Where to Begin: A Leader’s AI Roadmap

While many business leaders understand the AI imperative, what we consistently hear is: “I have no idea where to start.”

You’re not alone. The AI landscape can look like a complex maze of technological jargon, expensive tools, and intimidating predictions. But what if starting with AI was simpler than you think?

Myth	Reality
AI requires massive investment	Many AI solutions are now available as affordable subscriptions with minimal upfront costs
You need data scientists on staff	Many pre-built AI tools require minimal technical expertise
AI will replace human workers	Most successful implementations augment human capabilities rather than replace them
AI is only for certain industries	AI applications exist for virtually every business function across all sectors
Implementation takes years	Targeted solutions can deliver value in weeks or months
AI is too complex for SMEs	Simplified, business-focused AI tools are specifically designed for SME needs

Your 7-Step Leadership Roadmap for AI Adoption

1. Personal Experimentation

The most overlooked step in AI adoption? Using it yourself. You can’t authentically lead a transformation if you don’t have at least some hands-on experience with the technology.

Start with free or easily accessible tools:

Use ChatGPT to brainstorm ideas – but don’t use private or company information

• Experiment with image generation tools like DALL-E

• If you’re using M365, then Copilot can help with:

  • Capturing meeting notes and providing key takeaways

  • Reviewing a chain of emails and drafting a response

  • Suggesting the content sequence for a presentation

2. Build Consensus with your Leadership Team

You won’t drive AI adoption from the bottom up. You need your leadership team singing from the same hymn sheet. Build the same level of familiarity with AI amongst your executive team by:

• Listening to their teams about any current usage or scenarios ripe for

• Exploring Industry-specific case studies of AI applications

• Workshops designed for business leaders, not technologists

• Peer learning from other SME leaders in your network

3. Conduct an AI Readiness Assessment

Before investing in solutions, evaluate your organisation’s current state:

• Data availability and quality across key business processes

• Existing technology infrastructure and integration capabilities

• Team capabilities and knowledge gaps

• Organisational culture and change readiness

• Competitive landscape and industry AI adoption trends

What we’ve found is that most organisations have more usable data and are closer to “AI ready” than their leaders initially believe.

4. Develop a Leadership-Driven AI Strategy

Create a clear vision for how AI will support your business objectives:

• Align AI priorities with your overall business strategy

• Define specific business problems AI could help solve

• Establish measurable success criteria for AI initiatives

• Identify quick wins alongside longer-term transformative goals

• Create a cross-functional AI steering committee led by senior management

• Develop an AI policy that sets out acceptable use and addresses compliance

5. Identify 1 or 2 Operational Pain Points

Look for a specific, bounded area where AI could provide immediate value:

• Customer service response times

• Data entry and reconciliation

• Basic report generation

• Scheduling and administrative tasks

The goal isn’t massive transformation. It’s proving AI’s practical value in your specific context.

6. Prioritise Training and Adoption

What we see a consistent pattern in organisations that successfully adopt AI:

• Training and change management is an instrumental part of AI adoption

• Staff are encouraged to share their “AI explorations” and suggest areas or processes for transformation

• They systematically collect insights on usage and performance (learn, test, repeat or pivot)

7. Start Small, Learn Fast

The most successful SME AI implementations follow an incremental approach:

• Begin with a single high-impact, low-complexity pilot project

• Set clear timelines and success metrics

• Capture learnings systematically throughout implementation

• Communicate successes and challenges transparently

• Use early wins to build momentum and organisational buy-in

The Leadership Imperative

The organisations pulling ahead aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets or the most technical expertise. They’re the ones with leaders who decided to begin the journey.

The AI race isn’t waiting for perfect conditions. Your competitors are already experimenting, learning, and building capabilities – regardless of their budget or technical expertise. The only mistake is standing still while your industry moves forward. Start your roadmap today, not tomorrow.