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ELE brings leaders together across companies and industries to work through the messy stuff: decisions, risk, handoffs, execution drag, and what it takes to move from idea to action.

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<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>

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<p style="font-family: 'Calibri', sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem;">Most AI risks aren’t obvious—they show up in missed signals, weak assumptions, and everyday decisions.</p>
<p style="font-family: 'Calibri', sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem;">For people leaders, these blind spots shape how work gets done, how teams adopt tools, and where performance quietly slips.</p>
<p style="font-family: 'Calibri', sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem;">This keynote surfaces the patterns leaders aren’t seeing—and the cost of ignoring them.</p>
<p style="font-family: 'Calibri', sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem;">Leaders will leave with a clearer lens on where to look and what to question.</p>

<blockquote style="border-left: 4px solid #990000; margin: 20px 0; padding: 10px 20px; background-color: #f8f9fa; font-style: italic; color: #555; font-family: 'Calibri', sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem;"><strong style="font-style: normal;">What happens next?</strong> This post captures our live framework. In a few days, we will update this page with the real-time breakthroughs, questions, and insights shared by our executive peers during the conference dialogue. Stay tuned!</blockquote>
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The AI Blind Spots Costing You More Than You Think

Digital &amp; AI

suzanne.sherry

chris.olson

anton.maletich

strategic alignment

Performance Improvement

peter.hogaboam

technology adoption

change leadership

organizational strategy

Workforce Transformation

Data-Driven Decisions

risk management

wise2026

insights-wise-2026

AI blind spots

content governance

productivity theater

manager capability gaps

deploy then govern

confidence theater

operational oversight

performance leakage

decision context

process control

skill gap reframing

corporate accountability

Precisely

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<p style="font-family: 'Calibri', sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem;">AI adoption is more than a technology shift — it challenges how leaders define value, expertise, and decision-making.</p>
<p style="font-family: 'Calibri', sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem;">As work and roles rapidly evolve, leaders must help employees adapt to changing tools, workflows, and professional identity.</p>
<p style="font-family: 'Calibri', sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem;">This keynote explores the mindset shifts required for AI adoption to scale and includes a practical exercise to assess how AI may reshape — or threaten — different roles.</p>

<blockquote style="border-left: 4px solid #990000; margin: 20px 0; padding: 10px 20px; background-color: #f8f9fa; font-style: italic; color: #555; font-family: 'Calibri', sans-serif; font-size: 1.1rem;"><strong style="font-style: normal;" data-path-to-node="6,0" data-index-in-node="0">What happens next?</strong> This post captures our live framework. In a few days, we will update this page with the real-time breakthroughs, questions, and insights shared by our executive peers during the conference dialogue. Stay tuned!</blockquote>
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Identity Drives AI Adoption — or Stalls It|

future of work

Engagement &amp; Culture

Future of Work

Culture Change

marty.murrillo

capability building

executive education

peer reflection

identity-driven ai adoption

professional identity

role evolution

workforce mindset

value definition

expert identity

behavioral friction

organizational resistance

structural shift

workflow adjustment

Executive Learning Exchange (ELE)

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When <a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/aaron-olson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aaron Olson</a> keynoted in person at ELE’s October conference at Zurich North America (Schaumburg campus), he launched his new book <em><a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/bookshelf/strategy-and-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Strategy &amp; Change</a></em>—and the room lit up because it wasn’t theory. It was usable.

So we invited him back for a <strong>live interactive workshop discussion</strong> on Feb 27, and he delivered again—this time with the group applying the ideas to real decisions, in real time.

In the simplest terms, Aaron’s message was this: stronger teams get better at <strong>avoiding blind spots → making clearer choices → naming risk early</strong>—because that’s where real opportunities get unmasked. He also walked through how to prepare yourself with a simple <strong>Action Planning Tool</strong>.

And the best part? The community didn’t just nod along—we sharpened the framework with the kind of reflections you only get when experienced leaders are willing to be honest about what actually happens inside organizations.

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<strong>The takeaway that hit hardest: don’t outsource your judgment</strong>
As <a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/marty-murrillo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marty Murrillo</a> put it - especially with AI in the mix:
<blockquote style="border-left: 5px solid #ccc; margin: 1.5em 10px; padding: 0.5em 20px; font-style: italic;">“You can’t… abdicate your critical thinking to a machine, nor should you ever give your voice to a person or a machine."</blockquote>
That line landed because it names a very real risk pattern: teams move faster, they generate more output… and leaders slowly stop owning judgment.

The point wasn’t “don’t use AI.” The point was: <strong>don’t give away your voice.</strong> When leaders do that—whether to a tool or to the loudest person in the room—capability erodes quietly.

<strong>Why “challenge” is the hidden lever in better decisions.</strong>
One reflection that really stuck with the group was how culture shapes decision quality—even before the decision starts. <a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/rachel-kaberon1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rachel Kaberon</a> named the blocker we all recognize when we’re being honest:
<blockquote style="border-left: 5px solid #ccc; margin: 1.5em 10px; padding: 0.5em 20px; font-style: italic;">“The word challenge becomes a choice… that interpersonal exchange is part of the choice architecture."</blockquote>
That’s it. That’s the whole game. If challenging assumptions feels socially risky, people avoid it. If people avoid it, blind spots stay protected. And if blind spots stay protected, the “choice” is basically pre-decided—just with nicer language around it. So when we say “we need clarity,” what we often really mean is: <strong>we need a better room for real challenge.</strong>

<strong>Insight isn’t just “more data.” It’s sensing what others miss.</strong>
<a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/jean-ryan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jean Ryan</strong></a> added a strategic layer that sharpened the “Insight” part of Aaron’s framework: if you only listen to the loud, obvious signals, you’re already behind.

She described the power of going after <strong>weak signals</strong>—especially outside your industry—because they challenge your current assumptions before the change becomes unavoidable.

Strong signals are easy to spot. They’re already loud. Weak signals take intention. But that’s where the early advantage lives: noticing shifts in behavior, expectations, education, and adjacent markets <em>before</em> they turn into urgent problems. This is one of those leadership muscles that looks “soft”… until you realize it’s the difference between being prepared and being surprised.

<strong>What made this practical: a one-page tool teams can actually use</strong>
Here’s where Aaron made it actionable.

The <strong>Strategy &amp; Change | Action Planning Worksheet</strong> is a practical tool for senior leaders because it turns the framework into a <strong>single page teams can work through together</strong>—in the flow of real decisions. <em>(<a href="https://ideation.ele.llc/LC_Reskilling/20260227_Strategy-and-Change-Worksheet-editable.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here to download the editable worksheet</a>)</em>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="https://cdn.ele.llc/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Strategy-and-Change_Action-Planning-Worksheet.jpg" alt="Strategy and Change Worksheet" width="972" height="562" /></p>
It helps teams:
<ul style="margin-bottom: 25px;">
 	<li>surface blind spots without turning it into a debate club</li>
 	<li>clarify the real choice being made (and the tradeoffs)</li>
 	<li>name risk early enough that it helps—not late enough that it hurts</li>
</ul>
And there’s a bigger reason we’re excited: <strong>Even better:</strong> this worksheet is the <strong>backbone</strong> for ELE’s next <strong>Design Charrette</strong>—because it forces the exact moves teams need to build <strong>Confidence, Capability, and Clarity</strong> while they’re solving something that actually matters.

<hr style="margin: 40px 0; border: 0; border-top: 1px solid #eee;" />

<strong>Want to go deeper?</strong>
This mini-workshop draws on ideas from Strategy and Change by Aaron Olson and co-authors—focused on insight, choice, and risk when leaders face disruption.
<ul>
 	<li><strong>Explore the book on ELE’s Bookshelf</strong> <em>(<a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/bookshelf/strategy-and-change">learn more or purchase</a>)</em></li>
</ul>
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Strategy & Change in Practice: Turning Uncertainty into Better Decisions

Strategy

dirk.tussing

jean.ryan

leadership development

aaron.olson

critical thinking

Talent Strategy

peer-learning

matt.sernaker

clarity

rachel.kaberon

AI Adoption

cindy.pinkstaffmiller

strategic thinking

1Q2026

strategy and change

Human-Centered Transformation

insight choice risk

learning in the flow of work

team capability building

team-based learning

confidence

capability

decision-making under uncertainty

choice architecture

design charrettes

L&amp;D leaders

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AI isn't just changing <i>how</i> we work; it is <b>fundamentally redefining what work is and how it is valued</b>. In this strategy-focused session, <b>Marinus van Driel</b> delivered a crucial framework for senior HR leaders to move beyond reacting to AI trends and instead proactively build a talent strategy designed for the future of work.

The central insight was clear: <b>Agility</b> is now the primary defense against market disruption, and AI is the engine that either enables it or exposes the lack of it.
<h3>Key Takeaways for Senior Talent Leaders:</h3>
<ul>
 	<li><b style="font-size: 16px;">The Valuation Shift:</b><span style="font-size: 16px;"> Understanding how AI changes the economic value of human work. Leaders must proactively categorize roles based on whether AI will </span><b style="font-size: 16px;">augment</b><span style="font-size: 16px;"> them (requiring capability-building) or </span><b style="font-size: 16px;">transform</b><span style="font-size: 16px;"> them (requiring upskilling and talent mobility).</span></li>
 	<li><b>Reframing AI: Capacity, Not Headcount:</b> Attendees learned to reframe AI from a cost-reduction threat to a <b>capacity unlock</b> tool. This requires prioritizing investment where the benefit of AI is largest—freeing up high-value talent to focus on strategic, human-centric contributions.</li>
 	<li><b>The Agility Playbook:</b> Aon shared collected wisdom on intentional next steps, including the critical need to:
<ul>
 	<li><b>Build AI Literacy</b> across the organization by intentionally letting teams "learn by doing."</li>
 	<li><b>Establish Governance</b> that guides ethical use without creating organizational bottlenecks.</li>
 	<li><b>Prioritize small, intentional starts</b> that map existing efforts and build momentum.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
This session armed senior HR, Talent Development, and L&amp;D leaders with the strategic perspective necessary to turn the complexities of AI and the future of work into a competitive advantage.
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📚 Related Reading:

<a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/bookshelf/strategy-and-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Strategy and Change: How to Succeed in the Face of Accelerating Disruptive Innovation</a>

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AI, Agility, and the Future of Work | Solving Talent Strategy Challenges with Aon’s Talent Team

Change Management

talent development

CHIE2025

Strategic HR

resilience building

practical insights

marinus.vandriel

strategy execution

AI and agility

organizational disruption

adaptive organizations

leadership choice

AI enhancement

In an age where <b>Generative AI</b> is accelerating the pace of change to an unprecedented degree, executives can no longer afford to view disruption as a threat—they must see it as the primary catalyst for growth. As <b>Aaron Olson</b>, EVP of Enterprise Clients at Aon, emphasized in this compelling keynote, <b>culture is the true, non-replicable driver of performance</b> in the AI era.

This keynote armed senior HR, Talent Development, and L&amp;D leaders with a practical playbook for strategic leadership, reframing risk from a liability to a springboard for innovation and cultural alignment.
<h3>Essential Leadership Takeaways:</h3>
<ul>
 	<li><b>Culture as the AI Differentiator:</b> The keynote underscored why investments in technology fail without corresponding investments in culture. The focus is on aligning organizational values to a constant state of flux, where people feel equipped, not overwhelmed, by AI.</li>
 	<li><b>The Disruption Playbook:</b> Drawing from decades of risk management expertise, Aaron presented a clear process for executive action:
<ol start="1">
 	<li><b>Recognize Emerging Patterns:</b> Move beyond lagging indicators to identify strategic shifts early.</li>
 	<li><b>Make Confident, Values-Driven Decisions:</b> Use organizational principles to guide choices under high pressure and ambiguity.</li>
 	<li><b>Reframe Risk:</b> View strategic risk-taking as an essential component of innovation, directly linking the change agenda to talent development strategy.</li>
</ol>
</li>
 	<li><b>Talent as a Springboard for Innovation:</b> The keynote explored the critical leadership mindsets and cultural levers needed to build a workforce that not only survives digital and global crises but actively <b>thrives</b> on the opportunities they create.</li>
</ul>
This high-level strategic review confirmed that the executive function is evolving from managing stability to expertly navigating and capitalizing on continuous volatility.

Strategy and Change | Finding Opportunity in Disruption

Leadership

digital transformation

innovation

generative AI

Strategic Leadership

cultural alignment

disruption management

leadership mindsets

volatile environment

executive playbook

culture as performance driver

<p data-start="181" data-end="514">In the AI era, where culture is the true driver of performance, leaders face disruption at unprecedented speed and scale. <em data-start="303" data-end="324">Strategy and Change</em> equips executives to turn that disruption—whether from generative AI, digital transformation, or unforeseen global crises—into opportunities for cultural alignment and talent development.</p>
<p data-start="516" data-end="894">Drawing from decades of strategic leadership and risk management expertise, the authors present a practical playbook for recognizing emerging patterns, making confident, values-driven decisions, and reframing risk as a springboard for innovation. The book explores the critical leadership mindsets and cultural levers needed to thrive in today’s volatile business environment.</p>
<p data-start="896" data-end="924">Talent and Line Leaders will learn how to:</p>

<ul data-start="925" data-end="1274">
 	<li data-start="925" data-end="1060">
<p data-start="927" data-end="1060">Apply four leadership approaches—visionary, directive, incubating, and collaborative—to build cultures that flourish in complexity.</p>
</li>
 	<li data-start="1061" data-end="1170">
<p data-start="1063" data-end="1170">Align strategic choices with cultural priorities to achieve both immediate wins and long-term resilience.</p>
</li>
 	<li data-start="1171" data-end="1274">
<p data-start="1173" data-end="1274">Harness disruption as a catalyst for redefining how organizations attract, grow, and retain talent.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p data-start="1276" data-end="1540">Grounded in research and illustrated through real-world case studies, <em data-start="1346" data-end="1367">Strategy and Change</em> is essential reading for senior talent executives, CLOs, CHROs, and organizational leaders committed to shaping high-performance cultures in the AI-driven future of work.</p>

Strategy and Change: How to Succeed in the Face of Accelerating Disruptive Innovation

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