EP10: Inertia and Incrementalism - 2 barriers to an AI mindset with Adam Holton, Chief People Officer of GE HealthCare

When the world changes faster than ever before — do we truly want exponential change, or are we still thinking in increments? In this conversation, Jason Averbook sits down with Adam Holton, Chief People Officer at GE HealthCare, to explore what it really means to lead, coach, and stay human in an age defined by artificial intelligence. From his days as a Marine and basketball coach to his role leading one of the world’s most impactful healthcare organizations, Adam shares how curiosity, courage, and a willingness to “get dirty” with new technology are shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

Guest:

Adam Holton is the Chief People Officer at GE HealthCare, leading the organization’s people strategy for more than 53,000 employees worldwide. A former U.S. Marine and basketball coach, Adam brings a unique blend of discipline, empathy, and curiosity to leadership. Before GE HealthCare, he held senior HR and transformation roles at General Mills, CH Robinson, and The Americas for U.S. Bank. He is widely recognized for his forward-thinking perspective on leadership in the digital era, encouraging leaders to embrace experimentation and move beyond fear toward possibility.

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(0:00) Introduction (0:06) Adam Holton's background and career journey (2:02) Personal life, volunteering, and basketball passion (3:35) Career aspirations and dream job (4:45) Embracing AI and digital world advice (6:47) The potential and resilience in AI adoption (10:03) Paradigm shifts in IT and AI (11:07) Reengineering processes with technology (14:08) Coaching and experimentation with AI (18:09) Challenging traditional HR practices (20:34) Leadership adaptation and coaching techniques (25:00) Mindset and understanding technology (27:00) AI adoption and leadership responsibility (29:01) Experimenting with AI in HR (31:28) Closing remarks