Artificial intelligence promises to change how businesses operate, serve customers, and create new growth opportunities. Yet, for many organizations, AI is more hype than a truly transformative capability.
The difference between unrealized promise and game-changing success? Your people. When leaders embrace a structured, intentional approach to organizational readiness, AI programs can meet—and often exceed—their potential.
Below, we outline practical steps across three areas—leadership, governance, and culture readiness—to help you line up the right people, policies, and mindset for an AI-enabled future.
Identify an AI Champion - Any successful transformation needs a leader who believes in the project’s potential and can communicate its importance. An AI champion is more than an enthusiast. This leader has the gravitas to bring stakeholders together and continuously advocate for AI in daily conversations.
Functional Ownership of AI Use Cases - An overlooked component of many AI rollouts is the question of who actually owns the solution once it’s in production. Ownership can’t live within IT alone. Empower functional leaders—finance, supply chain, HR—to own and evolve AI use cases that directly serve business needs.
Communicate Early and Often - This is more than emails and posters. Effective communication positions AI as a strategic imperative tied to measurable goals, like cost reduction, operational efficiency, or growth. Executive leadership should frequently champion AI to send a strong signal that it’s a strategic priority for competitiveness.
Identify High-Potential Employees - Which employees have the right mix of analytical know-how, business insight, and curiosity to grow with AI? Spot them early and develop a strategy to nurture their talent as a part of the AI strategy. They will quickly become internal experts who can translate tech into tangible results for their teams.
Policies for Validation, Version Control, and Ethical Use - The power of AI hinges on data—and lots of it. With great data comes great responsibility. Start by developing policies that ensure your models remain secure, accurate, up to date, and comply with industry regulations. Think of these guardrails as insurance for your AI investments.
Integration with the Current Program Management Office (PMO) - If your company already has a PMO or similar program management function, integrate AI initiatives into that existing governance structure. This prevents the AI roadmap from becoming an isolated “tech project” and keeps the entire organization synchronized around consistent priorities and timelines.
Incentives to Identify Opportunities and Adopt Existing Solutions - Showcase tangible wins and tie them to rewards. If an employee automates a routine accounting task and cuts cycle time in half, make sure leadership recognizes the achievement. This approach inspires others to look for ways AI can drive impactful improvements in their own areas.
Training Programs for Awareness and the “Why AI?” - Roll out user-friendly training sessions across multiple business units. Focus on the “why” behind AI before diving into the “how.” Empower teams to see AI as a tool for optimizing their work rather than a mystery black box that can’t be trusted. When employees understand AI’s purpose, they embrace it more fully.
Communicate Wins Early and Often - There’s no shortage of skeptics when it comes to new technologies. To overcome resistance, the best antidote is success shared widely. Make it a regular practice to highlight early AI successes, from small process improvements to major efficiency gains. Seeing how AI helps daily operations will nudge employees to become proactive collaborators rather than reluctant bystanders.
Bringing It All Together - AI is a combination of people, processes, and technology working in harmony. At Trenegy, our experience shows that a well-orchestrated plan to align Leadership, Governance, and Culture can transform AI from a “science project” into a core driver of growth.
An organization prepared for AI is one that strategically balances structure and flexibility. That is, the structure to enforce guardrails and the flexibility to pivot when opportunities arise. By weaving these principles into the company’s DNA, it’s easier to chart a clear AI roadmap.
At Trenegy, we have a non-traditional approach to making AI a practical and powerful part of your company’s future. To chat about how we can help, email us at info@trenegy.com.
Trenegy is a non-traditional consulting firm based in Houston, Texas.