 Ask questions. Talk to those ahead of you. Try things yourself. The CEOs who learn fastest will lead best. In summary: “The team you build is the company you build.” In an AI-powered world, that team needs new habits, a new mindset, and a new level of clarity. Because tools will change. But leadership? That’s your edge. 👉 Watch the full episode here Andrea Petrone CEO Whisperer | Top 1% Executive Coach and Speaker in the UK | Founder of WCL. You need more? Here are other ways to get value from what I do: 1) Are you tired of leading alone and want to surround yourself with people who truly get it? WCL21 might be exactly what you need. WCL21 is our new hub for CEOs. Get inspired and build your powerful allies. Join the waiting list here 2) Want to establish authority and lead with confidence from Day One as a CEO? 3) Watch and listen to the "The World Class Leaders Show" podcast and leave a review: 4) Do you want me to speak at your next event, coach you or your team? Book a call with me here |