AI has vaulted from backroom conversations to boardroom urgency. 

Yet, despite the buzz, most enterprise and public sector organisations are stuck at the starting line. 

The gap between aspiration and execution is widening. Proof-of-concepts (POCs) are failing to scale. Business cases aren’t convincing. And frontline teams are unsure what AI actually means for them. 

So what’s going wrong and how can you lead differently? 

The Enterprise Reality Check 

While consumer AI adoption soared with tools like ChatGPT, enterprise environments are a different beast. The technology is ready but the organisations aren’t. 

And it’s not just about budget or tooling. It’s deeper: unclear goals, skill gaps, and a culture not yet primed for transformation. 

As Gartner recently noted, fewer than 50% of AI projects make it from pilot to production. That’s not a technology failure, that’s a leadership opportunity. 

Here’s how to seize it. 

1. Step Back from the Hype 

AI is not a silver bullet. And chasing it without a clear strategic fit is a fast track to wasted effort. 

Think back to the early days of cloud adoption. Many organisations lifted and shifted to chase cost savings, only to face budget blowouts and minimal impact. Others aimed for full cloud-native transformation and ran out of steam halfway. 

The organisations that succeeded didn’t get seduced by the hype. They identified the 10 -15% of workloads that would genuinely benefit and focused their investment there. Everything else followed naturally, or was left behind for good reason. 

AI is no different. The key is to start with a strong understanding of where the technology can actually move the needle. Not just today, but where it will create competitive or operational advantage in 12-24 months. 

Don’t AI for the sake of AI. Skate to where the puck is going – not where it is now. 

2. Start Small – But Connect to Something Bigger 

Yes, edge cases and fast wins matter. They prove value and build internal momentum. 

But here’s the trap: if your POCs aren’t tied to a broader narrative, they’ll become disconnected experiments. You’ll get short-term interest, but long-term skepticism. 

At best, no one notices. At worst, your credibility takes a hit. 

The difference lies in vision. Strategic IT leaders use small projects as stepping stones toward a bigger story – one that links AI directly to the organisation’s purpose, customers, and mission. 

If you’re only solving local problems, you’re missing the chance to transform systemic ones. 

3. Build ‘The Machine’ – Not Just the Initiative 

Every few years, a wave of new technology hits. Virtualisation. Cloud. Now AI. 

Each time, the pace accelerates. And each time, IT leaders face the same question: How do we keep up? 

The answer isn’t to react faster. It’s to create a repeatable system – what I call The Machine. 

This includes: 

Clear governance – so decisions around AI aren’t stalled by confusion or politics. 

Flexible funding – that enables experimentation without getting caught in red tape. 

Access to outside expertise – to bring fresh insight, upskill teams, and avoid reinventing the wheel. 

When innovation becomes embedded in your operating model, you stop reacting and start leading. 

Why This Matters Now 

AI isn’t just another tool in the kit, it’s a platform shift. One that rewires how we work, make decisions, and create value. 

According to a recent McKinsey report, AI could add up to $4.4 trillion annually to the global economy. But that value won’t be distributed evenly, it’ll go to the organisations bold enough to move early and wisely. 

The opportunity for IT leaders is massive – but so is the responsibility. 

Because this isn’t just about tech. 

It’s about leading a cultural shift, one that demands curiosity, critical thinking, and cross-functional collaboration. One that inspires your teams to see AI not as a threat, but as a path to reinvention. 

Start Where It Matters 

You don’t need all the answers. But you do need to set the direction. 

Because in a world where AI is accelerating fast, direction matters more than speed, especially at the start. 

So step back. Think big. Build smart. 

The technology is ready. The question is – are you? 

To see if we can help you, book an alignment call today.