Outsource Your Thinking? We Can Tell. - AI Series

Outsource Your Thinking? We Can Tell. - AI Series

This week, Ryan explores what happens when AI makes everything look polished, but not everything is actually well thought out. Through stories from the workplace, the luxury industry, and a simple paper airplane, he argues that the real value of leadership is found in the messy middle, the questioning, judgment, and decision-making that AI can't replace. The episode offers practical ways to pressure-test AI-generated work and serves as a reminder that while technology can assist the work, leaders still have to do the thinking. References: 1. https://impact.economist.com/technology-innovation/enterprise-ai-in-action/rewiring-the-maison 2. https://www.instagram.com/kevinboxstudio/?hl=en

Fighting the Urge to Give Up Ownership - AI Series

In this episode, Ryan tackles "responsibility abdication", the habit of blaming a higher power to avoid tough conversations. While managers used to blame "Corporate," the predictive scheduling and automated tracking tools of 2026 have created a new hiding place: "The system did this." Ryan explores the psychology behind why we hide behind algorithms and challenges leaders to reclaim their authority and build trust.

Rewind: Why We Still Reach for the Wrench

We're rewinding a classic for the AI era: In this kickoff to the Lead Like a Gardener series, we explore why so many leaders default to pressure, control, and quick fixes, especially in fast-paced environments. Drawing on the contrast between mechanic-style leadership and gardener-style leadership, this episode unpacks how true growth doesn’t come from tightening bolts, but from tending to the soil people grow in. If you’ve ever felt like you're the only one driving results, or like you’re stuck being the fixer instead of the leader, this conversation is for you. Because even in an AI-first world, you still get to choose how you lead.

Leading Work You've Never Done - AI Series

"I lead you because I’ve done your job." For decades, this has been the ultimate safety net for frontline leaders. But in the era of AI, that safety net is disappearing. In this episode, Ryan explores a massive shift in leadership identity where functional authority is no longer the leadership currency. Drawing on insights from a recent LinkedIn discussion with leaders like Tonya Witherspoon and Alex Formey, Ryan investigates what happens when we start managing digital "interns" and overseeing complex workflows we have never personally executed which makes the "what" and "how" less important than the "why" and "who".

The AI Great Divide: Are You a Creator or a Symptom-Solver

In the age of AI, Ryan argues that frontline leadership is splitting into two distinct classes. On one side is the Receiver, the leader who treats new tech as a set of instructions to follow, often using AI to solve symptoms while ignoring the real problems. On the other is the Creator, who uses the tools in their pocket to hunt down root causes and redesign the system itself. In this episode, Ryan's differentiates each type of leader and dives into why nearly 45% of AI initiatives fail due to frontline exclusion and how you can take the reins of your own leadership. We’ll discuss how to stop waiting for corporate permission and start using the organization in your pocket to move from merely managing the business to leading it. Reference Links 1. New Study from PwC, MI Finds Frontline Leaders Play a Key Role in Manufacturing AI Adoption [https://themanufacturinginstitute.org/new-study-from-pwc-mi-finds-frontline-leaders-play-a-key-role-in-manufacturing-ai-adoption-21962/] 2. Organizational Learning - Single and Double Loop [https://youtu.be/boUoxw6sphs?si=enWxwXuTrO9l2VK-]