At the end of every presentation I give, I invite people to get in touch.
Most people almost never reach out, but I mean it!
Tell me what you're working on. Ask the question you've been hesitant to ask. ➡️ hello@charleneli.com
AI use helps me stay connected to my values, goals, and priorities.
How does it help you become more human?
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Leadership credibility in the AI era requires something new:
▶️ Understanding of AI's potential
▶️ Willingness to experiment publicly
▶️ Speed of adaptation when things change
How are you building credibility in areas where you're still learning?
AI is so much more than just an efficiency multiplier.
It’s a disruptive, transformative force that – when used right – can connect us to the parts of ourselves that really matter.
Here’s what I mean: medium.com/@charleneli/...
We're experimenting with AI audiobook narration for "Winning with AI."
The technology has reached a point where the difference between the two is becoming harder to distinguish.
What's your take: would you choose the AI narration or human reading of a business book?
In today’s “everyone’s an influencer” era, it can be hard to understand the role of a personal brand. It’s *not* about you. It’s about delivering value, insight, and meaning to your audience.
Here’s how I approach building a personal brand: medium.com/@charleneli/...
In our book, “Winning With AI,” my co-author Dr. Katia Walsh and I share our “AI Trust Pyramid,” a framework for moving fast with AI while maintaining trust both inside and outside of your organization.
Our book drops in March! 👀
winningwithaibook.com
Compliance is an afterthought for so many companies when implementing AI, but the truth is that AI regulation will be coming to the US sooner or later.
Here’s how compliance can actually be your competitive advantage: medium.com/@charleneli/...
Is there an AI bubble?
Sure, but it doesn’t mean that AI doesn’t create value.
It means that the market is saturated and needs to regulate.
Unless you’re investing in AI stocks, focus on achieving your goals with AI – not the bubble. 🫧
🔸 Move with urgencyWhen it comes to AI adoption, speed is your greatest advantage.
AI is much, much more than just another technology wave.
And if we underestimate it, the possibility of being left behind is very real.
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Speed is the new moat.
I've been saying this for months, and 2026 is when it becomes undeniable.
The companies that will win are the ones that:
🔸 Pick their biggest strategic problems
🔸 Figure out how AI solves them
🔸 Invest heavily in those solutions
AI makes us more human by requiring that we hone the traits that mean the most to us:
Empathy, self-reflection, intuition, judgment, and wisdom.
Learn more 👉 medium.com/@charleneli/...
Three things that make AI leaders stand out:
1️⃣ Openness.
Your default is transparency and trust.
2️⃣ Agency.
People need to believe they have the power to make decisions and take accountability.
3️⃣ Bias for action.
Done is better than perfect.
What's holding you back from taking action on AI?
If leaders can’t talk fluently about AI, they shouldn’t expect their managers and employees to do it either.
Executive fluency in AI is a game-changer, but the reasons might surprise you.
Get the details: medium.com/@charleneli/...
Your frontline managers are the people who can make or break AI adoption.
They’re the ones who can make an AI pilot succeed…or become a costly failure.
But they can’t do it without training and support from the top.
▶️ What are you doing to develop your managers right now?
AI isn’t an IT project.
It’s actually an HR project.
Because AI is about people. Adoption relies on changing attitudes and habits, and that’s where HR thrives.
Here’s how to get the right people on the job: medium.com/@charleneli/...
Leaders should change the way you’re tracking employee satisfaction at work. Be future-forward, not backward-looking.
Old metrics:
🔸Engagement scores
🔸Backward-looking
🔸12-month gaps
New metrics:
🔸Are you happy at work?
🔸How are you using AI?
🔸Do you believe in the company’s future?
2025 was the year of the AI policy. If your company doesn’t have a policy, you risk being left behind.
Here’s how to get started with a strong AI policy:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Compliance might be the competitive advantage that you’re missing.
Here’s the key: Explainability is a customer feature ✨
Read the breakdown here: medium.com/@charleneli/...
Unpopular opinion: Regulations aren’t constraints.
They’re forcing functions for better practices.
Your customers want to know how you use AI, and your teams should understand it, too.
It’s compliance-as-best-practice.
Have we entered the era of fully autonomous AI?
Probably not.
There’s a lot of hype out there, but there’s some truth, too. Read my full breakdown:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
ROI isn’t the most important consideration when it comes to AI.
It’s about finding a platform that fits your organization – one that your teams will *actually use.*
Value creation through people and process change is the real ROI.
Here’s what you need to be asking AI:
👉 “Before you start, show me your reasoning.”
It might cost more tokens or time, but it cuts errors in half, and that’s always worth it.
AI adoption requires speed.
Take too long to implement it and you’ll find the tech has already evolved, leaving you behind.
Here’s how leaders can use speed to their advantage, while still making smart decisions:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Do you know the differences between these types of AI?
🔮 Predictive AI uses your data to forecast what's likely to happen.
✨ Generative AI creates new content by learning patterns.
🤖 Agentic AI acts on your behalf, booking meetings, managing workflows, completing tasks.
Do you need a custom AI model? Probably not.
Here’s a roadmap that can help you decide whether you should build a custom model from the ground up or simply customize an existing model to make it work better for you.
⬇️
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Effective AI users are using their time to develop the skills that make them uniquely human:
🔹 Empathy
🔹 Intuition
🔹 Self-reflection
🔹 Judgment
🔹 Wisdom
That’s ✨integrated intelligence.✨
AI is constantly evolving, and fast.
🕳️ The only pitfall is thinking that you know everything.
🏆 Continuous learning is the foundation of long-term AI success.
Here’s how I stay ahead of the curve:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Does your company really need a custom AI model?
Try customizing existing models with your data first:
▶️ Fine-tune it with homegrown data
▶️ Use RAG to feed it new info on a regular basis
Have you tried either of these approaches? Which do you prefer?