Episode 19 | Seth Wylie: Stop Training, Start Harvesting – The Grassroots AI Revolution

🌐 Most companies are approaching AI adoption backwards. While executives push top-down strategies, the real innovation is happening in the trenches.

Seth Wylie reveals why successful AI transformation starts with the people already experimenting - not training programs or executive mandates.

*🔑 KEY INSIGHTS:*
Why mandatory AI training kills experimentation before it starts
The one question that gets everyone talking: "What have you been experimenting with this week?"
How to connect grassroots innovation to executive priorities
Why executives are disconnected from AI tools (and what to do about it)
Building "AI Clubs" that people actually want to join
Creating psychological safety for awkward first attempts

*⚡ SETH'S APPROACH:*
Find the experimenters already on your team → Create space for them to share → Let insights bubble up naturally → Then add training when there's momentum

"Companies need to harvest the experimentation that's already happening, not mandate what should be happening."

*⏰ TIMESTAMPS:*
*01:00* - Meet Seth Wylie: AI Transformation Expert & Acapella Singer
*08:32* - Finding Signal: How to Spot AI Innovation in Your Organization
*10:45* - *The Magic Question: "What Have You Been Experimenting With This Week?"*
*13:18* - Why Executives Are Disconnected from AI Tools
*14:11* - What Companies Get Wrong: Training Before Mindset
*18:08* - Leadership by Example: When CEOs Use AI for Poetry
*19:26* - The Translation Problem: Executive vs. Individual Priorities
*20:23* - Emergence Capital's Offsite Success Story
*28:36* - Organizational Structure Changes for AI Transformation
*32:22* - Creating Value Categories: ROI vs. Engagement vs. Innovation
*34:48* - The Spreadsheet Story: How Leaders Kill Innovation and The Power of Executive Curiosity
*37:10* - *Seth's Favorite Tool: AI for Self-Knowledge*
*40:29* - Amy's Claude Projects Discovery (Life-Changing!)
*42:19* - Wrap-up & Gratitude
*💼 LEADERSHIP CORNER*
*42:47* - Question: Should I Dive Into AI Tools or Let My People Mature First?
*43:03* - Meg's Take: Get Context First, Model Curiosity Over Perfection
*44:56* - The Learning Paradox: Being Bad at Things Builds Empathy
*47:15* - Practical Advice for AI Leadership Balance
*53:58* - Final Thanks & Sign-off

🎵 *BONUS:* Seth performs an acapella song live on the show!

*📚 RESOURCES:*
New York Times: CEOs Adopt AI: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/16/bu...
Meg's AI Fluency Blog: https://www.megbear.com/post/stop-was...
Emergence Capital Offsite:   / jakesaper_at-emergence-capitals-investment...  
Reshuffle Book: https://amazn.so/Rrd62oi

*🔗 CONNECT:*
Seth:   / sethwylie  
Leadership Questions: [email protected]
Instagram:   / megandamyshow  
LinkedIn:   / the-meg-amy-show  

#AITransformation #BottomUpInnovation #AIStrategy #OrganizationalChange #Leadership #Innovation #AIAdoption #BusinessTransformation #WorkplaceInnovation #AIExperimentation