Episode 2: The C-Suite Conundrum - Redefining Leadership in the Age of AI

As organizations race to implement AI, are we missing the real story?

While the world debates algorithms, hosts Lauren Hawker Zafar and Faisal Hoque argue the true challenge is a profound leadership crisis. The old playbooks are obsolete, and the age of AI demands a new breed of leader.

In this second episode of Convergence, Faisal discusses his viral MIT Sloan Review article, which proposes a radical new C-Suite role: the Chief Innovation and Transformation Officer (CITO).

Discover why treating AI as just a tech problem leads to spectacular failures like those at Zillow and Air Canada, and why success hinges on mastering the messy intersection of machine intelligence and human ingenuity.

Tune in to learn why organizational culture, emotional intelligence, and psychology are the most critical skills for navigating the AI transformation, and get actionable advice on how you can start to learn, unlearn, and relearn for the future.

Quick Jump To:
(00:00) The Real AI Crisis Lauren and Faisal introduce the episode's core argument: the AI revolution isn't about technology, it's about a failure in leadership.

(01:09) The Viral MIT Article Faisal discusses his hugely popular MIT Sloan Review article that argues for a fundamental change in the C-Suite to manage AI-driven transformation.

(03:45) A Cultural & Organizational Challenge Why do so many companies still treat AI as a purely technical problem? The hosts break down the risks of this narrow approach.

(04:45) Meet the CITO: Chief Innovation & Transformation Officer Introducing a new, combined role grounded in technology but focused on people, purpose, and business impact.

(06:20) Learning from Failure: The Zillow & Air Canada Story An analysis of how a purely technical focus on AI led to major failures and what these case studies teach us about the need for a human-centric approach.

(09:10) The CITO Paradox: A Single Point of Failure? The hosts debate whether consolidating responsibility into one CITO role creates a new risk or is the key to successful orchestration.

(13:50) Navigating C-Suite Turf Wars How can organizations manage the inevitable power struggles between a new CITO and traditional roles like the CTO, CHRO, and COO?

(16:35) Measuring the Human Side of AI Moving beyond technical KPIs. What metrics truly define success when implementing AI? Hint: It’s not just about speed and efficiency.

(23:35) Your Action Plan for the AI Era What can leaders do now if they can't hire a CITO? Faisal provides concrete advice for upskilling and empowering your teams with the mantra: learn, unlearn, and relearn.

Convergence: The Signature Series
The lines between technology, business, and humanity are blurring. In a world of constant disruption, success is no longer about mastering one domain — it’s about navigating the pivotal intersections where they converge.

Join Lauren Hawker Zafer and Faisal Hoque for Convergence, the series that deconstructs the complex forces shaping our future. Based on hands-on experience, research, and publications, each episode provides actionable frameworks and candid insights on humanity, business, ethics, transformation, AI, modern leadership, governance, sustainable growth, and philosophy.