Simon Harrison

At first, I was worried about not talking about AI at the Support Driven Leadership Expo. It turns out that my 'war stories' as a director resonated more than I expected. And getting to nurture and provide guidance to those earlier in their journeys as middle managers was so fulfilling <3 I miss people management! Inspired by the response, I've created a comprehensive resource on building influence and securing buy-in for your ideas. It's my way of giving back to the community, even though I'm no longer in Corporate America's trenches (or, rather, a different trench). This guide isn't just theory - it's built on real successes, failures, and lessons learned in the C-suite battlefield. https://lnkd.in/gXcbfd7j

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THE AGENDA FOR HSR Founders Club #GTMWEEK2024 is OUT 🎉 Our 4-day Go-to-market festival is designed to help you get implementable actionables from the get go. So what's the design? There are largely 3 parts to the event: 1. Go-To-Market Debates & Panels: Now you've been to several panel discussions but none where builders and operators unite to bring their very personal experiences to you. But what I'm most excited about is 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐬 - a lively debate, roast, and improv show with some of the best Inbounders and Outbounders we got! Also, we got a morning walk around Agara Lake put together by Agara Walks & Filter Kaapi to help you start your day fresh with ideas. I'll be sharing more information on that soon so either register or wait (which will just give you more FOMO). 2. GTM Clinics: You have a Go-to-market ailment/disease - we got doctors of all kinds to come help you. In this format you will get to book personal 1:1 sessions with experts and bring your GTM issues to them so they can help you out. Keep your problems crisp, and if you're confused about them - our mentors are here to help you on that too! Clinics powered by Aaron Bird, Raj Sheth, Ishan Manchanda, and Manuel Oothria Raj 3. Hands-on GTM Workshops: 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭: 𝐋𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. As an early stage founder, you would want to set up the basics to help you get started and you may not be able to hire a GTM expert. If that sounds like you, these are for you. We have 4 blockbuster workshops on Positioning and Messaging by Sairam Krishnan, Revenue operations on Google Sheets by Shashank Palli, Account-Based Marketing (Linkedin Ads and Outbound) by YellowKyte and a very cool $0 marketing stack implementation (Hubspot, Google Analytics etc) via GrowthSpree - Growth Partners For Early Stage SaaS So if you're a founder building in B2B - this GTM festival is a must for you. And in typical #HSRFC style - we always do things in a fun way where you can not just learn but also really enjoy the journey of building your startup from scratch. Come, let's celebrate The GTM Week: https://lu.ma/5y1ovs3h Pienza | Inflection.io | eChai Ventures | s11s | Saaskart | The AI Exchange | Everything Design | Inboxpirates - B2B Lead Generation Agency

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Seeking AI wisdom for your organisation? Look no further than Ed Thompson. You can follow him from this link: https://lnkd.in/eTJ3feEc I've witnessed his stage presence multiple times, and here's why he stands out: • Provides actionable advice on AI focus areas • Offers a balanced perspective beyond his platform • Speaks to decision-makers at all levels Ed's unique approach: 1. He doesn't just paint broad AI visions 2. He illuminates AI's evolving direction 3. He highlights optimal paths for AI influencers 💡 Pro tip: If you're attending a Salesforce event, don't miss his talks! My hope? To see Ed share more of his insights right here on LinkedIn. Who's your go-to AI thought leader? Share below! 👇 #AIStrategy #ThoughtLeadership #BusinessInnovation

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Stanford has released their annual AI Index report for 2024, including top 10 takeaways: "Over the last year, the proportion of those who think AI will dramatically affect their lives in the next three to five years has increased... to 66%." "52% express nervousness toward AI products and services... a 13% rise from 2022." I think some nervousness makes sense (people don't like change), but the benefits will overcome the fear over time. Top 10 Takeaways 1. AI beats humans on some tasks, but not on all. 2. Industry continues to dominate frontier AI research. 3. Frontier models get way more expensive. 4. The United States leads China, the EU, and the U.K. as the leading source of top AI models. 5. Robust and standardized evaluations for LLM responsibility are seriously lacking. 6. Generative AI investment skyrockets. 7. The data is in: AI makes workers more productive and leads to higher quality work. 8. Scientific progress accelerates even further, thanks to AI. 9. The number of AI regulations in the United States sharply increases. 10. People across the globe are more cognizant of AI’s potential impact—and more nervous. The full report: https://lnkd.in/gKnpJDx4

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🚀 **AI: The Key to Staying Competitive in the Global Arena** 🚀 Been spending time this weekend catching up on last week’s events and came across Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) recent research which highlights a crucial point: if #Britain doesn't embrace #AI, it risks being left behind in the global race for innovation and competitiveness. This isn't just a theoretical concern—it's a call to action for all of us. From my experience, the biggest challenge isn't the technology itself; it's the resistance to change within organizations. Many companies are hesitant to adopt AI due to fear of the unknown, concerns over job displacement, or simply because they are accustomed to the status quo. This inertia can be a significant barrier to progress. However, embracing AI doesn't mean replacing human jobs; it means augmenting our capabilities and opening new opportunities for growth. Companies that are successfully integrating AI are seeing not just improvements in efficiency but also in creativity and strategic decision-making. It's time for us to rethink our approach and overcome our resistance to change. The future of AI in Britain isn't just about technology—it's about leadership, vision, and a willingness to innovate. Let's not wait until it's too late. The future is now, and it's driven by AI. Let this week be the first of a brighter future ⚡️ #AI #Innovation #Leadership #FutureOfWork #TonyBlair #TBIResearch #ChangeManagement #businessoperations Operations Nation

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This one is for Company Directors: HOW DOES INNOVATION FEATURE ON YOUR BOARD MEETING AGENDA? If it is not a monthly feature at the moment, how will you expect it to be a monthly feature of Executive attention? For those of us old enough to remember the dawn of the internet, then fast internet, the dawn of the age of AI is massively exciting and in equal measure massively risky. If it’s not on the agenda and at your board table how will you balance the risk and opportunity? www.ceoadvantage.com.au https://lnkd.in/gYgSy-EH https://lnkd.in/gfd6ZGbt

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I found this short explanation of confirmation bias and anchored (anchoring) bias very interesting and thought of the many boards I have worked with through the years that are reluctant to recognise various levels of dysfunction they have when dealing head-on with pressing #governance issues. Your thoughts... https://lnkd.in/dAX9ybm4

After $3M and 15+ grants, if we fail with everything else, we'll surely pivot to AI for grant writing 😂 (Hopefully this will be our last grant) P.S. If you are a startup founder and you need advice how to apply and get accepted for a grant, please comment below.

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Real value comes from radical change. Now is a great time to stop tinkering with the tech in our businesses and get on with using it to radically transform how our businesses operate.

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#FridayFocus: Navigating the Future of Work with AI As we head into the weekend, I wanted to share some thoughts on the recent Tony Blair Institute for Global Change report featured in this interesting article from The Guardian. Everybody fears that AI will displace millions of jobs and yes, this study suggests that this is what will be happening in the UK over the next decade. However, the report also highlights a critical insight: the long-term employment impact is projected to be relatively modest, with new opportunities offsetting many of the roles that may be automated. As technology becomes more integrated into our daily routines, I find that navigating this shift strategically is more effective than approaching it with hesitation and fearHere are my three main takeaways: 1️⃣ Adaptability: focus should be on skills that bridge technology with human insight. By championing adaptability people will be equipped to navigate change confidently. 2️⃣ Strategic Integration: AI isn’t just about efficiency but about enhancing how we work. Ensuring a balanced, strategic approach to adopting new technologies can boost productivity while creating meaningful roles. 3️⃣ Collaboration & Mentorship: during this technology transition it will be fundamental to support the teams who are impacted by these changes , providing mentorship and finding ways to foster collaborative learning environments. The next generation is stepping into a dynamic workforce and needs to be guided. I am sure the future of work will look different, but the fundamentals of building strong, agile teams remain the same in a future where people and technology thrive together. https://lnkd.in/eDMD9Qe6

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Why do Digital Transformations fail? ...or why do organisational transformations fail may be a better way to frame that, as every business/organisation is now operating in a digital-first world and therefore by proxy ... well, you get my point. The team at NOBL Collective have been pondering this question for many years (kudos to Bud Caddell and the crew) from their great insights around the Evolutionary Edge - https://lnkd.in/gTj5Cnhx - focused on thriving in a disrupted, volatile and every changing world to their latest piece on precisely that question - https://lnkd.in/giUqURC5. If you are a leader in any business or organisation, then these thought-provoking and insightful pieces are a must read and also will provide you will some signposts for principles and areas to focus on. Also, the second piece contains 2 of the best quotes around the space of transformation, so before you click off, have a read and see if you agree: "When digital transformation is done right, it’s like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly, but when done wrong, all you have is a really fast caterpillar." - George Westerman, MIT Sloan School of Management "Think of digital transformation less as a technology project to be finished than as a state of perpetual agility, always ready to evolve for whatever customers want next, and you’ll be pointed down the right path." - Amit Zavery, Google Cloud #digitaltransformation #leadership #strategy #organisationaltransformation #changemanagement #culturematters #adaptability #agility #resilience

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Whether you are an #AI evangelist or scepticist our #UK #economy needs regulatory certainty for investment and innovation and a timeframe, but the question springs to mind - what has changed since Gen AI was launched? Or is it becoming clearer that with the current approach, the UK becomes an outlier?

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I have summarised events and updates in the Generative AI area for the month of November 2024, including links to relevant information and some hands-on experience reported. #generativeAI #stability #apple #flux

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🚨 Interesting fact alert! “The average age of a Non-Executive Director is 65”🚨 Overheard on a conversation today and I almost fell off my seat. On doing a bit more research, there’s a fair bit of variation between male and female, which I took as a positive. Female NEDs are slightly younger on average (59.3 years) than their male counterparts (65). Now, if you do a little more research, figures do range a bit, I guess based on the sample size and those in the study, but only comes down a couple of years. As a 49 year old who’s been doing NED roles for a while, I’m happy that I’m contributing to driving the average lower. Why? Because I personally think you can add value, in business and indeed life, at any age, you don’t have to wait until you cross a number line. What do you think? Interested to hear your views. Oh, while you’re thinking the question through, the photo is apparently what I’d look like when I turn 65 and ready to impart knowledge as an average NED. You’re welcome 😀 #ned #average #age #cto #experience

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