Beyond the Hype: What Leading Through AI Transformation Really Looks Like

In all the noise around AI, one thing often gets overlooked: the human side of transformation.

Last week, I had the chance to sit down with Mike Carlo—CEO of Carlo Solutions and founder of PowerBI.Tips—for a conversation that was less about technology and more about leadership. Mike isn’t just another tech founder riding the AI wave. He’s simultaneously implementing AI in his own business and helping clients work through many of the same questions.

That dual perspective gave him insights I hadn’t heard elsewhere—and frankly, some of them made me uncomfortable in the best possible way.

This isn’t a recap. It’s a reflection on what leaders can actually do with what we’re learning—and what we’re now being forced to rethink.

The Leadership Shift: From Technical to Conceptual

One of Mike’s most striking observations was this:

"Your native language is now your programming language."

He wasn’t being metaphorical.

Mike described building an entire web app in two hours by simply describing what he wanted in plain English. The AI handled the implementation while he focused on intent, iteration, and outcomes.

For leaders, this represents a fundamental shift. As we lead through AI transformation, the challenge is no longer how technical you are—it’s how clearly you can communicate what needs to happen. Can you define a problem? Frame a clear goal? Give directional feedback that drives results?

This elevation from technical to conceptual isn’t just about tools—it’s about how leaders need to reframe their mental models. When creation becomes a commodity (Mike predicted we’ll soon speak requests to AI that builds and discards apps in real time), the edge shifts to vision, judgment, and synthesis.

That’s the shift leaders need to be preparing for—now.

Discernment Over Speed: The Real Superpower

We’ve all heard the call to “move fast” when it comes to AI. But Mike pushed back on that instinct with something more grounded:

“Discernment is going to be so incredibly important.”

He cited a Microsoft study showing measurable declines in critical thinking among knowledge workers using generative AI. And he shared a personal moment that hit hard: when his AI coding assistant went down for 15 minutes, his gut reaction was “Well, I can’t work right now.”

That’s the danger.

At Renovant Partners, we talk often about velocity versus alignment. Speed matters—but speed without discernment leads to dependency, decision fatigue, and expensive mistakes. Mike’s approach was simple but important: evaluate every use of AI through a value-to-cost lens.

Is the financial, operational, or cognitive cost of this tool outweighed by what it enables?

It sounds obvious. But in practice, many teams—and leaders—don’t pause long enough to ask the question.

Rethinking Roles and Talent: Empowering Your Top Performers

Things got more interesting when we shifted from tools to teams. Mike didn’t frame AI as a threat to people—he framed it as a call to rethink how we invest in them.

“I work with my best people, they’re the ones with deep knowledge—and the most expensive time. So I give them space to explore AI first.”

That’s the opposite of what many companies do. Instead of treating AI as a lifeboat for underperformance, Mike treats it as an accelerator for capability. His top performers experiment first, identify high-value use cases, and then shape how the rest of the team adopts.

It’s not about replacing people. It’s about elevating them.

That approach does two things well:

• It builds buy-in, because adoption is being led from inside the team, not imposed from above.

• It raises the bar, because standards are set by the people already doing excellent work.

Mike also shared a bigger concern: the gap between people who can create and direct AI versus those who simply consume it is growing. The middle ground is disappearing. If we’re not intentional, we’ll build teams that depend on AI outputs without knowing how to question or improve them.

The AI-Ready Organization: What to Build Next

Mike framed a future where AI builds tools on demand, content creation is commoditized, and solution half-lives are shrinking fast. That world isn’t hypothetical—it’s already here.

So how do you build a business that’s ready for it?

Mike’s answer wasn’t another tech stack. It was structure:

• Time for experimentation

• Clear evaluation criteria

• Risk thresholds that encourage smart failure

• Strong leadership from the top performers

The tension, of course, is balancing speed with discipline. You need to move fast—but not so fast that you sacrifice clarity, accountability, or cohesion. The businesses that figure out how to embed AI into their operating rhythm without losing their core identity will be the ones that endure.

The rest will burn out in a cycle of over-promising and under-delivering.

Where We Go from Here: Questions Worth Asking to Better Lead Your AI Transformation

AI is changing fast. But the best leaders I know keep asking the same core questions:

• Are we building something meaningful? Just because you can generate content or code doesn’t mean you should. What problem are you solving?

• Are we equipping our teams to adapt and thrive? Technology won’t replace the need for vision, communication, or leadership. It only raises the bar.

• Are we using tools to unlock new value—or to avoid hard work? AI should amplify your thinking, not replace it. Don’t let convenience erode capability.

Strategic growth still requires operational clarity, aligned teams, and human-centered leadership. The tools have changed. The fundamentals haven’t.

Closing Thoughts

What struck me most about Mike wasn’t his technical acumen—it was his intentionality. He’s not just asking what AI can do. He’s asking what kind of thinking and leadership it demands in return.

That mindset is rare—and necessary.

Most conversations about AI focus on output. Mike focused on judgment. Most organizations chase efficiency. He’s investing in capability.

At Renovant, we help businesses lead through moments like this—not by chasing the latest trend, but by helping them create the clarity, structure, and leadership muscle to grow with purpose.

If you’re wrestling with similar questions about how to implement AI—or lead your team through it—I’d encourage you to watch the full conversation.

🎥 Watch it here -> https://youtu.be/H4Jtltssrrg

And if you’re navigating these decisions in your business and looking for a strategic partner to help, let’s talk.