logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
34m 18s

Applied AI: Proactive Leadership with AI

Knownwell
About this episode

The best leaders don't wait for problems to arise - they anticipate them before they happen.

But how do you shift from a reactive leadership style to a proactive one?

AI might just be the key.

In this episode, host Courtney Baker is joined by Knownwell CEO David DeWolf, and Chief Product and Technology Officer Mohan Rao. Together, they explore how AI enables leaders to foresee challenges, manage risks, and reclaim time for strategic decision-making. From AI-driven notifications that predict client or employee concerns to tools that help leaders focus on what truly matters, they uncover how AI is reshaping leadership itself.

Special guest Jess Hall, Chief Growth Officer at OpsCanvas and member of Knownwell's AI Advisory Board, sits down with NordLight CEO Pete Buer to tackle one of the biggest hurdles in AI adoption: trust. Drawing from her experience in product strategy and AI ethics, Jess shares a powerful framework for building trust in AI systems, explains why AI skepticism mirrors the early days of automated elevators, and offers practical steps for businesses to create AI-powered products that people feel safe using.

Plus, in our AI in the Wild segment, we put AI itself on the spot. Can AI tell us how to turn raw data into actionable insights? You might be surprised by the answer.

Want to stop reacting and start leading with AI? Visit Knownwell.com to see how our platform helps executives like you stay ahead.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/N5pD5rh5hRs 

Up next
Nov 17
The Widening AI Value Gap
<p data-start="18" data-end="680">Only 5% of companies are getting real value from AI—so what are they doing differently?</p> <p data-start="18" data-end="680">Courtney, David, and Mohan unpack the "AI value gap," spotlighting what it actually takes to move from spinning up pilot ... Show More
32m 30s
Nov 10
The Rise of the AI Operating Partner
Is it time to redefine the consulting playbook with AI as your new operating partner? From Cognizant's bold move with Anthropic to the shifting role of human consultants, the team looks at how embedded intelligence is reshaping strategy execution and value creation in professiona ... Show More
23m 2s
Nov 3
The AI Reset: When to Pause, When to Pivot, and When to Double Down
AI pilots were hot in 2024—but by 2025, nearly half are being scrapped before they ever hit production. So how do you know when your AI initiative is a breakthrough in waiting… and when it's time to walk away? Courtney Baker returns with Knownwell's David DeWolf and Mohan Rao to ... Show More
25m 23s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
AI and Cyber
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole dives into one of the most pressing topics in cybersecurity today—Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on the role of a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). He emphasizes that the key to being an effective CISO is thin ... Show More
31m 57s
Sep 23
How Microsoft is Fixing the Biggest AI Agent Problem
Want the guide to create AI Agents? get it here: https://clickhubspot.com/fhc Episode 77: Are we nearing a future where AI agents can autonomously tackle our biggest challenges—while remaining efficient, safe, and truly aligned with human goals? Matt Wolfe (https://x.com/mreflow) ... Show More
30m 8s
Sep 21
From managing people to managing AI: The leadership skills everyone needs now | Julie Zhuo (Facebook VP, Sundial CEO, The Making of a Manager author)
Julie Zhuo is the former VP and Head of Design at Facebook (now Meta), author of the bestselling book The Making of a Manager, and co-founder of Sundial, an AI-powered data analysis company. Also, my first-ever podcast guest over 3 years ago!In our conversation, we discuss:1. The ... Show More
1h 36m
Aug 25
66: Using AI Agents at Work: Governance, Security, and Real-World Wins with Oren Michaels
<p>Chris Daigle sits down with Oren Michaels, founder of Barndoor.ai, to explore the rise of AI agents in the workplace and why governance and security matter just as much as innovation. From defining what makes an AI agent different from ChatGPT, to tackling the risks of the new ... Show More
54m 34s
Sep 10
The Executive AI Playbook: Strategy Every Leader Needs With Chris Daigle
Executives know they need an AI strategy, but most don’t know where to start.In this interview, Chris Daigle and Harrison Painter break down how leaders can approach AI without the hype. From simplifying adoption frameworks to real-world case studies in retail and healthcare, you ... Show More
29m 6s
Nov 7
Agentic AI and the Strategy Behind Smarter Talent Decisions - with Sachit Kamat of Eightfold AI
Today's guest is Sachit Kamat, Chief Product Officer at Eightfold AI. Eightfold AI provides a complete AI platform for talent management to help companies find, recruit, and retain workers with the goal of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of talent operations. Sachit j ... Show More
24m 49s
Jul 2025
How Finance Teams Are Learning to Lead with AI
Are you leveraging AI to its full potential in your finance department? In this episode, we dive into the practical application of AI in finance with Anton Medvedev, former Senior Product Manager at Vena and CPA/CFA. With his unique blend of finance and tech expertise, Anton offe ... Show More
34m 11s
Oct 13
73: Using AI at Work for Small Business Adoption and Team Alignment with Maria Elena Duron
<p>Chris Daigle sits down with Maria Elena Duron, fractional Chief AI Officer and marketing strategist, to explore how small and mid-sized businesses can successfully adopt AI without overwhelming their teams. Maria shares her experience helping businesses bridge the gap between ... Show More
49m 17s
Oct 20
Mustafa Suleyman: What the AI Boom Means for Your Job, Business, and Relationships | Artificial Intelligence | AI Vault
Now on Spotify Video! Mustafa Suleyman’s journey to becoming one of the most influential figures in artificial intelligence began far from a Silicon Valley boardroom. The son of a Syrian immigrant father in London, his early years in human rights activism shaped his belief that t ... Show More
1h 11m
Sep 4
Is Google Now the AI Leader?
Google’s AI comeback is turning into something bigger. Today’s AI Daily Brief covers whether Google has taken the lead in the AI race, with multimodal breakthroughs, Gemini’s surge, and a huge antitrust win around Chrome. We also dig into Anthropic’s $13B raise at a stunning $183 ... Show More
29m 23s