Move First, Align Fast

Foreword

By Mike Brady, Chief Technology Officer at a Financial Services Firm

In 2017, I stepped off a sidewalk in Manhattan and left the country, entering the United Nations. I had been invited to speak on the adoption of artificial intelligence across developing economies—a moment that underscored for me that the challenge of AI is not simply technical. It is about whether people, societies, and companies are ready to embrace it.

That same lesson has echoed throughout my three decades leading technology organizations across Fortune 100 companies. I've managed global teams of more than 10,000 people, overseen multibillion-dollar budgets, and delivered technology platforms that millions of customers and employees depend on around the clock. Through all of it, one reality is constant: the technology almost always works. The real challenge is whether the organization is prepared to adopt it, trust it, and embed it into daily operations.

Real results happen when people understand a new capability, experience its value early, and quickly move up the adoption curve. The first wave of adopters is critical. They demonstrate that the system works in practice, capture quick wins, and refine the tools to make them even more effective. Their success builds momentum: leaders gain confidence, employees see proof, and transformation starts to scale.

I have also seen the other side. Projects delivered on time and under budget, with dashboards showing green across the board—yet business results ...