Best practices for Corporate AI transformation with Adam Newton

In this episode of The Lean AI Podcast, host Ben Hafele is joined by Adam Newton, an AI transformation leader with extensive experience across energy, FMCG, and technology sectors.

Join them as they discuss:
The fundamental difference between being AI-focused versus problem-focused in transformation efforts
How to navigate traditional ROI requirements for uncertain AI investments
The importance of strategic speed over operational speed in AI implementation
Practical approaches to metered funding and experimentation frameworks
Building cross-functional teams and avoiding the "ITification" of AI
Why AI is a tool for human-machine collaboration, not replacement
Real-world strategies for moving from proof of concept to scale
Adam Newton brings a unique perspective from his roles at EON (German energy company), Danone (global FMCG), and Amazon during their centralization transformation. He specializes in bridging technology and business strategy, with particular expertise in driving digital transformation from experimentation to tangible impact.

The Lean AI Podcast is brought to you by Lean Startup Co. You can find out more about us here.

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What You'll Learn:
Why being problem-focused rather than AI-focused is crucial for successful transformation
How to navigate traditional ROI requirements when faced with AI's inherent uncertainty
The difference between strategic speed and operational speed, and why it matters for AI projects
Practical frameworks for metered funding that reduce risk while enabling experimentation
How to build cross-functional teams that bridge technical and business expertise
Why waiting can be a competitive advantage in rapidly evolving AI markets
Strategies for moving past the proof-of-concept phase to achieve real scale
How to position AI as human-machine collaboration rather than replacement

Episode Highlights:
[00:00] Intro
[00:39] Adam's background across energy, FMCG, and tech sectors
[04:01] Problem-focused vs AI-focused approach
[05:53] Picking the right use cases and problems
[07:20] Balancing centralized and siloed approaches
[08:53] Skills for AI transformation beyond technical expertise
[12:44] Handling ROI demands for uncertain AI investments
[15:05] Creating dedicated evaluation frameworks for AI
[18:10] Metered funding strategies and avoiding upfront investment traps
[21:57] AI as human-machine collaboration, not replacement
[25:22] Moving from proof of concept to scale
[28:40] Strategic vs operational speed in AI implementation
[32:47] Avoiding the "first mover" trap
[34:46] Managing portfolio risk and the sunk cost fallacy
[39:43] Partnering with profit centers for innovation funding
[42:14] Practical tips for CFO engagement
[43:14] Top three recommendations for AI executives

Resources
Adam Newton:   / adam-newton-45a85440  
Ben Hafele:   / ben-hafele  
Lean Startup Co: https://leanstartup.co/contact.ai

World Economic Forum - Future of Jobs Report
Harvard Business Review - Strategic Speed vs Operational Speed

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