Handling Resistance to AI Adoption

The uncomfortable trust for leaders is this: AI is changing how leadership works, or is it?

In the latest episode of the “What’s the BUZZ?” podcast, host Andreas Welsch sits down with Sadie St. Lawrence, founder of Human Machine Collaboration Institute and author of Becoming an AI Orchestrator, to discuss what it really takes to lead in the age of AI.

Sadie introduces a powerful idea: the future of work belongs to AI orchestrators. They are leaders who know how to guide AI systems the way a conductor leads a symphony.

Here are a few key insights from our conversation:

- The shift from doing to orchestrating  
Work is moving from execution to coordination. Instead of completing every task ourselves, professionals will increasingly guide AI systems—asking the right questions, refining outputs, and turning rough drafts into real business value.

- Managers and individual contributors must evolve  
Managers often know how to delegate—but may not be using AI themselves. Individual contributors may use AI—but lack experience delegating work. The future requires both groups to develop leadership-level thinking, even without a formal leadership title.

- AI success starts with systems thinking  
Many organizations want AI outcomes without the right foundations. Leaders need to understand their data, tech stack, and workflows so that AI can support real business strategy rather than becoming another disconnected tool.

- AI is an opportunity for everyone to lead  
You don’t need to be a technical expert to start. The most important step is simple: get your hands on the keyboard and start experimenting. That’s how leaders begin to see what’s possible.

If you want to understand how your role and your organization must evolve in the AI era, this conversation is for you.

Questions or suggestions? Send me a Text Message.

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Disclaimer: Views are the participants’ own and do not represent those of any participant’s past, present, or future employers. Participation in this event is independent of any potential business relationship (past, present, or future) between the participants or between their employers.

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