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For 22 years, senior leaders from Fortune 1000 companies have brought their hardest problems here — and left sharper than they arrived.

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<p>Bring a real bottleneck. Name what's stuck, what's at stake, and why it matters now.</p>

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<p>Find the peer conversation that moves your work forward.</p><p>The right exchange builds better leaders, closes capability gaps, and cuts through what internal meetings can't.</p>

<p>Figure out if ELE is for you. Straight answers on what ELE is, who it’s built for, and how contributing members actually work together. Still have a question? Contact us.</p>

Get answers about how Executive Learning Exchange (ELE) works — peer-powered leadership development that fixes real work issues, reverses burnout, and accelerates business value. No programs. No vendors. In the flow of work.

<p>Real challenges. Real peers. Clear next moves.</p>

This is where people-leaders get sharper.

<p>Want ELE to come to you? Propose a local gathering — the community decides what gets scheduled.</p>

Problem Solutions

Michael Hruska’s keynote wasn’t about the future of AI—it was about the now. In “Thinking AI First,” he made a clear case: it’s time to move beyond the hype and start building AI-powered enterprises that amplify human capabilities, not just automate tasks. Hruska invited us to stop thinking of AI as a tool and start seeing it as a partner—one that unlocks new performance thresholds, creative breakthroughs, and human potential.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-43033" src="https://wp.ele.llc/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Hruska-Keynote-1.jpg" alt="Thinking AI First: Growing your Augmented Enterprise" width="656" height="445" />
<blockquote data-start="718" data-end="862">
<p data-start="720" data-end="862"><strong data-start="720" data-end="842">“</strong>AI isn’t just automation—it’s transformation. The real question isn’t what AI can do, but who we can become with it.<strong data-start="720" data-end="842">” </strong>— <a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/michael-hruska" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Hruska</a>, Problem Solutions.</p>
</blockquote>
<p data-start="864" data-end="942">Here are five big takeaways for HR and talent leaders ready to lead the shift:</p>

<ul data-start="944" data-end="1953">
 	<li data-start="944" data-end="1170">
<p data-start="946" data-end="1170"><strong data-start="946" data-end="984">Think Augmentation, Not Automation</strong><br data-start="984" data-end="987" />Frame AI as a co-creator that enhances human contribution—not a job taker. This mindset shift is critical to overcoming fear and fostering collaboration between people and machines.</p>
</li>
 	<li data-start="1172" data-end="1356">
<p data-start="1174" data-end="1356"><strong data-start="1174" data-end="1192">Build Your AIQ</strong><br data-start="1192" data-end="1195" />Blended intelligence—the fusion of human insight with AI’s speed and memory—isn’t optional. It’s what will drive scalable problem-solving and unlock new value.</p>
</li>
 	<li data-start="1358" data-end="1584">
<p data-start="1360" data-end="1584"><strong data-start="1360" data-end="1389">Close the AI Literacy Gap</strong><br data-start="1389" data-end="1392" />70% of AI initiatives fail to scale—often because teams don’t know how to use the tools. Leaders must invest in training across all levels, including prompt engineering and change readiness.</p>
</li>
 	<li data-start="1586" data-end="1761">
<p data-start="1588" data-end="1761"><strong data-start="1588" data-end="1629">Free Humans for Higher-Order Thinking</strong><br data-start="1629" data-end="1632" />AI doesn’t just make things faster—it clears the way for creativity by reducing low-value tasks and speeding up project cycles.</p>
</li>
 	<li data-start="1763" data-end="1953">
<p data-start="1765" data-end="1953"><strong data-start="1765" data-end="1792">Lead the Cultural Shift</strong><br data-start="1792" data-end="1795" />Adopting AI is less about tools and more about mindset. Build a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and “daily spirals” of learning to stay future-ready.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p data-start="1955" data-end="2301"><strong data-start="1955" data-end="2028">Leadership Isn’t Optional—It’s the Engine of AI-Driven Transformation</strong><br data-start="2028" data-end="2031" />Michael’s closing message was clear: AI success hinges on leadership. It’s not just about adopting tools—it’s about designing cultures where AI and people co-evolve. Leaders must model curiosity, invest in AI literacy, and align AI efforts with purpose and performance.</p>
<p data-start="2303" data-end="2434">Without strong leadership, AI remains a stalled pilot. With it, AI becomes a catalyst for growth, creativity, and transformation.</p>
<p data-start="2436" data-end="2605">The future belongs to those who don’t wait for AI to work—but intentionally lead the way, shaping systems where human potential and machine intelligence thrive together.</p>

Thinking AI First: Growing your Augmented Enterprise

future of work

Future of Work

Digital &amp; AI

digital transformation

learning culture

leadership development

Talent Strategy

workforce development

organizational change

AI tools

HR Innovation

AI in HR

human AI collaboration

AI transformation

business strategy

artificial intelligence

michael.hruska

wise2025

thinking AI first

augmented enterprise

strategic framework

enhanced decision-making

accelerated innovation

improved efficiency

human intelligence

organizational capacity

Augmented Intelligence

baryons.aimentor

Executive Learning Exchange (ELE)

<p class="whitespace-pre-wrap"><strong>Session Focus: A reflective discussion on the most impactful topics of 2024 and a strategic look ahead at the critical priorities shaping HR and talent development in 2025</strong></p>

<blockquote>"It's no coincidence that AI-focused events were the most attended. AI continues to be a hot topic, but the focus is shifting towards its role as a collaborator." -- <a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/suzanne-sherry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Suzanne Sherry</a></blockquote>
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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="845"]<img src="https://wp.ele.llc/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-recap-2025-priorities.jpg" alt="" width="845" height="519" /> Photo credit: the event featured images designed by Freepik[/caption]

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<p data-sourcepos="3:1-3:478">The HR landscape is rapidly evolving, with emerging technologies and shifting priorities demanding agile and adaptable leadership. This session highlighted key trends shaping the future of work and their implications for HR leaders. This insight post distills these key takeaways into actionable strategies for HR leaders to effectively navigate the changing landscape in 2025 and beyond.</p>

<h3 data-sourcepos="5:1-5:27">1. The Rise of AI in HR</h3>
<p data-sourcepos="7:1-7:353">Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming HR, automating routine tasks, providing data-driven insights, and personalizing the employee experience. HR leaders must embrace AI and develop strategies for its responsible use, ensuring that it complements human skills and enhances decision-making.</p>

<div class="container ng-tns-c2946245707-73 hide">
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<div class="sources-carousel-source ng-tns-c2946245707-73 hide ng-star-inserted" data-test-id="sources-carousel-source"><span style="font-size: 1.5em; font-weight: bold;">2. Embracing a Skills-First Talent Strategy</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p data-sourcepos="11:1-11:394">The traditional focus on job titles is becoming less relevant. Organizations are shifting towards a skills-based approach to talent management, recognizing the importance of identifying, developing, and rewarding skills. HR leaders must champion this shift, implementing systems and processes that support a skills-based talent strategy.</p>

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<div class="sources-carousel-source ng-tns-c2946245707-74 hide ng-star-inserted" data-test-id="sources-carousel-source"><span style="font-size: 1.5em; font-weight: bold;">3. Prioritizing Upskilling and Reskilling</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p data-sourcepos="15:1-15:341">Continuous upskilling and reskilling are crucial for the workforce to stay relevant in the face of rapid technological advancements and evolving job roles. HR leaders must invest in robust upskilling and reskilling programs to address talent shortages, bridge skills gaps, and prepare the workforce for the future.</p>

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<div class="sources-carousel-source ng-tns-c2946245707-75 hide ng-star-inserted" data-test-id="sources-carousel-source"><span style="font-size: 1.5em; font-weight: bold;">4. Adapting to Hybrid and Remote Work</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p data-sourcepos="19:1-19:317">The hybrid work model has become increasingly prevalent, requiring leaders to adapt and manage a flexible workplace effectively. HR leaders must play a key role in developing policies, guidelines, and communication strategies that support a productive and inclusive hybrid work environment.</p>

<div class="container ng-tns-c2946245707-76 hide">
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<div class="sources-carousel-source ng-tns-c2946245707-76 hide ng-star-inserted" data-test-id="sources-carousel-source"><span style="font-size: 1.5em; font-weight: bold;">5. Navigating the Evolving DEI Landscape</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p data-sourcepos="23:1-23:308">The diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) landscape is evolving in the face of legal and political challenges. HR leaders must stay informed about these developments, re-evaluate their DEI strategies, and ensure alignment with the evolving legal and political landscape.</p>

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</div>
</div>
</div>
<p data-sourcepos="27:1-27:321">HR leaders must prioritize leadership development programs that equip leaders with the skills and competencies needed to navigate the changing world of work. This includes managing hybrid teams, leveraging AI responsibly, fostering a culture of agility and adaptability, and driving innovation.</p>

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<p data-sourcepos="29:1-29:170">By embracing these key takeaways, HR leaders can effectively navigate the future of work, drive organizational success, and create a thriving workplace for all employees.</p>

</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>

2024 in Review, 2025 in Focus: Defining HR Priorities and Roadmaps for the Future

Engagement &amp; Culture

dirk.tussing

newton.moore

richard.busby

suzanne.sherry

tomas.ramirez

Change Management

upskilling

julian.malnak

talent development

talent management

keri.kersten

employee engagement

continuous learning

reskilling

tamora.martin

stephen.cornejogarcia

megan.bickle

jennifer.kern

DEIB

HR leadership

HR strategies

Diversity and Inclusion

hybrid work

remote work

Human Resources

organizational learning

team communication

knowledge sharing

innovation culture

teaming techniques

HR Tech

Skills Gap

<strong>Session Focus: Leverage AI tools, MarshallBOT and Google’s NoteBook LM, to create engaging leadership storytelling podcasts for frontline manager development.</strong>
<p data-sourcepos="3:1-3:102">Are you a senior HR leader passionate about talent and innovation? Ready to embrace the power of AI?</p>
<p data-sourcepos="3:1-3:102"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FMS7lKqQ6gg?si=GsERg3vjslLPoWm6" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>
SNEAK PREVIEW: LISTEN TO WHAT WE WILL EXPLORE</p>

<blockquote>"NotebookLM, like ChatGPT, offers tailored starter suggestions based on your content, making it straightforward to use. Just click on a question, and it guides you through — it's that simple." -- <a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/jason-davis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jason Davis</a></blockquote>
Highlighted in this session, this quote by Jason Davis encapsulates how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming HR tasks into simpler, more manageable processes. Senior HR talent leaders discovered the user-friendly nature of AI tools like NotebookLM, learning firsthand how to seamlessly integrate these technologies into their strategic operations to drive innovation and enhance efficiency. In this engaging session, participants explored cutting-edge AI tools, including <a href="https://marshallgoldsmith.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MarshallBOT</a> and Google’s <a href="https://marshallgoldsmith.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NoteBook LM</a>, applying them to leadership development and content creation for effective storytelling.

<strong>Key Takeaways:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li><strong>Revolutionizing HR Functions</strong>: AI is not only transforming traditional HR tasks but is also enhancing talent acquisition and learning development. Understanding and integrating AI is essential for HR leaders aiming to innovate and maintain a competitive edge.</li>
 	<li><strong>Democratizing Content Creation</strong>: Tools like NotebookLM enable HR teams to create personalized and engaging learning experiences. This empowers continuous professional development and accommodates various learning preferences, ensuring equitable growth opportunities across the organization.</li>
 	<li><strong>Ethical Considerations and Oversight</strong>: Despite the advantages of AI, it's vital to manage ethical concerns, including privacy issues and bias. Ensuring the accuracy of AI-generated content and maintaining human oversight is crucial to responsible AI implementation.</li>
</ol>
<strong>Practical Actions for HR Talent Leaders:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li><strong>Experiment with AI Tools</strong>: Engage directly with AI technologies like NotebookLM to grasp their functionalities and limitations firsthand.</li>
 	<li><strong>Develop AI Guidelines</strong>: Create policies for ethical AI use that address key issues like privacy, bias reduction, and human oversight.</li>
 	<li><strong>Foster AI Literacy</strong>: Encourage staff to explore and understand AI, utilize diverse tools, and share insights, enhancing collective AI fluency.</li>
 	<li><strong>Explore AI in HR Applications</strong>: Investigate how AI can support various HR processes, from recruitment and onboarding to performance management and employee development.</li>
 	<li><strong>Stay Updated on AI Advancements</strong>: The AI landscape is rapidly evolving. Continuous learning is essential to keep your strategies relevant and effective.</li>
</ol>
This session underscored that the true value of AI in HR lies not just in its technological capabilities but in its potential to enhance human capacities. By leveraging AI thoughtfully and addressing its challenges with diligence, HR talent leaders can build a robust, future-ready workforce.

✨ AI Practical Lab: Creating Podcasts for Leadership Storytelling

Operations

marcie.stern

edward.desrosiers

jason.davis

Adding Value

wendy.greeson

organizational development

learning and development

learning trends

ChatGPT

brian.gold

diane.alexander

HR Strategy

HR future

GenAI

talent-talk

nicholas.leonard

charlie.l..moore1

employee training

craig.friedman

HR Technology

ai practical lab

Build a book

HR Trends

<span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic">How will artificial intelligence change our world within 20 years?</span>

<span class="a-text-bold">A </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic">Wall Street Journal</span><span class="a-text-bold">, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic">Washington Post</span><span class="a-text-bold">, and </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic">Financial Times</span><span class="a-text-bold"> Best Book of the Year</span>

<span class="a-text-bold">“This inspired collaboration between a pioneering technologist and a visionary writer of science fiction offers bold and urgent insights.” (Yann LeCun, winner of the Turing Award; chief AI scientist, Facebook)</span>

<span class="a-text-bold">“Amazingly entertaining. ... Lee and Chen take us on an immersive trip through the future. ... Eye-opening.” (Mark Cuban)</span>

AI will be the defining development of the 21st century. Within two decades, aspects of daily human life will be unrecognizable. AI will generate unprecedented wealth, revolutionize medicine and education through human-machine symbiosis, and create brand-new forms of communication and entertainment. In liberating us from routine work, however, AI will also challenge the organizing principles of our economic and social order. Meanwhile, AI will bring new risks in the form of autonomous weapons and smart technology that inherit human bias. AI is at a tipping point, and people need to wake up - both to AI’s radiant pathways and its existential perils for life as we know it.

In this provocative, utterly original work, Kai-Fu Lee, the former president of Google China and best-selling author of <span class="a-text-italic">AI Superpowers</span>, teams up with celebrated novelist Chen Qiufan to imagine our world in 2041 and how it will be shaped by AI. In 10 gripping short stories, they introduce listeners to an array of eye-opening 2041 settings, such as:

&nbsp;
<ul class="a-unordered-list a-vertical">
 	<li><span class="a-list-item">In San Francisco, the “job reallocation” industry emerges as deep learning AI causes widespread job displacement.</span></li>
 	<li><span class="a-list-item">In Tokyo, a music fan is swept up in an immersive form of celebrity worship based on virtual reality and mixed reality.</span></li>
 	<li><span class="a-list-item">In Mumbai, a teenage girl rebels when AI’s crunching of big data gets in the way of romance.</span></li>
 	<li><span class="a-list-item">In Seoul, virtual companions with perfected natural language processing (NLP) skills offer orphaned twins new ways to connect.</span></li>
 	<li><span class="a-list-item">In Munich, a rogue scientist draws on quantum computing, computer vision, and other AI technologies in a revenge plot that imperils the world.</span></li>
</ul>
By gazing toward a not-so-distant horizon,<span class="a-text-italic"> AI 2041</span> offers urgent insights into our collective future - while reminding listeners that, ultimately, humankind remains the author of its destiny.

AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future

virtual reality

corinne@innovatingresults.com

joe.hamann

marti.konstant

web.admin

marty.murrillo

gretchen.hartke

future of AI

AI impact

science fiction

technology and society

human-machine symbiosis

autonomous weapons

AI ethics

AI and economy

AI and education

quantum computing

travis.bose

deepa.kartha

cliff.cheek

<h4>Get real-world business results with AI—minus all the hype.</h4>
Well-credentialed AI experts bombard you with flashy presentations and tech speak about AI, automation, analytics, algorithms, and machine learning to <span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic">keep you under their spell.</span> They use hype and fear to control you and slow your AI success in order to keep lining their pockets with money.
Break free of the hype and fear and start enjoying the tremendous benefits of artificial intelligence today with no technical expertise required!
In <span class="a-text-italic">AI Bullseye Tactics for Non-Technical Business Leaders</span>, AI-for-business expert Thomas Gilbertson shares real-life, insider stories to illustrate unique concepts culled from his thousands of hours of experience delivering AI projects for Fortune 10 companies. This guide uncovers Gilbertson’s 12 core business principles for deploying AI effectively and guarantees to forever change how you think about getting business value from AI. Let others debate what AI is, while Gilbertson shows you what AI can do for you, your business, and your career.

<strong>You’ll learn how to:</strong>
<ul class="a-unordered-list a-vertical">
 	<li><span class="a-list-item">Identify AI opportunities, quickly evaluating their potential to drive profits or reduce costs successfully and across all industries.</span></li>
 	<li><span class="a-list-item">Create a top-notch, value-delivering AI team by learning the team positions and required skills—success here is not what you have been told.</span></li>
 	<li><span class="a-list-item">Simplify how you view all AI techniques by grouping them into just 5 proprietary, business-useful categories.</span></li>
 	<li><span class="a-list-item">Ask the one “secret sauce” question that is guaranteed to uncover a great opportunity to apply AI in your organization today.</span></li>
 	<li><span class="a-list-item">Avoid 60 specific ways that you can fail to deliver value with AI.</span></li>
</ul>
Tactical, user-friendly, and irreverent, this book sidesteps the hype and shares the secrets to gaining a competitive advantage over your peers. Get the AI-for-business book for everyone from CEOs to department managers, from entrepreneurs to MBAs. <span class="a-text-italic">AI Bullseye Tactics for Non-Technical Business Leaders</span> will give you the path and confidence to effectively apply AI in your business today.

AI Bullseye Tactics For Non-Technical Business Leaders

Leadership

nancy.dome

patricia.ouzounian

diana.barnett

technology adoption

AI strategy

kevin.adams

AI Implementation

business leadership

Data-Driven Decisions

AI for Business Leaders

Non-Technical Leadership

AI Tactics

Innovation in Business

AI Basics

AI for Executives

nicole.defalco

phyllis.king

<span class="a-text-bold">Have you heard about artificial intelligence (AI) and big data but felt they are technologies too big or too complicated for you or your business? Do you imagine AI as a Hollywood science fiction stereotype or something in the far and distant future?</span>

Take heart. AI is none of those things. It’s part of our everyday lives, and it has the power to transform your business.

This book will put AI, big data, the cloud, robotics, and smart devices <span class="a-text-italic">in context</span>. It will reveal how these technologies can dramatically multiply any businesses—including yours—by strategically using your data’s latent, transformative potential.

Noted business leader, data consultant, and Columbia professor Asha Saxena has distilled her twenty-seven years of experience teaching Fortune 500 leaders in this powerful and insightful book. In <span class="a-text-italic">The AI Factor</span>, business leaders will learn how to understand the data they already have and how to use it innovatively to grow their businesses using Saxena’s unique methodology.

The AI Factor: How to Apply Artificial Intelligence and Use Big Data to Grow Your Business Exponentially

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