The ROI of AI: How to Build an AI-Augmented Organization

We’re in an era where everyone’s talking about AI, but few are actually getting value from it. In this episode, futurist and author Ravin Jesuthasan joins host David Rice to unpack why the ROI of AI is still so elusive — and why most organizations are looking at it backwards.

Ravin argues that the problem isn’t technological; it’s human. Companies are rushing to deploy tools before they rethink the work itself. He explains how leaders can shift from a tech-first to a work-first mindset, what it really means to be AI fluent, and why the job-based identity that defined the past 150 years of work is quietly crumbling.

If you’re an HR leader, executive, or strategist trying to navigate AI adoption without losing the human center of work, this conversation will help you see what transformation actually looks like — and where to start.

What You’ll Learn:
Why a tech-first mindset is sabotaging AI ROI
How leading with work — not tools — transforms outcomes
The difference between digital fluency and AI fluency
How to help people shift their identity from “what I do” to “what I can become”
Three metrics every leader should use to measure AI impact
How to design a 90-day rollout plan for AI adoption that actually works

Key Takeaways:
Start with work, not tools. The companies seeing ROI from AI aren’t deploying tech for its own sake — they’re analyzing the work, redesigning it, and then applying AI to transform it.
AI is a human challenge. Success depends less on data pipelines and more on change management, leadership modeling, and a willingness to unlearn old habits.
Leaders must model AI fluency. You can’t lead what you don’t use. The C-suite must experiment with tools firsthand — not delegate curiosity to their assistants.
Identity is shifting. Work is no longer “what I do,” it’s “what I can become.” Continuous learning — not static mastery — defines future employability.
Measure differently. Efficiency matters, but agility and workforce productivity are the real indicators of AI maturity.
Anchor with a North Star. Every AI rollout should begin with a clear vision, early prototypes tied to business problems, and a plan for the structural and cultural shifts that will follow.

Chapters:
00:00 The ROI of AI: Why most companies aren’t seeing returns
02:20 The “tech-first” trap and what to do instead
04:30 The identity crisis of work in the age of AI
07:30 Why we must move from digital fluency to AI fluency
09:40 Beyond efficiency: Measuring agility and productivity
11:45 The leadership gap: Why executives must use AI themselves
14:40 What AI fluency looks like in practice
17:10 Designing a 90-day AI rollout that actually delivers
19:44 Closing thoughts and where to connect with Ravin

Meet Our Guest:
Ravin Jesuthasan is a Senior Partner at Mercer and the Global Leader of its Transformation Services business, where he helps organizations design new work operating systems and navigate workforce transformation amid accelerating change. He’s a recognized futurist and author of several books—including Work Without Jobs and Reinventing Jobs—and has led major research initiatives on the future of work, AI adoption, and digital economies with institutions like the World Economic Forum.

Ravin holds finance degrees from Western Michigan University, is a Chartered Financial Analyst, and is regularly quoted in global media and invited to speak at events like Davos.

Learn more: https://peoplemanagingpeople.com/peop...