My AI Leadership Journey: A Story of Resilience, Curiosity, and Transformation
Greetings,
Setting the Stage
Allow me to take you on a stroll down memory lane to the time when my AI Leadership Journey started. Back in late 2021, my business had just faced a lethal setback due to the pandemic, and I found myself standing at a crossroads.
A New Adventure Begins: Discovering AI
That’s when the universe (or was it just my browser algorithm? 🤔) led me to GPT-3 and the world of artificial intelligence.
I remember feeling like a kid in a tech candy store. The more I explored, the more it inspired me. And then it hit me – I couldn’t be the only one who needed this! I wanted to share my newfound passion, my curiosity, and my discoveries with others, especially with leaders who, like me, could use these powerful tools to enhance their leadership skills.
Overcoming Resistance: Spreading the AI Message
I won’t lie. It wasn’t all smooth sailing. My first few presentations on AI felt like trying to convince my grandma to use an iPhone. The interest was scarce, and the understanding scarcer.
But, just like you can’t stop your grandma from forwarding WhatsApp messages once she gets the hang of it, I couldn’t be deterred.
I took a strategic AI course at MIT ”Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy”, and it only fueled my resolve. The information we were being taught was, at that moment and in our version of the course, already outdated.
The pace of AI evolution was relentless. I realised then – this was my calling.
And so, my journey began. My first address to a group of CEOs focused on five key aspects of AI:
- Its tremendous possibilities
- Its disruptive nature
- The surprising lack, at that moment, of awareness among C-level executives
- The impossible challenge of managing vast amounts of new incoming information without AI
- Europe’s lag in this evolution (here is an eye-opening article about the AI race : McKinsey article)
The Wake-Up Call: AI for Leadership
Fast forward to today, and I am on a mission – to bring the power of AI to the hands of leaders. To make them see its potential, to help them embrace it, and to inspire them to lead with it.AI, see its potential, embrace it, and be inspired to lead with it. Click To Tweet
The real threat, the real wake-up call, is turning our back to an evolution that will not wait for our approval or a strategic decision to happen. The real threat, the real wake-up call, is turning our back to an evolution that will not wait for our approval or a strategic decision to happen. Click To Tweet
AI is there whether we want it or not. And if you aren’t aware of it, if you aren’t introducing it in our world, in your activities, know that in your street, without any doubt, a smart kid is building your terminator in its garage, using the infinite possibilities offered by this technical disruption.
How can we pretend to lead while being blind to the most influential evolution of this century? Jobs will change for the better if we choose to, or for the worse if we are the ones standing on the sideline.
But why listen to me, you ask?
Today I am a full-time consultant in digitalisation for ‘Digital Flanders : The digital Business partner for governments’ , but before this, I’ve spent 40 years in people management, have been a CEO of a large company (1600 Hearts and Souls) for 14 years, I’ve been coaching, and mentoring C-levels for 16 years.
I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of leadership.
But I also like to define myself as a ‘super user’ of technology, a tech enthusiast since my very early days. I live by the idea that we should always look at technology as an enabler of better. With every new tech comes the possibility of breaking barriers that were insurmountable without it. At every disruption, search for those new possibilities and use them as much as possible, but always for the better.
And finally, because I am a resilient human who’s ridden the wave of adversity and come out stronger. Everything that happens to us, the good, but this is particularly true for the bad, enlaces learning for our personal growth. I live by that conviction, by that philosophy, and the strange certainty that to learn, you have to make errors. Everything that happens to us, the good, but this is particularly true for the bad, enlaces learning for our personal growth. Click To Tweet
But more importantly, I’m just like you – curious, passionate, and eager to learn and grow. Today I believe in the transformative potential of AI. I see it not as a threat but as an ally that can enhance our abilities and help us lead better.
AI Leadership: The Birth of a Movement
To explain how AI Leadership came to life, I’d like to quote Steve Jobs: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”
Simply put, it happened because everything led me to that moment, and I trust the future will connect my dots.
But more important is where we go from here.
Through my AI Leadership endeavour, I aim to bring you a diverse range of content tailored to your needs. Blogs, podcasts, YouTube videos – you name it. I want to share with you not just the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of AI but also the ‘why’. Why it matters, why you should care, why now is the time to embrace it.
This journey is not just about AI. It’s about empowerment, ethical practices, customised solutions, and dynamic content. It’s about co-creating a future with AI, where we can leverage its insights while retaining our unique human touch.This journey is not just about AI. It's about empowerment, ethical practices, customised solutions, and dynamic content. It's about co-creating a future with AI, where we can leverage its insights while retaining our unique human touch. Click To Tweet
Join the AI Leadership Movement
So, are you ready to join me on this journey? To explore the endless possibilities of AI, to challenge your own beliefs, and to disrupt traditional ways of leading?
If you’re nodding your head (I knew you would!), join me as we embark on this exciting journey of AI Leadership, where we learn, grow, and lead together.
Remember, the essence of leadership isn’t about having all the answers but asking the right questions. So, let’s explore, let’s question, let’s grow.
And while we’re on this AI journey, I promise there will be plenty of moments of humour and lightness. After all, what’s life without a dash of fun, right?
The Power of Resilience and Curiosity
Finally, remember, we’re not just using AI. We’re also learning from it – to be adaptable, to be self-reliant, and to be resilient. As a mentor and coach, I’ve seen the transformative power of these traits, and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve with AI as our ally.
There’s a saying I’m particularly fond of – “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” So, let’s create a future that’s shaped by our shared vision and powered by AI.
Up to you
Before I sign off, here’s a thought to ponder: What does AI Leadership mean to you? Share your thoughts, your fears, and your aspirations. After all, we’re in this together, and together, we can lead the way into an AI-powered future.
To stay updated on our journey, subscribe to AI Leadership, follow us on social media. Your support will help us continue to create content that empowers, informs, and inspires.
So, are you ready to embrace AI Leadership? Let’s do this together.
Until next time, stay curious, stay inspired, and remember – in the world of AI, the only limit is our imagination.In the world of AI, the only limit is our imagination. Click To Tweet
Yours in AI,
Luc
TL;DR
In this narrative, I share my journey from seasoned leader to AI enthusiast, highlighting how a personal revelation turned into a powerful movement. I recount my discovery of AI’s potential amidst a global crisis and the importance of persistence in the face of initial resistance. I take you through my strategic learning at MIT and how it solidified my dedication to AI causes.
I elaborate on my mission to introduce AI to leaders, drawing from my vast experience in leadership and management. I introduce you to the “AI Leadership” movement, a platform I created for sharing knowledge about AI, emphasising the ‘why,’ not just the ‘what’ and ‘how.’
I invite you to join this journey of co-creating a future where AI insights and human touch coexist. I emphasise the importance of resilience and curiosity, traits I believe can be learned from AI itself. Finally, I urge you to embrace AI Leadership, a forward-thinking approach that I believe is key to shaping our shared future.
I welcome your thoughts, fears, and aspirations as we strive to make this movement as inclusive and transformative as possible.
