The biggest risk in 2026 is leaders using 2016 mindsets to lead…but mistaking it as a 2026 mindset. I’ve been meaning to share my interview with University of Toronto – Rotman School of Management Magazine. This is a “Novel Economy,” where disruption is constant, compounding, and *always* novel (AI, climate, geopolitics, quantum, spatial intelligence… all evolving, emerging, and colliding). And when leaders talk about a “new normal,” it’s often a tell: they’re trying to steer back to business as usual…
Innovation Meets Inspiration: 3×3 Insights Interviews Brian Solis about the importance of a Mindshift Right Now
3 questions…3 minutes. That’s the premise of this conversation. Innovation is having a moment, and not just in the “new tech, new tools” way. What I’m seeing (and writing about) more than ever is a deeper shift: how leaders are rethinking transformation through the lens of people, purpose, and possibility. That’s the foundation for my latest book, Mindshift: Transform Leadership, Drive Innovation, and Reshape the Future. That’s why I enjoyed joining Katja Weber on the latest episode of Deutsche Telekom’s…
7 ways AI will change the future of work by 2030: How Generative and agentic AI will rewire the enterprise and unleash human potential
Originally published in Workflow by ServiceNow How will AI change the future of work? Before we answer that, let’s talk about where we are. In just a few short years, technology leaders and workforces everywhere practically developed whiplash as a result of how fast generative AI apps have flooded the tech landscape since 2022. As of 2025, there are over 10,000 funded AI startups around the world. And since ChatGPT changed the trajectory of basically every company in November 2022, we’ve witnessed…
It’s Time to Rebrand Soft Skills as AI Survival Skills
I recently watched an interview with JPMorganChase CEO Jamie Dimon, where he admitted that AI will eliminate jobs. At the same time, he shared his ideas for how employees can stay relevant and resilient with AI. Double down on the skills AI can’t reliably replicate: critical thinking, emotional intelligence, creativity, communication, and writing. What’s interesting is how consistent this executive chorus is becoming. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon has said AI will change “literally every job.” Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO…
“We’re Not Building a Phone”: Steve Jobs’ Leadership Lesson for Reframing the Future
The beauty of this moment is that every one of us gets to be a leader of what’s next. Why now? Because the only playbook that exists is for yesterday. There is no playbook for tomorrow. No proven answers. No “best practice” to copy and paste. No “quick win” use cases that unlock new value. And that’s exactly the point. Right now, I define leadership in a simple (and slightly uncomfortable) way: a leader is someone willing to think differently…
AI is Eating the World, and Your Company is Just the Appetizer
What Benedict Evans’ latest “AI Eats the World” deck reveals about the gap between AI hype and real transformation, and what leaders must do next. Each deck is packed with sharp observations for anyone covering AI, building with it, or simply trying to survive the changes it unleashes. This edition is especially revealing. The charts quietly expose how far reality lags behind the hype, and why so many organizations are still stuck in pilot purgatory. In this piece, I unpack…
Rethinking Leadership and Innovation in an AI-First World
Brian Solis recently spent time with David Kirkpatrick, CoreX, exploring the new world with AI and how leaders, at every level, can rethink their way forward. Artificial intelligence represents a new era of thinking. Few people capture this shift as sharply as Brian Solis, Head of Global Innovation at ServiceNow, bestselling author, and renowned digital anthropologist. With his latest book, Mindshift: Transform Leadership, Drive Innovation, and Reshape the Future, Solis challenges leaders to move beyond fear and efficiency toward curiosity, creativity, and reinvention….
Here’s What Makes Change Agents and Leaders Successful
I meant to share this from InnoLead….I hope it adds value to your day. In my work with change agents over the years, one thing has become clear: leadership is a decision you make about the future you are willing to fight for. When I wrote “The Digital Change Agent’s Manifesto” back in 2019, I interviewed leaders driving transformation at brands like The Coca-Cola Company, Starbucks, Samsung Electronics, Visa, and others. They were not always in big roles. Many were…
From Siloed Experiments to AI Operating System: Architecting the Next-Gen Enterprise Right Now
I recently had the opportunity (again!) to work with Ann Culver from Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Todd Pruzan at Harvard Business Review 🙌 on a special webinar and playbook. And they’re now available! (email gate). Links below! ⬇️ Why this is worth your time… We dug into a tension we’re seeing in C-Suitesand boardrooms: Most organizations are still stuck in AI “pilot purgatory” and the box of “business as usual.” Companies have PoCs, scattered experiments, and a lot of…
AI or Die: How 6% of AI High Performers are Rewiring Business Beyond the AI Status Quo
QuantumBlack AI by McKinsey released its new report, “The State of AI in 2025: Agents, Innovation, and Transformation.” The data serves as a mirror, reflecting a world where AI is now everywhere, and yet, in most organizations, not nearly deep enough to transform them. Nearly all companies are “using AI,” many are flirting with agents, a tiny minority are breaking beyond the status quo, and an even smaller group is quietly exploring new horizons. Below are the numbers that stood…
