In this episode, JD Williams joins Amir Bormand to dive into the critical role ofchange management in driving successful digital adoption. From leading with digital fluency to navigating organizational change for AI integration, JD shares actionable insights from his work at Zoetis.Key TakeawaysDigital Fluency Starts with People:Training needs to be role-specific and practical.Peer-to-peer learning fosters deeper adoption across teams.Change Management is a Team Effort:Success requires both top-down support and grassroots enthusiasm.AI champions in different regions help scale efforts effectively.Rethinking ROI in AI Adoption:Focus onhours gained rather than hours saved.Establish CFO-certified metrics to measure value and demonstrate ROI.Integrating Change Management Early:Include change management planning from the proof-of-concept stage.Prioritize initiatives that are both technically and operationally feasible.Storytelling is Key for Leadership:Data leaders must communicate AI's value across diverse business functions.Timestamped Highlights[00:01:03] JD introduces Zoetis and its global role in animal health.[00:02:04] Defining digital fluency and how Zoetis integrates AI into workflows.[00:04:34] The three pillars of digital transformation: people, process, and technology.[00:06:14] Leveraging AI champions for grassroots adoption.[00:10:00] The importance of process mapping to identify change impacts.[00:14:53] Measuring AI’s ROI: hours gained, accelerated R&D timelines, and improved sales tools.[00:19:10] Injecting change management into strategy from the start.[00:21:38] How storytelling helps leadership align on AI's value.Memorable Quote"Change management isn't just a top-down directive; it's about enabling and empowering individuals across the organization to embrace and drive innovation." – JD WilliamsConnect with JD WilliamsLinkedIn: JD WilliamsFollow JD for insights on digital adoption, AI, and data-driven leadership.
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The Tech Trek explores how engineering leaders build teams that deliver real outcomes. The show looks at the connection between people, impact, and technology, and how that relationship is changing fast with data and AI now at the center of every product and company.
Hosted by Amir Bormand, founder of Elevano, the show features CTOs, VPs of Engineering, heads of data, and technical leaders who have built and scaled teams in high pressure environments. They share the decisions that shaped their path, the experiments that worked, and the thinking they rely on to stay ahead in a world defined by